By John Ward
Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric
www.applewoodfixit.com
Controlling the humidity in your house can save you money, make your home more comfortable and provide health benefits.
In some parts of the country, people need to remove moisture from the air in the summer to control the growth of bacteria, mold and various fungi. That's generally not a big problem in Colorado's dry climate.
But adding moisture to the air inside your home is extremely important during cold winter months in a dry climate like ours.
Why? The answer has to do with relative humidity - the percentage of water vapor the air can hold before becoming saturated (100 percent relative humidity).
Warm air can hold more water than cold air. So, the relative humidity goes down as the air warms up if the
amount of water vapor in the air remains unchanged. That's why the air in your house dries out in the winter when your furnace is running. The warmer air is capable of holding more water vapor so the relative humidity of the air - expressed as a percentage of the water vapor it's capable of holding - goes down.
Maintaining proper humidity can save five percent or more on your annual fuel bill because dry air
feels colder than moist air since moisture evaporates from your skin more rapidly when the air is dry. That means setting the thermostat at 69 degrees with a relative humidity of 35 percent feels just as warm as setting the thermostat at 72 degrees with a relative humidity of 19 percent. In a place like Colorado, the relative humidity in your home can drop well below 19 percent when your furnace is running if you're not adding moisture to the air.
Most experts agree the ideal relative humidity for your home is between 40 and 55 percent. Besides being able to lower the thermostat and save money on your heating bill, the air will
feel more comfortable. And there are health benefits. Excessively dry indoor air can weaken your immune system from harmful viruses and respiratory ailments. Dry indoor air is a major cause of winter colds, for example. Those static-electricity shocks you get in the winter are an indication the air in your house is too dry.
How do you maintain proper year-round humidity in your home? The simplest way is a whole-house humidifier, which can maintain ideal humidity in your house year-round. Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric can sell and install one for you.
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(John Ward has owned and operated
Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric for more than 35 years. He is a master plumber and recognized as an industry leader for his knowledge and ethical business practices. The company was recently named a finalist in the 2008 BBB Torch Awards for Marketplace Trust.)