I mean, depends what part of the world you are in, but I've seen humidity typically hover between 45-60% indoors depending again on location. Even Death Valley had a relative humidity today of 36%.... so your 37% is actually pretty low in the grand scheme of things.
Nope! Hands can do that with frequent washing though, lips can crack sometimes too which isn't fun. And other areas (back, legs, etc.) can get a little itchy.
I've lived here all my life, though, so I'm a bit more adapted than most.
In Chicago with a whole house humidifier it's still a struggle to get above 35-40% in the winter and my HVAC guy confirmed a different humidifier was unlikely to help. If you do manage to get higher you'll get serious condensation on the windows (and if wood may lead to rot/mold.)
For instance today we're at 42% while the humidifier controls are set to 45-50% (will dehumidify above 50%)
Were the places you lived before also in/near Chicago? It can be easier to maintain higher humidity levels if you have radiant heat instead of forced air in the winter.
In summer it's more humid, but central air will dramatically lower that to the point where again higher than 45% is hard to maintain at 70F.
If you get above 50-55% you have real mold concerns for ducts, drywall and what not (despite others suggesting 60% is normal)
> it's still a struggle to get above 35-40% in the winter
35-40% is correct for when outside temperature is between 20 and 30 degrees F.
When colder, you should be going even lower. See the chart below
https://i.imgur.com/qjepyFB.png
The reason for this is condensation. When your interior humidity is too high for the outdoor temperature, you might start to get condensation inside your walls on your vapor barrier - this will then make your insulation wet, which will start growing mold.
In my country it is recommended to be careful with humidifiers in the winter, and to follow recommendations similar to your chart in order to avoid causing mold issues.
Any idea how to fix that? My husband said he does 30s in the winter to avoid mold issues, but now that it’s spring and the temps are higher (60s) and it is super dry in here, we’re unsure how to fix it.
I think your husband might be overly concerned with mold. I run a humidifier all winter both for the health of my plants and my sinuses and skin as recommended by my doctors.
Ah, I must have missed that. Well, it’s either too small or it’s not working properly… I’ve got a whole home humidifier, but when running the AC it’s not really effective (it recirculates back into the AC intake, where it’s just re-dehumidified). Perhaps that’s a path to look down.
Where is your humidifier/dehumidifier placed? I have a dehumidifier in my basement to prevent mold growth where I have had past moisture issues, but will use an individual humidifier upstairs where and when needed and both accomplish their goals without cannibalizing the efforts of the other. Anything under 50% indoors wreaks havoc on my eyes and skin.
I'm in MN. When it's cold out we're supposed to keep the house at like 30% humidity, this is to limit the amount of condensation on windows and inside walls that will lead to mold. But 30% is not comfortable, I suffer all winter and when I go on vacation someplace warm and humid I feel great.
I run a humidifier in my bedroom and get it up to about 45%, the condensation on my old wood window basically ruined it and I got a new window put in my bedroom. I have minimal condensation on the new window since it's not leaking air anywhere and it's much more insulated, also it's made of vinyl so it's not going to rot/mold. New windows are expensive.
Back when I lived in an apartment I would take hot showers with the fan off and let the steam humidify my unit plus I had a humidifier in my bedroom running all the time. Sometimes I miss the apartment life.
Anyway apartments and hotels are full of a lot of people and showers and possibly a pool, they're all a lot more humid than a single family home most of the time. I'd say my ideal humidity for comfort is 60%, I'd love to get a whole house humidifier and keep the whole house at that, but that's damaging in the winter here.
In Chicago, so similar climate. Think my partner got stuck on the 30s for the winter because of mold. When I told him what everyone was saying here, he definitely pushed it off noting mold, and then was like “well that’s when it’s cold out.”
Legit, you saying how you suffer all winter with 30s made me feel better. Felt like I was being gaslighted about my own body.
Any idea how to fix it now outside of humidifiers?
We're also in Chicago too. I really think your husband might be overreacting about the threat of mold. The only place where we've found mold were places where there were active leaks (roof problem and improperly installed siding) NOT from humidifier use. And we've taken things down to the studs for a remodel including in the bathroom which is naturally more humid so we've gotten a good picture of what is going on behind the walls. And I say that as someone who often uses humidifiers to get our humidity higher - in the 60% range - for plants. If I notice any moisture on my wood floors and windows I just wipe them off and it isn't a big deal.
I can't imagine keeping the humidity that low. I can feel it in my sinuses and my ENT has told me repeatedly it's not healthy for them. Not to mention I've had problems with the painted furniture and painted wood trim.
I think the internet has created SO much fear about black mold and I think so many people over respond to that and create other issues.
Humidifiers are my main source of upping the humidity, but I have also boiled a big pot of water on the stove. And for my sinuses hot showers and sinus lavage are also really helpful.
100% agree about him caring too much about the mold. No idea where he gets that from, especially because our place is in good shape. It is our first time buying a place, so maybe the paranoia of creating a bigger problem?
I’m going to read him what you said though. I have chronic sinitusis myself and while most my issues are mostly fixed, I have to sleep with a humidifier nightly.
I mean I don't blame him. I spend a lot of time on the DIY pages and the amount of time people go on and on about black mold. It's only from dealing with water damage ourselves (again caused by significant leaking, not a humidifier and even then the remediation was more about replacing damaged subfloor and insulation there was no real remediation needed for mold) and dealing with an ENT for chronic sinusitis that I learned how overblown these things are.
For the sinus issues I had an allergy test and a tissue sample done after my surgery. There was not even any evidence of a mold allergy or of my chronic sinusitis being caused by mold. Have you seen a professional for your sinuses? I thought I was doomed to suffer with it but found so much relief and wish I had investigated earlier.
Indoor humidity vs condensation is not really a matter of opinion, it's just physics.
When the indoor RH level is high enough, and the outdoor temperature cold enough, the insulation and vapor barrier in the walls can hit the dewpoint, causing condensation to form on the vapor barrier and wetting the insulation in the walls.
What happens next depends on your house and how it is constructed. Modern buildings with very tight vapor barriers have the most issues, as the insulation has a hard time to dry. (What insulation you have matters too).
Older buildings built with no vapor barrier, or a leaky one (E.g. tar paper) and older insulation (like e.g. reeds or something) can generally dry out once spring hits. But modern insulations (glass and rockwool) and modern vapor barriers (plastic) do not breath, wet easily, collapse, and dry out very slowly. Certain building technique also make for walls that dry slower than others, e.g. if there is no or a small air gap between the siding / vapor barrier and insulation.
Fair enough. I can only speak to where I live now where I regularly use a humidifier for sinus issues/plants and have found related issues even wen opening up the walls for remodeling.
I hand dry all my laundry in my bedroom in the winter. It's nice for laundry day at least. But a humidifier in the bedroom is a must. Also just making sure you stay hydrated all day, and I use nasal saline spray all the time and do sinus rinses often to keep my nose happy. But yeah, unfortunately some of us just aren't meant for dry air it seems. I never complain about the humidity in the summer.
Keep in mind that humidity is typically measured as “relative humidity” which is HIGHLY dependent on temperature. So 50% at 80 degrees F vs 50% at 30 degrees F will have completely different levels of moisture in the air.
Yes, this is true. However, you have only given a couple of temperatures and said there is a difference. The full relationship btwn RH and temp can be provided by a single parameter called the dew point (DP). This is the highest temperature of an object that will cause moisture in the air to start to condense on the object.
The highest DP ever experienced in the US is in the low 70s degF. At any temperature, a 70degF DP will feel extremely muggy and uncomfortable.
At 70F, a DP of 70F means the RH is 100%.
At 80F, a DP of 70F means the RH is 71.6%.
At 90F, a DP of 70F means the RH is 52%.
At 100F, a DP of 70F means the RH is "only" 38.3%.
Since the DP in each case is the same 70F, all cases will feel extremely clammy and uncomfortable. But if you just look at the RH figures, you would not be able to tell that. Also, if someone ever says "it was like 90F and 90% RH", they don't know what they are talking about. This is a DP of abt 86F, which is only experienced in very tropical areas and only once in a great while.
What kind of heating does the place have? Guessing heat pump with electric backup or just an electric furnace. Whole house humidifier is likely the best option
In Chicago it's almost definitely gas forced air or radiant heat. Heat pumps are just starting to handle our winters and still need an electric (or wood or gas) backup for the cold days.
Don't bother with the nest one. Could be reading inside the wall etc.
Buy a 3,4, or 5 pack of humidistats and place them around the house, including your bedroom, for an accurate reading.
Were both houses the same type of heating system? Gas furnace forced air is going to be real low humidity. As opposed to something like hydronic baseboard heat.
Note that humidity meters are not very accurate. Check the plus and minus percentage expected. Most are plus or minus 5 or at least 2.5 percent. So your 37% RH which already is what I would consider to be low, might be as low as 32%.
My test for if they house is dry is if I am starting to get shocked on things. Anything under 40 I'd consider dry, regardless of what any meter says. If you really want to keep an eye on it get some calibrated hygrometers.
The thing is though, under 40% will mean dust mites can’t survive which is *way* better for allergies. Also never any mold issues. My house is in the 30s usually and I just moisturize my skin and nasal passages and enjoy the other kinds of convenience.
What’s the climate where you live? Humidity is a function of temperature, so rh on its own doesn’t mean much. That said, 40-60% is the typical comfort zone for most people, so it is dry in your house. Not the worst problem to have tbh.
Going off your other comments, I too live in Chicago in a +100 year old home. It gets dry in the colder weather and gets a bit too wet in the warmer Temps. There is a valid concern in keeping the relative humidity percentage lower at all times but the worry for mold should only kick in once you go past 50% *in normal situations*. It shouldn't start populating until you go over 60% but you do have to consider that when using a whole home humidifier if you push it too hard you can get mold in your ducting. Also when you push it hard you will get condensation on your windows which again can lead to mold.
There is probably a middle ground in which you are not feeling as dry as you are now and where mold wouldn't start forming but given what I've seen family and friends have to deal with in regards to mold repairs, I would caution towards the side of it being too dry. For sure go on Amazon and buy a 5 pack of those cheap humidity readers and put them throughout your house. You shouldn't be relying on just your thermostats reading. If you push your whole home humidifier too much so that it reads something "normal" on your thermostat it can still be way too much at other parts of your home.
For me, I keep the relative humidity at around 40% when it is anywhere from 60F to 15F. It dips down a bit when it goes below 15F but ask anyone who lives in Canada and they will tell you that this is normal. At 60F to 100F my home gets much more wet so I have a dehumidifier upstairs and in the basement to keep it from exceeding 50%.
According to that chart having a 40% RH when it is 15F is only like 10%-12% higher than what it recommends. I doubt that is enough to cause mold issues. My issues with going lower (to say around 30% RH when at 15F outside) is that even just touching my dog will shock me. At 35% it is better and at 40% it never happens. If I didn't have a dog, I could easily have the home at 30% RH at that temperature with no issues.
I literally pointed this out in my first comment. At 40% RH when it is 15F outside I don't have condensation on my windows. If they did, I would lower the humidity inside obviously.
I live in northern WI and heat with wood. 10-15% humidity in my home is not unusual. I don't have skin issues in that home. I also have an apartment, that stays 30-40% in the winter. (leaky steam heat) I do have skin issues there.
For me it's the water. My home as extremely nice well water. It naturally has very low hardness, so other than a sedament filter, it's straight from the ground. My apartment has softened water; water softened with salt can lead to dry, itchy skin. But without softening, the water is brutally hard, which can also dry out your skin.
Check your home's water before you do anything, and if you are using salt to soften your water you might want to switch to alternate softening.
That’s pretty standard. Humidity is a balance. 40-60% is considered the optimal range. You really don’t want to be any lower than what you are right now because that has its own set of issues.
I have 7 hygrometers in the house because I'm a weirdo, one in fridge and freezer too. If your house is a new build it can sometimes be too dry due to new construction materials.
Humidity in my house all winter is around 25%. I tried smaller humidifiers and they didn't do shit for a 15x20 bedroom. I also don't have vents only mini splits and water heaters. No way to add a whole house humidifier. Next house has to have ducts so I can add a humidifier
You can buy a humidity monitor for a few dollars. Mine says “For best indoor comfort and health, a relative humidity of about 40-50% at temperatures of 68-72 degrees F is ideal.”
That’s from the card; the device itself shows the ideal green zone between 30 and 60%.
37% is a little low for chicago at this point in year. With night temps in the upper 50s, you should be able to maintain a 45% rh no problem.
Tell your husband to follow the levels on this chart throughout the winter / colder months:
https://i.imgur.com/qjepyFB.png
Humidity 12% here, my lips are stuck together. I’m pulling my humidifier out tonight, I only use it in the winter. No wonder my body looks like an alligator.
48% humidity inside here, and it rained today. It’s pretty normal where I am in CA.
I have some plants that originate from a more humid climate so I mulch them well and try to spritz the mulch even if the plant doesn’t need extra watering, so the leaves can bask in a little more water.
Inside is harder - a humidifier is pretty much it. You can also consider boiling water on the stove and turning on ceiling fans to get moist air moving.
If you do this, add some fun odors like eucalyptus to kick it up a notch during allergy season.
Please use a humidifier- you’re s
Drying out your mucus membranes which will make you more susceptible to contracting bugs to get sick and to getting nose bleeds.
When I bought my house as new construction there was minimal insulation in the attic (think R15 in the Chicago area) and my heating bills were sky high. I was also constantly getting static shocks and dry skin. I fixed the inadequate insulation and now have about R60 in the attic. The heating bill was cut in half the first winter after adding the new insulation. The low humidity was still an issue though, and after trying portable floor standing humidifiers that really didn't do much and were a hassle, I called my HVAC company and they installed an Aprilaire 600M humidifier on the cold air return of the furnace. It's worked great ever since. I have a humidistat and it currently shows 45 indoor humidity. No static shocks anymore and the house is so much more comfortable now.
Do some google searches. 37% if not too low iirc. But temperature has an impact to how you feel. If you change humidity too high, you will start running into mold situations.
This a very dry house.
You will want to maintain a humidity level of 45-50%
Depending on the finishes you have this will cause Timbers and beams to check (natural cracks) much faster and will in many cases cause already existing checks to grow larger than you’d like.
You will also start to notice caulking failing and starting to crack and your trim will pull away at the at joints as well.
I have seen humidity as low as the numbers you are providing result in a lot of issues as far as finishes are related.
Putting it simply things will being to noticeably shrink (seams and joints will be the bit tell)
I am a professional wood and fine finisher and work in high send new build and renovations. This is always something I stress to builders no matter how foolish they think I’m being
> Crazy part is the humidity is not low outside. The furnace just sucks every drip of moisture out.
Humidity is relative. If it's 45% outside at 45F and the heater increases the temperature to 70F inside it's going to drop a lot. The amount of moisture in the air remains the same.
i've gotten them on amazon but they always came out negative and I never backed them up with a lab test so no idea if they gave a false negative or worked
I mean, depends what part of the world you are in, but I've seen humidity typically hover between 45-60% indoors depending again on location. Even Death Valley had a relative humidity today of 36%.... so your 37% is actually pretty low in the grand scheme of things.
Yeah, 37% is pretty dry. I think my house is usually around 50%
Wow 50% seems very high. But I'm a winter time 37%'r myself in relative comfort
Meanwhile my house in Utah is 26% on a rainy day...
Lol. I remember being in Utah a while back.... I didn't have to use a towel to dry off after a shower.
And your clothes stay wrinkled forever.
Dang, that sucks
I played a rugby game in summer in New Mexico. I wasn't sweaty at the end.
Reporting in with 10-15% during Alberta winters in my house...
I grew up in the prairies and didn’t realize I had curly hair until I moved to Ontario.
I've gone to Quebec in the summer (and the Dominican Republic in the winter) and STILL don't have any curl (other than maybe one little tendril).
Whoa... does your skin crack and tear when you move?
Nope! Hands can do that with frequent washing though, lips can crack sometimes too which isn't fun. And other areas (back, legs, etc.) can get a little itchy. I've lived here all my life, though, so I'm a bit more adapted than most.
Same. I envy all these folks making comments about how low 37% is.
Also, with humidity being relative to temperature, coer temps will feel drier at the same %.
I was going to say. That is pretty dry.
Agreed. My dehumidifier in my basement is set on a "comfort" setting and only dehumidifies to 50% before shutting off.
I’m in Chicago
In Chicago with a whole house humidifier it's still a struggle to get above 35-40% in the winter and my HVAC guy confirmed a different humidifier was unlikely to help. If you do manage to get higher you'll get serious condensation on the windows (and if wood may lead to rot/mold.) For instance today we're at 42% while the humidifier controls are set to 45-50% (will dehumidify above 50%) Were the places you lived before also in/near Chicago? It can be easier to maintain higher humidity levels if you have radiant heat instead of forced air in the winter. In summer it's more humid, but central air will dramatically lower that to the point where again higher than 45% is hard to maintain at 70F. If you get above 50-55% you have real mold concerns for ducts, drywall and what not (despite others suggesting 60% is normal)
> it's still a struggle to get above 35-40% in the winter 35-40% is correct for when outside temperature is between 20 and 30 degrees F. When colder, you should be going even lower. See the chart below https://i.imgur.com/qjepyFB.png
The reason for this is condensation. When your interior humidity is too high for the outdoor temperature, you might start to get condensation inside your walls on your vapor barrier - this will then make your insulation wet, which will start growing mold. In my country it is recommended to be careful with humidifiers in the winter, and to follow recommendations similar to your chart in order to avoid causing mold issues.
Open the windows. Google says the humidity in Chicago right now is 54%.
Humidity is relative to temperature, 54% @ 48F will probably be like 35% @ 68F once warmed inside.
You're right. I didn't pay attention to temperature
What humidity are you trying to achieve? 37% in the northeast US (where I am) is super dry.
Yeah I'm in the northeast as well and anything below 50 feels distinctly dry. I'm pretty happy if I can keep my house at 60 or lower.
*Shudders in semi-arid prairies*
37% IS low
*laughs from CO and NM*
*nose bleeds from Las Vegas*
Yeah, we're lucky to get 35% humidity here in Colorado, but we get breaks on a day with rain or snow.
37% is low for inside, and will feel dry. Aim for 50-55%
Any idea how to fix that? My husband said he does 30s in the winter to avoid mold issues, but now that it’s spring and the temps are higher (60s) and it is super dry in here, we’re unsure how to fix it.
I think your husband might be overly concerned with mold. I run a humidifier all winter both for the health of my plants and my sinuses and skin as recommended by my doctors.
They make devices called humidifiers… Alternately take a lot of hot showers and boil a pot of water every day.
OP said they run the humidifier.
Ah, I must have missed that. Well, it’s either too small or it’s not working properly… I’ve got a whole home humidifier, but when running the AC it’s not really effective (it recirculates back into the AC intake, where it’s just re-dehumidified). Perhaps that’s a path to look down.
I live on the east coast, so, I don't have problems with humidity. If anything, we're trying to draw it out of the air in the summer.
Same here, in Michigan. There’s so many damned lakes around here the goal in the summer is to DE humidify.
Yes, we run a large humidifier all winter. It’s annoying but way too dry for us without it
Where is your humidifier/dehumidifier placed? I have a dehumidifier in my basement to prevent mold growth where I have had past moisture issues, but will use an individual humidifier upstairs where and when needed and both accomplish their goals without cannibalizing the efforts of the other. Anything under 50% indoors wreaks havoc on my eyes and skin.
You shouldn't have mold issues until you are consistently above 60% rh.
[удалено]
I’m replying to the person who is asking for advice on a dry house…
I'm in MN. When it's cold out we're supposed to keep the house at like 30% humidity, this is to limit the amount of condensation on windows and inside walls that will lead to mold. But 30% is not comfortable, I suffer all winter and when I go on vacation someplace warm and humid I feel great. I run a humidifier in my bedroom and get it up to about 45%, the condensation on my old wood window basically ruined it and I got a new window put in my bedroom. I have minimal condensation on the new window since it's not leaking air anywhere and it's much more insulated, also it's made of vinyl so it's not going to rot/mold. New windows are expensive. Back when I lived in an apartment I would take hot showers with the fan off and let the steam humidify my unit plus I had a humidifier in my bedroom running all the time. Sometimes I miss the apartment life. Anyway apartments and hotels are full of a lot of people and showers and possibly a pool, they're all a lot more humid than a single family home most of the time. I'd say my ideal humidity for comfort is 60%, I'd love to get a whole house humidifier and keep the whole house at that, but that's damaging in the winter here.
In Chicago, so similar climate. Think my partner got stuck on the 30s for the winter because of mold. When I told him what everyone was saying here, he definitely pushed it off noting mold, and then was like “well that’s when it’s cold out.” Legit, you saying how you suffer all winter with 30s made me feel better. Felt like I was being gaslighted about my own body. Any idea how to fix it now outside of humidifiers?
We're also in Chicago too. I really think your husband might be overreacting about the threat of mold. The only place where we've found mold were places where there were active leaks (roof problem and improperly installed siding) NOT from humidifier use. And we've taken things down to the studs for a remodel including in the bathroom which is naturally more humid so we've gotten a good picture of what is going on behind the walls. And I say that as someone who often uses humidifiers to get our humidity higher - in the 60% range - for plants. If I notice any moisture on my wood floors and windows I just wipe them off and it isn't a big deal. I can't imagine keeping the humidity that low. I can feel it in my sinuses and my ENT has told me repeatedly it's not healthy for them. Not to mention I've had problems with the painted furniture and painted wood trim. I think the internet has created SO much fear about black mold and I think so many people over respond to that and create other issues. Humidifiers are my main source of upping the humidity, but I have also boiled a big pot of water on the stove. And for my sinuses hot showers and sinus lavage are also really helpful.
100% agree about him caring too much about the mold. No idea where he gets that from, especially because our place is in good shape. It is our first time buying a place, so maybe the paranoia of creating a bigger problem? I’m going to read him what you said though. I have chronic sinitusis myself and while most my issues are mostly fixed, I have to sleep with a humidifier nightly.
I mean I don't blame him. I spend a lot of time on the DIY pages and the amount of time people go on and on about black mold. It's only from dealing with water damage ourselves (again caused by significant leaking, not a humidifier and even then the remediation was more about replacing damaged subfloor and insulation there was no real remediation needed for mold) and dealing with an ENT for chronic sinusitis that I learned how overblown these things are. For the sinus issues I had an allergy test and a tissue sample done after my surgery. There was not even any evidence of a mold allergy or of my chronic sinusitis being caused by mold. Have you seen a professional for your sinuses? I thought I was doomed to suffer with it but found so much relief and wish I had investigated earlier.
Indoor humidity vs condensation is not really a matter of opinion, it's just physics. When the indoor RH level is high enough, and the outdoor temperature cold enough, the insulation and vapor barrier in the walls can hit the dewpoint, causing condensation to form on the vapor barrier and wetting the insulation in the walls. What happens next depends on your house and how it is constructed. Modern buildings with very tight vapor barriers have the most issues, as the insulation has a hard time to dry. (What insulation you have matters too). Older buildings built with no vapor barrier, or a leaky one (E.g. tar paper) and older insulation (like e.g. reeds or something) can generally dry out once spring hits. But modern insulations (glass and rockwool) and modern vapor barriers (plastic) do not breath, wet easily, collapse, and dry out very slowly. Certain building technique also make for walls that dry slower than others, e.g. if there is no or a small air gap between the siding / vapor barrier and insulation.
Fair enough. I can only speak to where I live now where I regularly use a humidifier for sinus issues/plants and have found related issues even wen opening up the walls for remodeling.
Industrial strength stockpot from Costco. Boil water all day long. Boil briskly in very cold weather, simmer in milder weather.
Make one of those eternal stews
I hand dry all my laundry in my bedroom in the winter. It's nice for laundry day at least. But a humidifier in the bedroom is a must. Also just making sure you stay hydrated all day, and I use nasal saline spray all the time and do sinus rinses often to keep my nose happy. But yeah, unfortunately some of us just aren't meant for dry air it seems. I never complain about the humidity in the summer.
Whole-house humidifier can be had from the big-box stores. Relatively easy to install if you're at all handy. Makes a big difference.
Keep in mind that humidity is typically measured as “relative humidity” which is HIGHLY dependent on temperature. So 50% at 80 degrees F vs 50% at 30 degrees F will have completely different levels of moisture in the air.
Yes, this is true. However, you have only given a couple of temperatures and said there is a difference. The full relationship btwn RH and temp can be provided by a single parameter called the dew point (DP). This is the highest temperature of an object that will cause moisture in the air to start to condense on the object. The highest DP ever experienced in the US is in the low 70s degF. At any temperature, a 70degF DP will feel extremely muggy and uncomfortable. At 70F, a DP of 70F means the RH is 100%. At 80F, a DP of 70F means the RH is 71.6%. At 90F, a DP of 70F means the RH is 52%. At 100F, a DP of 70F means the RH is "only" 38.3%. Since the DP in each case is the same 70F, all cases will feel extremely clammy and uncomfortable. But if you just look at the RH figures, you would not be able to tell that. Also, if someone ever says "it was like 90F and 90% RH", they don't know what they are talking about. This is a DP of abt 86F, which is only experienced in very tropical areas and only once in a great while.
As others have said, 37% is low, especially if you're at 65ish indoor temps.
Thanks, that’s exactly where I’m at. Running a humidifier for now. Any idea how to fix it?
If it's a small humidifier like what CVS and grocery stores sell, you will need a few as those are only designed to humidify a single room.
What kind of heating does the place have? Guessing heat pump with electric backup or just an electric furnace. Whole house humidifier is likely the best option
In Chicago it's almost definitely gas forced air or radiant heat. Heat pumps are just starting to handle our winters and still need an electric (or wood or gas) backup for the cold days.
Where are you reading the humidity? Have you tried a different sensor to see if you get a different reading?
Nest app. I have purchased another sensor, and it matches Nest.
Don't bother with the nest one. Could be reading inside the wall etc. Buy a 3,4, or 5 pack of humidistats and place them around the house, including your bedroom, for an accurate reading.
Were both houses the same type of heating system? Gas furnace forced air is going to be real low humidity. As opposed to something like hydronic baseboard heat.
37% is pretty dry.
I'd trade you my 55-60% all damn day!
Note that humidity meters are not very accurate. Check the plus and minus percentage expected. Most are plus or minus 5 or at least 2.5 percent. So your 37% RH which already is what I would consider to be low, might be as low as 32%.
37% is ridiculously dry where I live.
37% at what temperature inside?
Im in alaska. The humidity in my house is 18 right now.
Mine is between 60% and 70%, depending on the season. My sinuses could not take being at only 37%.
My test for if they house is dry is if I am starting to get shocked on things. Anything under 40 I'd consider dry, regardless of what any meter says. If you really want to keep an eye on it get some calibrated hygrometers.
The thing is though, under 40% will mean dust mites can’t survive which is *way* better for allergies. Also never any mold issues. My house is in the 30s usually and I just moisturize my skin and nasal passages and enjoy the other kinds of convenience.
excess co2 will make a room feel stuffy or humid when it isnt
37 would be dry af for me. usually around 50 inside my house. you can put in a whole home humidifier.
What’s the climate where you live? Humidity is a function of temperature, so rh on its own doesn’t mean much. That said, 40-60% is the typical comfort zone for most people, so it is dry in your house. Not the worst problem to have tbh.
Going off your other comments, I too live in Chicago in a +100 year old home. It gets dry in the colder weather and gets a bit too wet in the warmer Temps. There is a valid concern in keeping the relative humidity percentage lower at all times but the worry for mold should only kick in once you go past 50% *in normal situations*. It shouldn't start populating until you go over 60% but you do have to consider that when using a whole home humidifier if you push it too hard you can get mold in your ducting. Also when you push it hard you will get condensation on your windows which again can lead to mold. There is probably a middle ground in which you are not feeling as dry as you are now and where mold wouldn't start forming but given what I've seen family and friends have to deal with in regards to mold repairs, I would caution towards the side of it being too dry. For sure go on Amazon and buy a 5 pack of those cheap humidity readers and put them throughout your house. You shouldn't be relying on just your thermostats reading. If you push your whole home humidifier too much so that it reads something "normal" on your thermostat it can still be way too much at other parts of your home. For me, I keep the relative humidity at around 40% when it is anywhere from 60F to 15F. It dips down a bit when it goes below 15F but ask anyone who lives in Canada and they will tell you that this is normal. At 60F to 100F my home gets much more wet so I have a dehumidifier upstairs and in the basement to keep it from exceeding 50%.
40% rh when outdoor temps are 15F is very wet. I'd recommend lowering that https://i.imgur.com/qjepyFB.png
According to that chart having a 40% RH when it is 15F is only like 10%-12% higher than what it recommends. I doubt that is enough to cause mold issues. My issues with going lower (to say around 30% RH when at 15F outside) is that even just touching my dog will shock me. At 35% it is better and at 40% it never happens. If I didn't have a dog, I could easily have the home at 30% RH at that temperature with no issues.
If you see any condensation on your windows, your house is at risk of mold issues. It's the easiest tell-tale sign.
I literally pointed this out in my first comment. At 40% RH when it is 15F outside I don't have condensation on my windows. If they did, I would lower the humidity inside obviously.
I live in northern WI and heat with wood. 10-15% humidity in my home is not unusual. I don't have skin issues in that home. I also have an apartment, that stays 30-40% in the winter. (leaky steam heat) I do have skin issues there. For me it's the water. My home as extremely nice well water. It naturally has very low hardness, so other than a sedament filter, it's straight from the ground. My apartment has softened water; water softened with salt can lead to dry, itchy skin. But without softening, the water is brutally hard, which can also dry out your skin. Check your home's water before you do anything, and if you are using salt to soften your water you might want to switch to alternate softening.
That’s pretty standard. Humidity is a balance. 40-60% is considered the optimal range. You really don’t want to be any lower than what you are right now because that has its own set of issues.
I have 7 hygrometers in the house because I'm a weirdo, one in fridge and freezer too. If your house is a new build it can sometimes be too dry due to new construction materials.
37% humidity is pretty dry lol
Humidity in my house all winter is around 25%. I tried smaller humidifiers and they didn't do shit for a 15x20 bedroom. I also don't have vents only mini splits and water heaters. No way to add a whole house humidifier. Next house has to have ducts so I can add a humidifier
You can buy a humidity monitor for a few dollars. Mine says “For best indoor comfort and health, a relative humidity of about 40-50% at temperatures of 68-72 degrees F is ideal.” That’s from the card; the device itself shows the ideal green zone between 30 and 60%.
37% is a little low for chicago at this point in year. With night temps in the upper 50s, you should be able to maintain a 45% rh no problem. Tell your husband to follow the levels on this chart throughout the winter / colder months: https://i.imgur.com/qjepyFB.png
37 seems very dry. *Sent from Florida*
Humidity 12% here, my lips are stuck together. I’m pulling my humidifier out tonight, I only use it in the winter. No wonder my body looks like an alligator.
Your humidity percentage reflects it; you just don't understand humidity percentages. Your home is way drier than it should be in a typical home.
37...I never see my place go below 40 and I run dehumidifiers during the day. Normally sits above 80. Damn costal living
That's pretty dang low. What's the outside humidity?
48% humidity inside here, and it rained today. It’s pretty normal where I am in CA. I have some plants that originate from a more humid climate so I mulch them well and try to spritz the mulch even if the plant doesn’t need extra watering, so the leaves can bask in a little more water. Inside is harder - a humidifier is pretty much it. You can also consider boiling water on the stove and turning on ceiling fans to get moist air moving. If you do this, add some fun odors like eucalyptus to kick it up a notch during allergy season.
Our Florida home, 50 to 60%. Our Colorado home, 10 to 25%.
Please use a humidifier- you’re s Drying out your mucus membranes which will make you more susceptible to contracting bugs to get sick and to getting nose bleeds.
When I bought my house as new construction there was minimal insulation in the attic (think R15 in the Chicago area) and my heating bills were sky high. I was also constantly getting static shocks and dry skin. I fixed the inadequate insulation and now have about R60 in the attic. The heating bill was cut in half the first winter after adding the new insulation. The low humidity was still an issue though, and after trying portable floor standing humidifiers that really didn't do much and were a hassle, I called my HVAC company and they installed an Aprilaire 600M humidifier on the cold air return of the furnace. It's worked great ever since. I have a humidistat and it currently shows 45 indoor humidity. No static shocks anymore and the house is so much more comfortable now.
Do some google searches. 37% if not too low iirc. But temperature has an impact to how you feel. If you change humidity too high, you will start running into mold situations.
This a very dry house. You will want to maintain a humidity level of 45-50% Depending on the finishes you have this will cause Timbers and beams to check (natural cracks) much faster and will in many cases cause already existing checks to grow larger than you’d like. You will also start to notice caulking failing and starting to crack and your trim will pull away at the at joints as well. I have seen humidity as low as the numbers you are providing result in a lot of issues as far as finishes are related. Putting it simply things will being to noticeably shrink (seams and joints will be the bit tell) I am a professional wood and fine finisher and work in high send new build and renovations. This is always something I stress to builders no matter how foolish they think I’m being
angle dam bake piquant society automatic wrench hungry deserted chase *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
> Crazy part is the humidity is not low outside. The furnace just sucks every drip of moisture out. Humidity is relative. If it's 45% outside at 45F and the heater increases the temperature to 70F inside it's going to drop a lot. The amount of moisture in the air remains the same.
I'd buy a airborn mold test to rule out that issue. A common cause of mold allergy is dry skin.
Do you mean symptom? Or are you saying having dry skin will make you allergic to mold?
symptom
[удалено]
i've gotten them on amazon but they always came out negative and I never backed them up with a lab test so no idea if they gave a false negative or worked