It’s that time of year in Northern Georgia when many homes are done with air conditioning, but the heat isn’t always on. With the thermostat switched to off and with frequent high humidity outside, it’s important to keep tabs on your home’s humidity.
Both air conditioning and furnaces dry out your home’s air as they run. . When these systems aren’t running your home’s humidity can quickly rise, bringing a host of unexpected problems with it, including:
- Mold and mildew growth. It doesn’t have to be hot for mildew to grow. If it’s above 40° and relative humidity is above 70% (it’s been 90% in metro-Atlanta in recent days), then mold growth can take place. Learn more about the dangers of mold growth.
- Dust mite activity: Dust mites thrive when humidity is above 50%
- Allergies and asthma. Obviously, if mold and dust mites are happy, allergy and asthma sufferers are not going to be very happy at all.
The EPA recommends that you keep an indoor humidity level of between 30 and 50%. If you think that your home is feeling a little sticky, purchase a hygrometer, which read humidity levels and only costs about $20. If find you have high humidity in your home, you can take several steps:
1) Run your heat even if you don’t need it for comfort. Set your heat to run at night or for a while during the day. Even a few hours of climate control can help lower humidity levels.
2) Consider a whole house dehumidifier. If you like the times of year when you don’t need to use climate control, consider a whole house dehumidifier that connects to your air system but can run independently. These systems are less maintenance and have lower operating costs than room units. Learn more about dehumidifiers.
At Gagne’s Heating and Air, we’re here to help those in Alpharetta and the surrounding areas find climate solutions (…heat, A/C, whole house humidifiers and more) for all the weather Northern Georgia throws our way. Continue learning more about heating and cooling problems and solutions on our blog.