Here in New Braunfels, we experience major swings in humidity over the year, with days when the relative humidity drops below 30% (too dry) and rises above 60% (too humid). Relative humidity measure how much water moisture is in the air: 0% means no moisture at all, while 100% means there’s more moisture than the air can hold, which means mist or rain.
These swings in moisture into the upper reaches and the lower depths result in discomfort. In a house, they also mean spending more on utility bills to run the HVAC system to help overcome this discomfort. The good news is that, although you can’t control humidity outside your house, you can do something about it inside!
The Trouble With High Humidity
You probably already know why humid summer days aren’t pleasant—you feel sweaty and the already hot temperatures feel substantially worse. The reason for this isn’t that high humidity raises the temperature of the air. A 90°F day is a 90°F day no matter the relative humidity. But high humidity makes the temperature feel higher because the extra moisture in the air traps heat inside your body. It’s like putting on an extra layer of clothing—the moisture slows down how well you can expel heat from your skin.
On average, a humid day makes the weather feel 8°–10°F hotter. Indoors, this often the difference between turning on your AC or leaving it off. With humidity balanced at a pleasant 45%, you won’t need to run your air conditioner as long, and you’ll enjoy lower electrical bills along with improved comfort.
The Trouble With Low Humidity
“A dry heat” is a way of saying a heat that doesn’t feel so bad. When humidity drops low, heat escapes from your body quicker, so you feel cooler. The problem, however, is on cooler days. Now you have the opposite situation from the hot, humid day. The cool weather feels substantially colder because heat flows quickly through your skin. This puts an uncomfortable bite to these days and means using more heating power. When humidity is balanced, you may often not need to run your heating system at all in our mild winters!
Additional Benefits of Balancing Humidity
Neither extremely humid or dry days are healthy. High humidity can result in major allergy problems as more pollen is released into the air. It also encourages the growth of harmful molds. Low humidity dries our sinuses and mucus membranes, allowing colds and viruses to quickly spread around a house. The dry air also causes eye irritation and cracked skin. Balanced humidity means an overall healthier home.
Installing Whole-House Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
The easiest way to get control of humidity in your home is to call our New Braunfels, TX indoor air quality professionals. We install both whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers. These systems make it easy for you to moderate relative humidity in your home around the year from the thermostat. Talk to our IAQ experts and they’ll help you find the best humidity solution for your house.
Call Thayer Air Conditioning to find out more about humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Your comfort is our #1 priority!
