Illnesses are usually caught on the go; a sneezing coworker, a riddled toddler in the mall or an unkept public bathroom in the winter time. All of these things just scream “plague.” However, it’s the air we breathe indoors, in one’s home, school or office that most often fills our lungs and carries over a cold. “But how can we keep our air clean?” one might ask. The answer is simple: humidity.

When one hears “humidity,” the first thought is a dense, moisture-wicked jungle, or the hot, thick air in the height of August, clearly an unwanted climate for a living room. However, low humidity can be just as harmful. According to the National Asthma Council, relative humidity is most comfortable between 30 to 60 percent. Indoor humidity should fall between 30 to 50 percent. The most common triggers of asthma are mold, dust mites, pets and pollen, all of which are exacerbated in severity when humidity leaves this comfort range. 

When discussing humidity, the term relative humidity is often used. According to Science Direct, this refers to water vapor in the air. It is measured as the percentage of moisture retained by the atmosphere at a given temperature and pressure without causing condensation, also referred to as moisture-holding capacity. This is different from absolute humidity which is dependent from temperature, while relative humidity is a function of temperature.

High humidity creates the perfect breeding grounds for dust mites and mold. Dust mites prefer humidity at 70 percent and above, and they hide in bedding, floors, curtains and furniture. The feces of these microscopic aliens are small enough to get into the air. Mold also grows at high humidity levels and can linger in bath robes and mats, dish towels and laundry. It can also grow in ventilation when unchecked. 

Low levels of humidity stem to dry air which welcomes airborne viruses like COVID-19 or the flu. Eczema and asthma can also become easily aggravated with low humidity. A study in the National Library of Medicine on the impact of cold conditions on influenza in Australia shows a significant increase in viral infections in cold air or low humidity. They found it to be due to the virus’s ability to survive longer in this climate and because of the drying of mucous membranes that results from dry air, allowing bacteria to be easily caught while breathing. 

• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms in laundry rooms. The water vapor created in these spaces dramatically increases humidity levels and mould growth.

• Use humidifiers in dry or moderate climates and cold seasons.

• Use heat recovery ventilation to reduce relative humidity.

• Keep your home well insulated for warmth and the winter and cool air in the summer.

• Use dehumidifiers in warm climates or seasons to extract water vapor from the air and reduce humidity.

• Evaporative air conditioners should not be used except for very dry climates because they increase humidity. 

• Use of one Condair’s humidifiers! They are easy to install and they monitor and maintain humidity so you don’t have to.

You can use a hygrometer, a small device that can be found at most hardware stores or is often built into thermostats. They are very simple to use by simply placing it in a room and waiting for it to read and interpret humidity levels.

For more information on humidifiers, humidity, or other heating and cooling equipment, contact Northrich company at 216-581-4750 or go to www.northrich.com