We know about “muggy’. We know about “sticky’. But how do these uncomfortable air conditions develop’ Humidity is the moisture in the air, and it affects how we perceive the temperature. It also affects indoor air quality.
Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air; so more humid or “sticky” days occur during the summer months in North America. For most people, relative humidity of 45 to 55% is comfortable. As this value rises, the air becomes more uncomfortable and “muggy’.
States and locations near large bodies of water will be more humid. Homes near the Great Lakes, large rivers, or the ocean will be greatly affected by humidity levels. Even homes or cabins near large inland lakes need dehumidification during the summer months.
Understanding the Dew Point
Meteorologists talk about the dew point. This is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated with moisture, causing dew droplets to form. As a general rule, the closer the dew point is to the actual temperature, the higher the humidity level and the more uncomfortable it will feel.
You can follow the dew point on the Weather Channel, or other weather apps, and predict if the day will be comfortable or uncomfortable from a humidity standpoint. You can determine whether you need to run your air conditioning or not, and whether you need to run your dehumidifiers. Whether this is a good day for gardening, golfing, the beach, or just hibernating indoors!
Dewpoints below 55 are very comfortable for most people
56 ” 60 “Still pretty comfortable
61 ” 65 “Starting to get “sticky’
66 ” 70 “Starting to really feel “muggy” now, and quite uncomfortable
71 ” 75 “Opressive
76+ “‘Let’s just call it Miserable
You can measure the relative humidity in your home using a hygrometer. Again keeping in mind that 45-55% humidity is comfortable for most people, you can control the indoor humidity with the use of air conditioning or dehumidifiers. Keeping the humidity down helps to improve the indoor air quality in your home and keeps your family more comfortable.
For smaller spaces, check out the Eva-Dry petite electric dehumidifiers; the Eva-Dry 1100 Petite Dehumidifier, the Eva-Dry 1200, and the Eva-Dry 2500. These units are good up to 1100 cubic feet, 1200 cubic feet, and 2500 cubic feet, respectively.
For larger spaces, invest in the Eva-Dry 4000. This unit will help keep your basement or main living area, up to 4000 cubic feet, at a comfortable relative humidity of 45-55% year-round. The unit uses state-of-the-art Rotary Desiccant Technology to help remove water from the air. Safer and less noisy than traditional compressor dehumidifiers, it features a large capacity catch basin and a built-in ionizer.
Eva-Dry is on the leading edge of dehumidification technology and understands how important it is to maintain good indoor air quality to support health, and keep your family comfortable. Investigate their full line of products and contact one of their knowledgeable consultants today about any excess moisture issues you may be experiencing.
