Dry, Stuffy, and Humid Air - Tom Rostron Co., Inc.

Dry Air
The air people breathe needs to have moisture in it, at a level of at least 25% relative humidity. If the air in your home falls below this target and becomes overly dry, it can affect your health and the health of your whole family. Dry air can increase colds and respiratory infections, aggravate asthma and bronchitis, and lead to sinusitis, nosebleeds, dry eyes, cracked lips, dry nose, and dry skin. The health of your house can be affected too, causing cracked paint, furniture damage, high levels of static electricity and increased volumes of dust in the air. It can even make your home feel cooler, so you may need a higher thermostat setting to feel comfortable.

There are a few factors that can contribute to the air in your home being too dry:

The type of heating used
Ventilation
Overuse of air conditioning

Stuffy Air
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the fourth most common gas on the planet and is released with every breath we exhale. CO₂ is also a byproduct of the burning of wood, gasoline, oil, kerosene, natural gas, and charcoal. When poor ventilation is a problem in your home, you might have a buildup of particles and harmful gases. Among those is carbon monoxide that might affect your health and safety.

If your home has poor ventilation, the air inside can have increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂). While these levels of CO2 are rarely a safety problem, it can make the air in your home feel stale, stagnant and stuffy. If you or someone in your family suffers from continued headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and even nausea, it could be an indicator of high concentrations of CO₂ in your home.

Indoor Air Quality tips:

Make sure each fuel-burning device, such as a fireplace or furnace, is vented separately.
Verify that each exhaust fan is operational and properly vented to the outdoors rather than to the attic or crawlspace.
Make use of ventilation fans that are installed in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Vent your dryer to the outside.
Check that outdoor air inlets are located away from pollutant sources.

Humidity

It’s a known fact that the human body tends to feel most comfortable at a relative humidity of about 45%. But what can you do when the environment in your home feels “sticky” and you just can’t cool off? When relative humidity levels rise above the 45% mark, the human body has trouble cooling down. Our natural system of sweating to cool the body is counteracted because higher levels of humidity prevent its evaporation from the skin.

Not only are you feeling uncomfortable when humidity levels are greater than 55% but your home can become the perfect haven for mold, mildew, bacteria, fungi, and dust mites. Moreover, these pollutants can have adverse health effects.

Indoor Air Quality tips:

In summer, use air conditioners or dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels.
Check for leaks in your home’s plumbing. Even slow leaks can raise humidity
levels in the home.

Tom Rostron Co., Inc.

Our website can help you:

Call Us Today

Find Us