It’s what makes your floors creak in the winter and makes doors and windows stick in the summer. It makes nails pop and basements musty. It makes frosty windows in the winter and sticky nights in the summer. Let us introduce you to (if you didn’t already know), the hygrometer (pronounced hai·graa·muh·tr)
A Hygrometer Keeps Your Home, Your Belongings and Your Health in Check
And here is why….Too little moisture or too much moisture can cause havoc on your home and your health.
A hygrometer is an instrument which measures the humidity of air or some other gas: that is, how much water vapor it contains. (Wikipedia)
Your home and structure are highly susceptible to movement due to humidity level changes. It is vitally important that a consistent humidity level be maintained throughout all seasons as it is the fluctuation of humidity that causes wood and other materials to change their dimension.
Humidity can be the cause of moisture issues in your home and should be kept in a range of 40-50%.
In the winter months when all our available moisture is locked up in snow and ice it is difficult to get enough humidity into your home. Most homes require the assistance of a humidifier(s) to maintain proper levels and add moisture to the air. These can be added to your furnace or can be a small stand-alone unit that you add to individual rooms in your home.
In the summer months, a dehumidifier can be used to take the additional moisture out of the air. These are often stand-alone units and most often are used in the basement. Central air conditioning can help lower humidity levels in the summer as well.
Here are a few things to consider:
If you install blinds on your basement windows, we recommend that you open them regularly to ensure that mold and mildew do not build up between the blind and the window.
If you are renovating, moisture can increase when new materials come in and dry out, like drywall or wood.
Hygrometers should be a must have in your home and are relatively inexpensive ranging between $10.00 and $30.00. They can be purchased at any hardware store or through Amazon.
In conclusion, it is important to keep home humidity levels within the optimal ranges as it has short-term and long-term impacts on our comfort, health, quality of our skin, belongings and even our ability to work.
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Written by the ARTium Design Build & Just Basements Team
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