Jason Earle

As usual, I’m right on top of things. It’s spring already, and I’m just getting around to reminding you of what you should have done all winter. It’s about keeping the humidity up in your home, to maintain health and comfort for you and your family, without creating problems associated with moisture. It’s exactly the opposite of what you should do during humid summer weather.

The entire article was published in Habitat Quarterly, and is posted here on 1800gotmold.com, so I’ll just give you a tease and let you jump there if you’re interested.

Our bodies are 75% water. Our brains are up to 85%.  All of our internal processes require robust hydration. A lack of water can cause numerous adverse health effects ranging from dry mucus membranes to nosebleeds and infections. In his book, The Body’s Many Cries for Water, Dr. Batmanghelidj asserts: “Chronic, unintentional dehydration is the origin of most pain and degenerative diseases in the human body.”

During the winter months – in cold climates – the humidity can drop to levels well below the human comfort zone. Air leaks allowing cold air into your home allow moisture be sucked right out of the building. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) suggests you maintain indoor relative humidity (RH) at 30-60%RH, but many people start experiencing some difficulties below 40%RH. In this case, adding moisture to the air is extremely important, but you must do it with a few things in mind, or else you’ll end up with a different set of problems.  Above 60%RH you start to create an environment potentially conducive to mold growth, dust mites, bacteria and other unwanted guests.

To read the entire article, go here.