Humidity-related problems are generally worse during the winter in the North and during the summer in the South, but there are some year-round problems anywhere.

Indoor humidity levels can be controlled by just opening windows or running the furnace or air conditioner more, but these options increase your monthly utility bills and waste energy.

There is not just one ideal indoor humidity level. If you are referring to personal comfort, a target of 40 to 45 percent relative humidity is good. Most people are comfortable with a relative humidity ranging from 30 to 50 percent and can tolerate 20 to 60 percent. When the relative humidity is in the proper range, you can set your furnace or central air conditioner thermostat down or up respectively and save energy.

When the relative humidity level gets too high, there can be serious health problems related to allergies, dust mites, mold and mildew growth, and other harmful microbes. Being at the other extreme with the relative humidity too low, a person’s mucus membranes may dry out, increasing their susceptibility to colds and respiratory illnesses. Also, some nasty microbes prefer excessively dry air.

To understand how to control indoor humidity year-round, it is important to understand the term “relative humidity” or RH. Warmer air can hold more water vapor (moisture) than colder air. If the air at 75 degrees has a RH of 50 percent, it means the air is holding 50 percent of the maximum amount of water vapor it can hold at that temperature.

If that same air drops to 50 degrees, that same amount of water vapor may now be 70 percent RH of the maximum amount the cooler air can hold. When the air gets cool enough, next to window glass during the winter or the refrigerator door seal during the summer, it reaches a point when it can no longer hold that much water vapor. This is called the dew point. This is when the windows or the refrigerator door sweats or it starts to rain outdoors.

You can purchase an inexpensive hygrometer at most hardware and home center stores to measure indoor relative humidity. If you are having humidity-related problems, your best gauge of the proper relative humidity is when the problems are alleviated or, at least, tolerable.

For example, if you have old single-pane windows on the north side of your home, you would have to get the relative humidity level to an uncomfortably low level to avoid all window condensation on cold winter nights. On the south side, it may not be possible to stop all mold and mildew in the bathroom even if you run the vent fan and your central air conditioner almost continuously.

The keys to maintaining a comfortable and efficient indoor humidity level are to control the sources of moisture and ventilate them efficiently. The average person gives off one-quarter cup of moisture per hour just from breathing. If you exercise at home, it can be much higher. Cooking for a family of four produces five cups of moisture per day. A shower contributes one-half pint and a bath contributes one-eighth pint.

Exterior sources are leaky roofs, plumbing, windows and doors. Once you have taken care of these problem areas, check the slope of the ground around your home. It should slope downward slightly away from your house walls. Even with the best new windows, soggy soil around your home allows excess moisture to migrate indoors year-round.

Installing new efficient replacement windows or exterior storm windows is the best method to control a window condensation problem efficiently. This also saves energy during the summer cooling season. With more efficient glass, you should be able to close insulating window shades at night to save energy. With old windows, closing shades exacerbates condensation problems.

Install new bathroom vent fans with humidity sensors. These come on automatically and run until the humidity level drops. With a manual switch, you have to either turn it off prematurely when you leave for work or let it run all day. Also check the seal around the clothes dryer duct leading to the outdoor vent.

Install a new furnace/heat pump with a variable-speed blower and compatible thermostat to allow it to run in an efficient dehumidification mode during the summer. Make sure the damper handle on the central humidifier is set for the proper season. Use electric countertop cookers and vegetable steamers in the garage instead of in the kitchen during the summer.
I use an outdoor solar-powered steamer on sunny days.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Michigan Country Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244, or visit www.dulley.com.