Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air - whether you are indoors or outdoors. Higher humidity can make you feel hot and sticky, while lower humidity can make your skin, lips, and eyes feel dry.

Among other things, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) sets indoor humidity standards and guidelines. They say that anything above 60% is considered high indoor humidity.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends indoor humidity levels between 30-50% for optimal comfort. Between 30-45% in the winter should keep you warm and comfortable while between 40-50% in the summer should provide a comfortable home.

Humidity levels that are outside the optimal range can potentially negatively impact your home, your health, and your indoor air quality (IAQ). High humidity can provide an environment for mold, mildew, and dust mites to thrive. This can exacerbate allergies and make it harder for people with asthma to breathe. 

By contrast, low humidity can allow bacteria, viruses, and other pollutants to move more freely in the air. Keeping the indoor humidity levels between 40-50% can help prevent respiratory infections caused by bacteria and viruses.

The best way to achieve the ideal indoor humidity at home is by investing in a whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier, depending on the issues you are experiencing. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers work behind the scenes to keep your home at optimal humidity levels, so you don't have to think about your home's humidity. 

You can measure and monitor their indoor humidity levels with a digital humidity meter (hygrometer) which you can find at most hardware stores.

A humidifier is a supplementary HVAC system component that controls the humidity levels in your home by adding moisture into the air. Humidifiers aim to keep your home within the optimal humidity level range of 30% to 50% humidity. A whole-house humidifier can be a wise investment for people in colder climates and dry climates.

Humidifiers can help lower the risk of airborne virus particles spreading in your home. Plus, they can help you mitigate health issues like skin and throat irritation, nose bleeds, and static shock/electricity, as well as home issues like cracked wood and chipped paint.

A whole-house dehumidifier is an add-on HVAC system component that removes moisture from the air. Dehumidifiers can help keep the humidity levels closer to a comfortable 50%. Humidity levels of 55% can start to make you feel uncomfortable, while humidity at or above 60% allows mold and mildew to grow.

Dehumidifiers can help make your home more comfortable and reduce the risk of mold and mildew and a thriving dust mite population. If you find your indoor humidity levels are out of optimal range, changing your indoor humidity level with a humidifier can provide great benefits.

Consult with your local Trane dealer to find the right solutions for your home.