Humidity. It’s not a problem associated with the chilly outdoor climes of the UK, but we need to be aware of it. Too much indoor humidity in our homes or offices can cause serious health problems.
Humidity measures the proportion of water vapour in the atmosphere or the measure of dampness. Too much humidity combined with high temperatures can cause our bodies to overheat, and the consequences can be dangerous.
In this blog, we explore high humidity, see how interior humidity can affect your body and health, and find safe indoor humidity levels. Learn more below.
Dangers of High Humidity
When the temperature and relative humidity are high, the air feels damp and murky.
Too much humidity can actually cause your body temperature to rise. Humidity hampers the body’s ability to regulate body temperature in order to cool down. If this happens, your body will naturally attempt to sweat, but this response will be impeded by too much humidity in the air.
As a result, you’ll start breathing more rapidly. You may well begin feeling sluggish, foggy and light-headed. If the situation continues for a prolonged period, you may also feel muscle cramps or even faint. Eventually, you could even develop heat exhaustion or suffer a potentially fatal heat stroke.
How Much Humidity is Too Much?
The ideal indoor humidity levels for comfort and for avoiding health effects are between 35 and 60 per cent. Spending time in a home or workplace with over 60 per cent humidity means you’re increasingly likely to experience certain health issues.
Experts generally agree that the ideal indoor humidity levels for comfort and for avoiding health effects are between 35 and 60 percent. When you’re spending time in a home or workplace with humidity levels in excess of 60 percent, it’s increasingly likely that you will experience certain health issues.
Let’s look at the direct effects on the body from too much humidity. However, it’s even more likely that you’ll experience the indirect effects, so we’ll also explain how humidity alters your environment and how those effects can be detrimental to your health.
3 Common Causes of High Humidity
We’ve seen how too much humidity is linked to some serious health problems, but what are the causes? The three most common root causes of high humidity are
- Ventilation issues – without a flow of fresh air, the chemical and organic pathogens that cause illness and discomfort from humidity can occur. The answer may be to have a qualified professional change the HVAC design by adding makeup air or re-routing ductwork.
- Wrong AC unit for the space/room – air conditioners that are too powerful for the space can have problems. The unit may turn on and off frequently without removing humidity from the air. Here the solution may be to downgrade your HVAC equipment to control the humidity in your space.
- Neglected A/C maintenance – this can allow too much humidity into your space. This is just one of many problems caused by poor maintenance of AC equipment. In this case, it needs to be cleaned up and tuned to proper working condition.
What are the Indirect Effects of High Humidity?
Exposure to high humidity levels in an indoor environment can cause you to become ill, especially from respiratory infections. We know that viruses spread more easily in humidity levels higher than 60 percent relative humidity. Humid air causes contaminants to remain airborne for a prolonged period before settling onto surfaces.
According to a report by the National Institute of Health, high air humidity raises the level of fungi and dust mites, two of the worst guilty parties for indoor allergy sufferers. If you find yourself surrounded by people coughing and sneezing, be aware that those harmful germs will be spreading, raising your chances of getting sick.
Professional Commercial Ventilation Services from Accurate Mechanical Services
Humidity is one of many problems caused by poor maintenance of your AC equipment. Mechanical and natural ventilation solutions from Accurate Mechanical Services will help prevent it and keep any building safe.
We’re experts at providing ventilation that works, from industrial air pumps to ventilation shafts and air conditioning. Working with us will ensure your building meets and exceeds ventilation regulation requirements, as our industry-leading expertise in ventilation and HVAC allow us to provide the very best for our clients.