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Humidification and Dehumidification solutions can be used in new construction, retrofit or add-on projects. Lack of humidity control can keep a home damp and sticky, while excessive dryness can crack woodwork and antiques, or create static electricity or dry skin. Get educated on whole home humidifiers and dehumidifiers, discuss options with a professional hvac contractor, and ultimately choose the right air conditioning system for your home or project.
Humidifiers operate by the principle that vapor is created when warm dry air is blown over a water-soaked area or through evaporated steam from heat water. As the vapor or steam circulates, the relative humidity rises in the living area. The optimal range for annual indoor relative humidity is 35% during the heating season, and 40-60% during the cooling season, according to ASHRAE standards. To understand the benefits of moisture control, one must first understand the terms and science behind this technology
The amount of moisture present at a given temperature versus the maximum amount of humidity the air is capable of holding at that same temperature. If relative humidity is 55% at a given temperature, the air is 55% saturated with water.
What the air feels like - how hot the heat-humidity combination makes it feel:
The temperature at which moisture in the air will condense into water droplets. To prevent condensation, dew point must be below the temperature of the coldest surface in the house. As the temperature of home surfaces drops below dew point, condensation forms.
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Without adequate humidification, the natural infiltration of cold, dry, outside air into a home will lower the indoor relative humidity far below the comfort level. Conversely, the natural infiltration of hot, moist, outdoor air into a home will increase the indoor relative humidity far above the comfort level. Too little humidity can damage wooden assets in the home, including hardwood floors, staircases, furniture, and musical instruments. Too much humidity can leave you feeling sticky or damp and create the opportunity for mold and fungal growth.