Indoor Humidity During Winter – What Should It Be?
A common question, “What should the house humidity be in the winter?” That’s a good question…
Humidity in the home during winter sure does get dry! The colder it gets outside, the drier the air gets inside a heated home.
Do you know what is an ideal indoor humidity level during the winter? I will tell you my preferred indoor winter humidity and how I adjust it based on the outside temperature if it gets really cold outside.
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BEST INDOOR HUMIDITY LEVEL DURING WINTER
My generally preferred indoor humidity during winter is 40%
(HOWEVER, See Update below for very cold weather)
Why 40%? Because if I set the humidifier much higher, the edges of my window panes become excessively damp, and even frosty when the outdoor temperatures get really cold.
My windows are dual-pane Anderson ‘high performance’. But they will still develop moisture around the edges when it is bery cold outside. I find that a 35 – 40% indoor humidity level is a good balance for me.
To be more specific: I adhere to the following guideline for indoor humidity settings versus outdoor temperature. It has worked out pretty well to minimize moisture on the windows while still providing decent humidity indoors during the winter months.
Best Winter Indoor Humidity Level
What humidity should I set my humidifier to? Well, that depends a lot on the outdoor temperature.
Here’s a guideline for setting your winter indoor humidity level based on outdoor temperature. This is meant to minimize moisture on your windows.
A number of years ago my dad revealed this to me (his winter indoor humidity guideline secret). I started following it, and it worked pretty well at my place. So I’m sharing it with the world :)
Outdoor Temp. 20 – 40 degrees-F > Indoor Humidity 40%
Outdoor Temp. 10 – 20 degrees-F > Indoor Humidity 35%
Outdoor Temp. 0 – 10 degrees-F > Indoor Humidity 30%
Outdoor Temp. -10 – 0 degrees-F > Indoor Humidity 25%
Why Indoor Humidity Gets Dry In The Winter
It’s just the way the science works. When it is cold outside, and the heating system in your home warms up that air, the indoor humidity level drops. It gets drier.
When cold outdoor air is supplied and heated in a building – the relative humidity of the air indoors will decrease.
And often it gets A LOT DRIER! To the point of being uncomfortable!
Here’s an example of what happens:
If the outdoor temperature during the winter is 20 degrees (F) and outdoor humidity is 60%, when heated indoors to 70 degrees (F) the indoor humidity level will drop to just 6% !
Your real world experience (from the example above) may result in slightly higher humidity levels in the home due to other factors.
– taking a shower generates humidity
– boiling water, cooking
– breathing
– type of heating system
However the humidity level will still be low and dry! When the indoor humidity level drops below 40%, you begin to notice.
But first, here’s what you don’t notice and something that you should pay attention to:
You begin to become dehydrated! Our natural perspiration quickly dries out. You probably won’t even feel thirsty at first. However be aware of this. It could lead to issues. Stay hydrated! Here’s an article I wrote about it:
[ Read: We Don’t Drink Enough Water During The Winter ]
DRY SKIN From Low Humidity
That’s probably the first thing you notice during winter. For me, it’s my hands. They dry out first. But it’s everything. All your skin dries out. It even cracks when it gets real bad.
TIP: I’ve been using this stuff for years. Mainly on my hands. It’s great.
DRY NOSE From Low Humidity
Then goes the nose. The mucus membranes dry out. That gets uncomfortable and annoying. Worst case you might even get a bloody nose…
CHAPPED LIPS From Low Humidity
No explanation necessary. It happens during winter, inside or outdoors. We have plenty of Chapstick around the house, in the truck, wherever…
ITCHY SKIN From Low Humidity
Yep, dry skin leads to itchy skin…
DRY EYES From Low Humidity
Wear contact lenses? Say hello to lots of re-wetting drops. I used to wear contacts all the time. Years ago I switched over to mostly wearing glasses. My eyes just feel better that way. Although it can be a nuisance during winter when they fog up for various reasons. Like going indoors after being outdoors. Or out snowmobiling with my helmet on (I usually wear contacts for that scenario). Or putting on goggles during a snowstorm for whatever reason I might have to be outside…
STATIC ELECTRICITY From Low Humidity
ZAP! Handle a fleece blanket and you’re gonna get zapped! Another effect is your hair standing out. Or you go to pick up your pet and he yelps as he gets shocked (followed by the nasty eye like you hurt him on purpose)! Oh, when you go to open that door and grab the door handle… ZAP!
CONCLUSION
A whole-house or large room humidifier placed in the main living area of your home will result in better health and well being during the winter. It will help alleviate the indoor dry weather effects listed above.
[ Read:
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During Winter