What Should My Furnace Humidifier Be Set to in Winter?

In the winter, dry indoor air can cause serious discomfort. From increased respiratory issues to dry skin and eyes, your body suffers when the air is too dry. A humidifier is a great tool to help improve your indoor air quality so you can enjoy a better quality of life, but too much humidity is also a problem and can increase mold growth in your home.

The right settings will ensure your humidity level is exactly where it should be, offering safe, comfortable air for your home.

Contact James A. Wheat & Sons at (301) 241-9636 to learn more about our humidifier services in Gaithersburg.

Understanding Relative Humidity

Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor the air in your Gaithersburg home holds. It’s measured in percents and indicates the percent of humidity in the air compared to the amount it can hold before the water is forced to condense.

So, a relative humidity level of 50% means the air holds half as much water as it can.

Relative humidity changes with the temperature of the air. Warmer air can hold more water than cooler air. Because the cooler air in winter is less humid than the warm air in summer, indoor humidity levels drop when the outdoor temperature drops.

Have questions about your furnace humidifier? Call James A. Wheat & Sons today at (301) 241-9636.

Setting the Indoor Humidity

The humidifier attached to your furnace or HVAC system is set based on relative humidity. A comfortable relative humidity for most homes throughout the summer, spring, and fall is between 30% and 50%. If you set your humidifier to this level, it should be comfortable for your home and family most of the year.

However, when temperatures drop significantly in winter, you may need to re-adjust. A humidity level of around 50% will cause damaging condensation on your home’s window sills and walls. When the temperature is between 0 and 10 degrees, you’ll be better served with a humidity level of 20%. When the outdoor temperature is between 10 and 20 degrees, change the setting to 25%.

Of course, tracking outdoor temperatures is a bit of a bother. If you’d rather not, set your humidifier to between 30% and 50%, then lower the humidity if you start to notice window condensation.

Our experts service steam humidifiers, whole-house humidifiers, and more.

Call James A. Wheat & Sons today at (301) 241-9636.

Trust James A. Wheat & Sons for Humidifier Services in Maryland & Washington, DC

If you have a question about the best setting for your furnace humidifier, James A. Wheat & Sons can help. Our home comfort experts can help you determine the best possible setting for your humidifier to enjoy comfortable humidity levels all winter.

If you have further questions about optimizing the use of your humidifier or want help installing a humidifier to reduce dry air problems, give us a call. We also offer furnace repair.

Interested in furnace humidifier installation? Contact us at (301) 241-9636 for more about our humidifier services in Montgomery County and throughout Washington, DC.