What Is the Ideal Humidity in Your Home During Winter in Fredonia, WI?

Heating systems have a drying effect on interior spaces since warmth makes moisture evaporate faster. So, heat often comes at the cost of another often-forgotten yet essential component of comfort: humidity. But what is the ideal humidity in your home during winter, and how can you achieve it? 



At Professional Services, we specialize in indoor air quality in Fredonia, WI. Our team knows why property humidity is imperative for comfortable, healthy households. You’ll learn the ideal moisture metric and how to regulate indoor humidity below. 

Why Proper Humidity Is Imperative to Household Health and Comfort

Humidity is integral to a healthy indoor atmosphere. If you have too much of it, you might struggle with mold growth or pest infestations. Mold thrives in damp atmospheres, while roaches and mites seek moisture for hydration. 

Meanwhile, low humidity comes with its own consequences:

• Furniture and structural damage: Many materials need a base moisture level to stay intact without splintering. An arid atmosphere can cause wood, concrete, and other building materials to crumble. 
• Cool-feeling environment: No matter what your thermostat says, you’ll feel cooler than the actual temperature since moisture helps retain warmth. 
• Dry, itchy skin: Dry skin feels tight, looks flaky, and may itch. 
• Sinus irritation: You might awaken with a dry mouth, red eyes, or cracked nasal cavities. 
• Dehydration: More moisture evaporates through your skin in a dry environment, which dehydrates you faster. 

So, what is the ideal humidity in your home during winter? First, let’s explore how your location affects residential humidity management.

Why Does Your Fredonia Home Feel So Much Drier During Winter?

Temperatures in Fredonia, Wisconsin, can plummet below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for up to half the year. That means your heating system works constantly to keep you warm. Even warm seasons are incredibly mild compared to other regions.

Your home's humidity levels in the winter plummet with the temperatures for a few reasons. First, the cold outdoor environment condenses moisture to a solid state via snow and ice. Therefore, airborne moisture doesn't penetrate doors and windows as readily. 

Second, your heater constantly runs, which makes any atmospheric moisture evaporate faster so it doesn’t linger in the air for long. Now, what is the ideal humidity in your home during winter? Which dry winter air solutions should you explore? 

Finding the Ideal Humidity in Your Home During Winter Weather

The ideal humidity in your home during winter is between 30% and 50%. You might aim for the higher end, so you have some atmospheric leeway. Fredonia’s cold-season climate isn’t conducive to maintaining optimal winter humidity. 

Therefore, you need a dependable method to add moisture to your indoor environment and spread it evenly throughout your home. When you have complete humidity control, you can reap additional perks, like:

• Fewer airborne pollutants
• Less severe sinus and allergy symptoms 
• Lower utility bills because the home feels warmer

Ways To Address Humidity Problems

What is the ideal humidity in your home during winter that fits your needs? If you keep plants, reptiles, or warm-blooded pets like cats and dogs, push for 50%. If you do well in drier environments or have faced mold issues in the past, aim for 40% or less.

You can ensure better indoor humidity control with DIY or professionally installed home humidification. DIY options include boiling water in a pot over the stove. The water will vaporize as it heats, dispersing into the air. 

The problem with this method is that it stays localized. You’ll have to boil off a big pot of water for it to eventually reach the farthest parts of your home. The gas or electricity usage may not justify the elevated moisture levels unless you live in a small house. 

You can purchase and set up indoor tropical plants throughout the home to boost humidity from room to room, too. When you water them, they’ll offload moisture and slightly increase the humidity. But they aren’t the most effective option either.

Your best bet is a professionally sized and installed humidifier from an HVAC company in Fredonia, Wisconsin. Whole-home humidifiers evenly disperse moisture throughout every room in your home. You can program your preferred moisture settings much like a thermostat. 

Professional Services Offers Indoor Air Quality Services and Technologies in Fredonia, Wisconsin

Enjoy ideal humidity levels in your home during winter with whole-home humidifiers from Professional Services. We also carry other indoor air quality technologies to improve your interior atmosphere in Fredonia, Wisconsin. Begin your journey into IAQ possibilities by understanding probiotic air purifiers.