Relative humidity (RH) affects the well-being of humans as well as the house itself. It contributes to key concepts like "thermal comfort" and "dew point". Excess moisture can cause mold to grow. Low humidity can cause paint to chip, wood to crack, and exacerbate respiratory illnesses and skin conditions.
Levels are affected by outdoor temp and RH, indoor activities, and how the house was built. It's important to understand that solving for high/low RH needs to take many factors into consideration
Achieving EPA-recommended 30-60% may not be achievable in certain climates. HAVEN IAQ currently focuses on solving for high RH, as dehumidification solutions tend to be slightly less complex to solve in many regions than low RH.
Temperature has a large effect on the "thermal comfort" within a home, along with relative humidity and airflow conditions. If airflow within a home is hovering around 0.2m/s and relative humidity is around 50%, ASHRAE recommends temperatures range between 68.5°F-75°F (20°C-24°C) in cooler seasons and 75°F-80.5°F (24°C -27°C) in warmer seasons.
Controlling moisture can make your home more energy-efficient, less costly to heat and cool and ultimately more comfortable.
Most regions can achieve between 30–60% relative humidity which is deemed "Optimal" by the EPA. Not only is this range beneficial for your body but also for keeping bacteria and mold at bay in your house.
High humidity can result in low energy or lethargy, rooms begin to feel quite stuffy and our thermal comfort drops significantly. At HAVEN we believe we can do better for you and your home.
Effects of high humidity on your home
- Humidity control is vital for comfort and ensuring mildew and mold does not begin to build up in your home.
- Persistent humidity above 60% can lead to mold and mildew forming and this can have serious health risks.
- The optimal range for home humidity is 40-60%. This band ensures the home is not too dry so as to cause low humidity issues such as static or dry skin irritation, and not too damp leading to moisture buildup.
What can you do to mitigate humidity issues in your home?
- When taking a shower or cooking on your stovetop ensure you always run your extractor fans or range hood.
- Running this a little longer than cooking or showering will aid in removing the moisture-laden air from your home.
- Open a window to introduce fresh air. Fresh air is a fantastic way to aid in IAQ improvement. Make sure that the window remains closed if you are running your home's HVAC system as this will be counterproductive and increase operating costs
What HAVEN can do for you
We've developed a range of products and software to ensure we can both monitor & solve IAQ events, including high humidity.
- The HAVEN Central Air Monitor is a solid-state IoT device that continuously monitors your air, capturing tVOC and PM data and notifying you directly of any IAQ issues you need to be made aware of.
- The HAVEN Central Air Controller works in tandem with the Central Air Monitor to react to IAQ events and control your HVAC equipment in order to solve IAQ problems.
- eg. when the Monitor senses a chemical spike, the Controller can activate your ERV/HRV to introduce clean fresh air.
- You'll receive notification of this action via the HAVEN IAQ App, just like the image below.
- Once the Monitor is satisfied that your air has re-entered EPA-approved thresholds, the Controller will shut down the ventilator.
- If you don't already have HAVEN products installed, peak to your HVAC contractor today about adopting HAVEN products to control your air.
- They can reach out to us at prosupport@haveniaq.com for more information.
- We'll help them find the best solution to resolving any IAQ concerns you may have.
If you have any questions about our HAVEN IAQ products, our dedicated Support Team can be contacted directly via 1-888-964-2836 or support@haveniaq.com
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