The Best Furnace Humidifier Settings for Winter Comfort in Jeffersonville, KY

Winters are notorious for dry air, as moisture levels drop during the coldest months of the year. Installing a whole-home humidifier could help keep your home comfortable all season, but what should a furnace humidifier be set at in the winter?

Air Support Heating and Cooling proudly offers residential and commercial HVAC services in Jeffersonville, KY. As a locally owned and operated business, we know the humidity challenges residents face in the winter. To learn about recommended humidity levels for wintertime comfort, keep reading.

Relative Humidity: What Is It?

Before answering “What should furnace humidifiers be set at in the winter?” you should know about relative humidity and its impact on your Jeffersonville home or business. Relative humidity refers to how much water vapor a building can accumulate before condensation forms on surfaces. 

Temperature impacts airborne water content. The colder it is inside your property, the lower its humidity level will be. That’s why your home or business tends to feel drier and more stale in the winter than in the summer; the temperature decrease causes the indoor air to lose some of its water vapor.

The Problem With Too Much or Too Little Humidity Inside a Jeffersonville Property

Let’s say your property has dry air due to Jeffersonville’s cold winters. In that case, you might invest in a whole-home humidifier for your heating system to restore the moisture your home or business loses when it’s cold outside. Unless you know the appropriate humidifier settings, though, you could create a new set of problems for your indoor spaces. 

If the indoor air contains high moisture levels but it’s extremely cold outside, condensation will bead up on your windows and walls. Depending on the temperature discrepancy, the water could remain a liquid or freeze. Either option is problematic because that excess moisture creates the perfect environment for out-of-control mold growth, which can damage your property and personal belongings or trigger health issues. 

So, is the alternative to keep the building dry all winter? Not exactly. Overly dry air is also problematic and can cause problems like:

• Irritated sinuses
• Itchy eyes
• Increased risks of respiratory infections
• Dry, flaky skin

What Are the Appropriate Winter Humidity Settings?

The ideal indoor humidity level is between 30% and 60%. If you have a commercial or home heating system with a humidifier, you might wonder, “What should the furnace humidifier be set at during the winter?” The key is to balance your equipment’s settings with the temperature outdoors.

Say it’s 20 to 40 degrees outside. In that case, you should adjust your humidifier’s settings to maintain at or under 40%. If the outdoor temperatures are 20 degrees or less, your indoor humidity level should be around 25% to 30%

The Top Benefits of Maintaining Optimal Indoor Humidity During the Winter at Your Jeffersonville Home or Business

You shouldn’t overlook your property’s humidity level in wintertime. Maintaining the appropriate moisture level with a humidifier does more than optimize your Jeffersonville property’s comfort. It also provides the following advantages:

Better Health

It might be surprising to learn that humidity and health go hand-in-hand. Microbes like mold spores and many bacterial and viral strains prefer environments with excessive humidity. By balancing the moisture content in your building’s indoor air, you can minimize the spread of illnesses. 

Protection for Your Belongings

Condensation and dry air can damage certain building materials and furnishings. Using your humidifier correctly can help preserve wood flooring and other materials that might warp, stain, or crack due to moisture or lack thereof.

Energy Savings

Did you know that humidity can directly influence your indoor comfort? When you achieve the right balance, your space will feel warmer naturally.

That means you can turn down your thermostat a few degrees without sacrificing your comfort. Not overworking your furnace also means you can lower your monthly utility expenses.