Humidity plays a major role in the air you breathe, both inside and outside. When moisture levels climb, mold, dust mites, and bacteria can flourish. If the air dips too low, you may notice dry skin, a scratchy throat, or itchy eyes.
Learn more about how moisture levels influence air quality, and find practical ways to keep your indoor air clean and healthy.
Understanding Humidity and Air Quality
Humidity, measured as relative humidity (RH), shows how much water vapor is in the air compared to its maximum at a given temperature. For comfort and protection against mold, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping indoor RH between 30% and 50%.
Below 30%, the air feels dry and can irritate your skin and throat. Above about 60%, excess moisture can encourage mold growth and dust mites. Staying within that range helps you feel more comfortable and cuts down on moisture-related problems.
“Air quality” refers to how clean your indoor air is — how free it is of everything from tiny particles and mold spores to household chemicals and allergens.
Since many pollutants accumulate inside, it makes sense to track both humidity and indoor air quality. Using a hygrometer or an air quality testing device gives you the information you need to keep your home’s air healthier.
How Does High Humidity Hurt Air Quality?
When indoor humidity climbs above about 60%, mold spores in the air usually land on wet surfaces and start growing, often within one or two days. Mold can damage walls and furniture and trigger coughing, asthma, and allergies.
Dust mites, which are tiny insects that live in carpets, bedding, and furniture, thrive at around 70% to 80% RH, and their droppings are strong allergens that cause sneezing, itchy eyes, and wheezing in sensitive people.
High humidity can also increase other indoor pollutants. Water vapor can help chemicals off-gas from paints, carpets, or furniture, raising volatile organic compound (VOC) levels. Damp air often smells stale or musty; these odors can signal hidden pollutants. In warm, moist air, you may feel like the air is “heavy” — this happens because moisture makes your air more dense.
What Can You Do to Control Humidity and Improve Air Quality?
Here are steps you can take at home to manage moisture and boost internal air quality:
- Open windows or run exhaust fans when you shower or cook to let moist air escape
- Use your air conditioner or a standalone dehumidifier on humid days to pull excess moisture from the air
- Fix leaks, seal foundation cracks, and redirect gutter runoff to keep water from seeping into your home
- Install high-efficiency or HEPA filters in your HVAC system to capture mold spores, dust, and allergens
- Keep a hygrometer in key rooms and aim for indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50%
- Replace or clean HVAC filters regularly and check that fans and humidifiers are working properly
- Vacuum and dust at least once a week to cut down on allergens and musty odors
Putting these steps into practice allows you to keep moisture under control and protect your home from mold and allergens.
Keep Your Air Fresh With Air Repair Pros
Air Repair Pros is locally owned and operated out of Frisco. We have proudly served North Dallas since 1998. Our highly trained, certified technicians are committed to 100% satisfaction and are ready to help with your HVAC needs.
Contact us today or schedule service online to keep your home comfortable.
