Relative Humidity, Lungs, Windows and You

Water gets everywhere, sometimes. And it gets into the air, but never exactly the way we want it to. Managing moisture in your home is an important part of being energy-smart, comfortable and healthy.

The glass at left is a window, in a home, in cold weather, condensing water on the inner surface. The glass, to get just a teeny bit technical, has reached a temperature below the "Dew Point" of the air inside, resulting in "dew," or condensation, accumulating on the cold glass.

So? Natural phenomenon, you say. Well known fact, water beads up on mirrors in hot bathrooms, on windows in cold weather, on your spectacles when you come inside on a cold day. Way of the world, Circle of Life, all that. Fair enough. But how much condensation can the windows handle before they rot? How much condensation can take place in your walls (and on them) before mold begins to grow and your air becomes unhealthy? How much moisture should be in the air for your lungs to remain healthy and comfortable all winter?

We'll come back to the specifics in future posts. For now, in this introduction, just realize that your lungs, your walls, your house plants, your pets, your old piano and your light-sleeping partner who hates your snoring all have an interest in how much moisture lives in the air in your house. Don't neglect to use the link above to hear the Lion King theme. I do this stuff for you, you know.