Improving Your 2022 Indoor Air Quality With  Optimal Humidity Control 

With the recent announcement in Ontario regarding the return to Stage 2 of the reopening plan, it’s no wonder homeowners are beginning to rethink their home indoor air quality once again. 

Although this virus and its internal and external effects on our daily lives have been around for quite a while now, there is still much to learn about the virus. And, at Campeau Heating, we are continually finding new ways to help you, as homeowners, use the research practically in order to better combat these unwelcome germs - creating a safer, more comfortable environment for your family. 

If you haven’t taken the time to learn about the ways in which you can help limit the spread of this virus in your own home, this is the year. 

And to help you get started faster, we’ve compiled some of the research below and provided our advice on how to best put this knowledge into use within your own home. 

Our top focus in 2022? Humidity control. 

Note: If you haven’t read our previous article defining humidity, humidity control and the health effects of low humidity levels, we highly recommend giving it a read first!

What Is The Relation Between COVID-19 and Humidity Levels?

COVID-19 has been around for almost two years now and, as we’ve stated above, the journey of discovery surrounding this virus has been incredible! And with a new variant on the loose, there seems to be no shortage of necessary research regarding the control of its spread. 

Here’s one interesting (and quite beneficial) thing we know about COVID-19 and humidity: if controlled correctly, the correlation can appear much like a see-saw - one element lowering as the other is heightened and vice versa (also known as a negative correlation). 

To put this into perspective…

As humidity increases, two things occur to airborne viral droplets:

1. These droplets weaken more quickly. 
2. These droplets become heavier, preventing them from travelling longer distances. 

The result? As humidity increases, the general lingering and fast spread of airborne viral droplets decreases.

But wait…don’t make any conclusions about this correlation quite yet!

WARNING: Do Not Crank Your Indoor Humidifier To The Max

Although increased humidity levels have been proven to help combat the rapid spread of COVID-19, increasing humidity too much can actually cause other serious issues in your home. 

The best advice we can give you before we go into further detail is to never set your humidity levels above 60 percent.

How Do High Humidity Levels Affect Your Home?

• Mold
• Mildew
• Rot 
• Musty Odours 
• Structural Damage 
• Dust Mites
• Warped Wooden Floors 
• Peeled Paint
• Moisture Stains

Overall, too much moisture can bring about quite the extensive repair bill…

If your home’s humidity levels are already set too high, don’t worry! With the proper ventilation system installed in your home, you can lower the humidity levels to a more appropriate state.

Is There Really Such Thing As Winter Indoor Humidity?

Before the pandemic began, humidity was simply the unwelcome visitor in summer that brought sticky floors, frizzy hair, clammy skin and the all-too-common phrase - “hot-and-bothered”!

But did you know that humidity can be present in your home during the winter months as well? 

Some of the simple tasks that you complete on a daily basis throughout each season actually create quite a bit of humidity themselves, including: 

• Cooking 
• Laundry 
• Dishwashing 
• And Showering 

Other Factors Affecting Winter Indoor Humidity Include:

• Plumbing Leaks 
• Moisture In Your Foundation
• Poor Ventilation 
• Indoor Heating Preferences 
• HVAC Heating Equipment (age, reliability, usage thereof)
• And More!

Optimal Winter Indoor Humidity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

And that brings us to the real reason for this article - sharing the ideal indoor air humidity levels for your home this winter. 

Today, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, indoor air humidity should be kept between 40 and 60 percent. And, although there is fluctuation here from season to season, it should remain within that 20 percent variance at all times. 

Winter Indoor Humidity should be a minimum of 40 percent.

Summer Indoor Humidity should be a maximum of 60 percent. 

The Solution To Effective and Efficient Humidity Control

Now that you know exactly what percentage humidity to keep your home at this winter, how are you going to put that knowledge into practice realistically? 

With a whole home humidifier. 

This piece of HVAC equipment works as a constant humidity control feature - maintaining the humidity levels of your entire home all at once, rather than room by room (ie. such as with a portable humidifier solution). 

Other Benefits Of A Whole Home Humidifier:

• Improved Overall Health 
• Reduced Energy Bills
• Improved Sleep 
• Furniture and Home Protection
• Healthier Skin 

Start Improving Your Indoor Air Quality With Campeau Heating in Sudbury, Ontario

Our HVAC technicians at Campeau Heating are dedicated to providing our customers with home comfort that is focused on improving their safety and health. That’s why we always stay up-to-date with the most recent indoor air quality research - so that you can trust our team to give you the best advice possible when it comes to your family’s home safety. 

Are you looking to improve your indoor air quality in 2022? Contact our team today at (705) 560-2441 or Fill In This Form to get started on your indoor air quality solution!