The Ideal Temperature and Humidity Level for Your Home

Unfortunately, we need to adapt to the temperature outside. At the same time, we can control the parameters of the air at home using air conditioning and humidification systems. But what are the most comfortable numbers on the thermometer and hygrometer?

5-Minute Crafts found the optimal air temperatures and humidity for homes.

Temperature

First of all, let’s figure out why it’s necessary to maintain the optimum temperature at home.

The fact is that cold air negatively affects our health.

• The risk of developing respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma attacks increase.
• Constricted vessels increase the workload on the circulatory system, which can lead to cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease or stroke.

Too high air temperatures, in turn, also cause discomfort and increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

There is no temperature correct for everyone. For example, a scientific study showed that men feel more comfortable at 71.6°F, while women feel more comfortable at 77.1°F.

However, there are comfortable indoor temperatures recommended by the World Health Organization, which range from 64°F to 75°F.

As for infants, the elderly, and adults who have serious health problems, the minimum recommended temperature is 68°F.

Humidity

As with temperatures, low or high humidity levels can also be dangerous for human health.

At a low humidity level, you can experience a sore throat, stuffy nose, dry skin, and fatigue. In addition, respiratory infections, such as influenza, can spread faster in a dry environment.

High humidity can lead to the formation of mold, which can cause allergies or atopic dermatitis.

The WHO recommends indoor humidity levels be between 30% and 50%. However, some scientists define a different interval at 40%-60%. This humidity level is believed to be beneficial for the human immune system.

Real and perceived temperatures

If you try to reach ideal conditions, these 2 indicators should not be separated from each other because the perception of temperature directly depends on the level of humidity. The higher the air humidity, the warmer the human body feels.

If the room temperature is 70°F, it will be perceived as 64°F at low humidity (10%), and 71°F
at high humidity (80%).

This phenomenon is directly related to the mechanism of thermoregulation of the body. If the sweat can’t evaporate (high humidity), there is no cooling, and the temperature seems to be higher than it really is.

If you know this, you can save on heating costs — instead of adding more power to the radiator or turning on the heater, increase your home humidity level.