How Humid Should You Keep Your Home

Humidifiers

Getting the right humidity at home is a vital part of staying comfortable. A home that’s too humid can make you feel clammy, while a home that’s ...

Posted by Ryan | March 21, 2023

Getting the right humidity at home is a vital part of staying comfortable. A home that’s too humid can make you feel clammy, while a home that’s not humid enough can feel scratchy and dry. Health Canada recommends keeping your humidity between 30% and 55%—but what exactly does this mean and how can you do it consistently in Alberta’s unique climate?

Installing whole-home humidifiers throughout Calgary and Edmonton is something we’ve done for years at Action Furnace, so our team knows all about how to nail this crucial aspect of home comfort. Read on as we walk you through why humidity matters and what you can do to keep your levels correct.

Why Humidity Is Harder to Get Right in Alberta

Alberta’s climate is notoriously dry, especially in the winter. During the coldest months of the year, humidity in Calgary and Edmonton can easily drop below 30%. When this occurs, you might experience:

Dry, itchy skin
Cracked lips
Coughing, congestion, or nosebleeds
Static electricity buildup on skin or clothes
Increased susceptibility to allergies or illnesses
Damage to wooden floors and furnitures

Humidity in Alberta typically rises during the summer months, but running your air conditioner can offset this by removing moisture from the air in your home. This means you might experience the symptoms listed above, even when the weather is warm. Too much humidity isn’t good either—so you’ll want to keep your humidity levels below 55% when the temperature spikes, which can happen unexpectedly during Alberta summers. It’s a difficult balancing act.

How Humid Should You Keep Your Home? Calgary & Edmonton Edition

Finally, remember that Alberta’s temperatures can vary significantly during any season—which means you might be running your air conditioner or furnace outside of the regular cooling or heating seasons. All of these factors make it hard to keep your home humidity levels stable without specific equipment.

How to Stabilize Home Humidity in Calgary or Edmonton

The best way to ensure consistent humidity in your home is to use a whole-home humidifier. Whole-home humidifiers add moisture to the air flowing through your ductwork, ensuring consistent humidity throughout your entire home.

Whole-home humidifiers tend to be more energy-efficient and easier to regulate than standalone models, which only provide humidity in the specific rooms they’re placed in and can easily add too much or too little if you forget to adjust each individual unit. Since whole-home humidifiers are installed directly in your HVAC system, they automatically provide the right level of humidity based on your thermostat settings—making it much easier to keep the balance right, even in Alberta’s unpredictable climate.

The Benefits of Improving Your Humidity

Having the right humidity level at home provides numerous benefits—to both your health and the condition of your home. Here’s what you can expect:

Health Benefits

Reduced risk of respiratory infections
Reduced chance of developing asthma or allergies
Less irritation to the nose, throat and lungs
Relief from dry skin, cracked lips, bloody noses, sinus congestion, and itchy eyes
Easier breathing during sleep

Home Benefits

Lower risk of hardwood floors warping, separating, and splitting
Prevents wood furniture from shrinking, warping, and cracking
Helps prevent rot, mold, and mildew
Extends the lifespan of furniture, carpets, and other household items
Reduces the risk of silver tarnishing
Less static electricity in the air

Installing a Whole Home Humidifier in Your HVAC System

Whole-home humidifiers are easier to use properly than standalone versions—and while they typically cost a bit more, you only have to buy one instead of purchasing a separate unit for each room. Buying a whole-home humidifier with the right capacity and features is one of the most cost-effective and convenient ways to keep your home in Healthy Canada’s recommended range throughout Alberta’s changing temperatures, dry winters, and short, hot summers.

For an accurate quote on an effective whole-home humidifier, contact Action Furnace and speak with one of our professional comfort advisors. We’ll ask you a few quick questions about your home’s requirements and help you create a plan for adding the right equipment to your HVAC system.