



Recommended Humidity Levels
Medical authorities indicate that the level of humidity indoors should not be below 15%. It is generally acknowledged that the level of humidity in houses with a good vapour barrier should not exceed 40%, or, in older homes without a vapour barrier, 35%. Table 1, below, shows suggested levels of relative humidity for inside the home for varying outside temperatures.
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Controlling the Level of Humidity
Control of the level of humidity is aided if humidistats are used to control humidifiers. If the level of humidity becomes excessive the humidifiers should be switched off until the level of humidity is reduced to the correct level.
For normal day-to-day control of the level of relative humidity in the home the following steps should be considered:
- Water vapour is one of the products of combustion with natural gas stoves. Water vapour is also a by-product of cooking. The kitchen fan should be large enough to remove such vapour, or the kitchen door closed and a window opened for ventilation.
- Showers, especially, are a source of water vapour. The bathroom door should be kept closed and the room ventilated, using an exhaust fan, or by opening a window.
- Drying clothes on a line indoors and unvented dryers are sources of water vapour. The washing cycle is another source. When doing the laundry consider opening a window in the laundry room.
- Crawl spaces can be a source of water vapour if they have earthen floors which are not covered by plastic sheeting, or other waterproof membrane.
- Keep all rooms, even if unoccupied, heated to a minimum of 10°C (50°F) as condensation will occur in unheated rooms.
- As a general rule, long periods of background heating, plus topping-up during periods of occupancy, are more likely to prevent condensation than the same amount of heat introduced over a relatively short period.
- Open a window, or windows, for a brief period to ventilate the house each day.
- Leaving the damper open in a fireplace, or lighting a fire, will increase ventilation and assist the rate of air change.
- If you have a hot air furnace, install a direct fresh air intake.
Room-side glass temperatures - the room-side glass temperature plays an important role in occupant comfort in the home. With high room-side glass temperatures there is less likelihood of condensation forming, down-draughts are reduced making sitting nearer the patio door or window more comfortable, and maximum use can be made of floor space.
The thickness of the glass has little or no influence on room-side glass temperature. With double and triple-glazing units the width of the air space is an influence as is, in the case ofjjtr\ffifo|iliatart Low-E, the layer of invisible "insulation" that has been added to the glass.
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What can affect the performance of a window?
The following may cause condensation to form on a window:
Air Circulation - a window may be in an area in which there is poor circulation of warm air. This means that the temperature of the inside glass surface is colder than in other parts of the home and this may cause condensation to form at humidity levels which are practical for the rest of the home.
Drapes - By drawing heavy drapes over a window, or patio door, the possibility of condensation can be increased because the flow of warm air is restricted.
Interior insulating devices - insulating blinds, shutters, or similar devices, applied to the interior of windows, can contribute to condensation problems when moist indoor air is trapped between the device and the window. The insulating properties of these devices cause the temperature of the glass surface to be lower than normal and the trapped air to condense into moisture.
Varying Humidity Levels - remember that the humidity in some rooms, kitchens and bathrooms in particular, can be higher than in other areas of the home, thus encouraging condensation to form on the windows in these rooms.
Orientation - if windows are exposed to prevailing winds, then they will be slightly colder than the other windows in the home and may cause condensation to form at humidity levels which are practical for the rest of the home.
Exposure - some windwos in the home may be protected by other buildings, trees, etc, which form a windbreak, while other are totally exposed to the wind and, therefore, colder.
To find out more about Humidity In You Homes, visit the Energy Star website at
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystar/english/