New parents in this region may face challenges associated with baby room humidity more often than not. Humidity levels in this region fluctuate throughout the year. Summers are humid and fall and winter are dry. Too much or too little humidity is hard for people of all ages to cope with. Babies, in particular, have even less ability.
Ideally, the humidity indoors should range between 30 and 55 percent year-round. Air that’s too dry will irritate the mucous membranes of the nose, sinuses, throat and lungs. Tiny fissures can form in these tissues that makes them sore and more vulnerable to bacterial or viral infections. Excessively dry skin will itch and may crack. Overly humid air is also uncomfortable and could lead to bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infections.
A hygrometer measures the amount of humidity in the air, much like a thermostat tells you the temperature. They’re available at hardware stores and online and are the most accurate way to judge whether you need to manage baby room humidity.
Managing Humidity
There are two approaches to maintaining proper humidity levels for the nursery. The first is to use portable humidifiers and dehumidifiers. The second is to install whole-house systems to manage the levels automatically and throughout your entire home.
Portable system benefits include:
- Low upfront costs.
- Plug and play.
Their disadvantages include:
- Daily maintenance required.
- Cumbersome.
- Not completely safe.
Benefits of whole-house systems include:
- Little maintenance required.
- Whole-house humidity management.
- Automatic operation.
- Completely safe.
- Low risk of bacterial or mold growth.
Their disadvantages include:
- Higher upfront cost.
- Professional installation required.
If you rely on a central air conditioner throughout the summer, it may manage the summertime humidity levels for you. Your hygrometer will indicate whether it’s removing adequate amounts of humidity. During the heating season, the humidity may drop to uncomfortably dry levels, at which time you’ll need to add a humidifier to increase the health and comfort of the nursery.
For professional advice about maintaining baby room humidity in safe and comfortable levels, contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, providing trusted HVAC services for Fort Wayne homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.