Your home's thermostat is used to regulate the temperature, but it can also affect indoor humidity levels. In both the summer and winter months, humidity plays a role in your comfort and HVAC performance.

Air conditioners are used to cool your home as well as remove humid air. Without this dehumidifying effect, you may find that as soon as you turn on the heat, your house becomes unbearable.

Learning how to control your thermostat's humidity settings will help you improve indoor comfort and enjoy a more comfortable home all year-round.

Relative Humidity Control

The Relative Humidity (RH) measurement on a thermostat is the level of moisture in the air. During the winter, RH levels indoors should be 40 percent or lower, while it can rise to over 60 percent in the warmer months.

Your home's relative humidity is impacted by your HVAC system and thermostat settings. If humidity levels are too low, the air becomes dry, which can cause illness, discomfort, warped wood floors and furniture and an accumulation of static electricity.

High humidity levels can cause mold and bacteria to grow, which not only damages your HVAC system but also pose significant health risks to anyone inside. One of our HVAC professional technicians can help you strike the right balance between temperature and humidity indoors by taking your personal preferences, outdoor temperature and type of system into account.

Keep the Right Temperature

During the summer, your thermostat should be between 72 and 78 degrees. The "auto" setting on your thermostat can help cool your system's evaporator coils and dehumidify the air routinely.

It is recommended to set your thermostat back to 68 degrees while you're at home in the winter and lowering it when you're away or asleep. Doing so can save you up to 10 percent on your energy bill while also giving your system time to recalibrate and dehumidify.

Setting your thermostat to a cooler temperature when the air conditioning is running will not make the house cool any faster; it only increases the strain on your HVAC system, which can lead to premature system failure and breakdowns.

Programmable Thermostats

A programmable thermostat stops you from having to manually adjust the temperature during the day and night. You can program the thermostat to be warmer during the day, cooler at night and take the seasonal weather changes into consideration. An HVAC professional from Master Mechanical can help you choose the right programmable thermostat and teach you how to use it to best suit your needs.

Contact us today to learn more about humidity management, thermostats and for any of your heating and cooling needs!