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In Edmonton, winter home humidity should be between 35% and 45%. In general, indoor humidity levels below 30% are too dry, and anything above 50% is too damp.

If the indoor humidity level in your home is too high in the winter, you may see condensation accumulating on the inside of your windows – or even your walls. If your home has single-pane windows or insufficient insulation, this will make matters worse. 

As a result of high humidity, mould, mildew, and rotting can occur. Therefore, it is vital to maintain appropriate humidity levels in your home, as improper humidity can lead to an uncomfortable, unhealthy, and damaged home.

When it comes to choosing a humidifier, Edmonton homeowners have two options:

• Portable humidifier
• Whole home humidifier

Portable units are the cheapest option – they are easy to find and use and require no installation. However, most portable humidifiers can only maintain proper humidity levels in one or two rooms. As well, portable units require a lot of maintenance. This includes regularly filling the water reservoir and consistently cleaning the unit to maintain optimal air quality and minimize bacteria and viruses.

A whole-home system, although more expensive up front, requires much less maintenance and can maintain optimal humidity levels throughout your home. 

For Edmonton homeowners, whole-home humidifiers (also known as furnace humidifiers or in-duct humidifiers) are the best option. 

Whole home systems can be installed in residential homes with forced-air heating systems. These humidifiers use the air ducts and plumbing system to deliver consistent humidity levels. Best of all, once installed, a whole home humidifier will provide reliable home comfort without needing to lift a finger!

Some of the best whole-home humidifier brands in Edmonton include:

• Carrier
• Comfortmaker
• Ducane
• RunTru
• Goodman
• AirEase
• Daikin, etc.

Wondering how to check the humidity level in your Edmonton home? Good news – it’s simple to do! You’ll just need one of two things:

1. Hygrometer or
2. Humidifier

If you want to check the humidity level in your home by hand, you’ll need a tool called a hygrometer. This tool can be purchased at your local hardware store for about $10 to $20.

To use a hygrometer to check the humidity in your home, simply place it in the room you want to check. It’s important to note that humidity levels won’t be consistent throughout your home – some rooms may have more or less humidity than others. Therefore, placing the hygrometer in a room you are concerned about or where your family spends most of their time is best. Also, ensure you don’t put your hygrometer near a heat source. For example, a radiator, heat register, chimney, etc.

Once the hygrometer is placed, wait up to two hours (it can take a couple of hours for the tool to get an accurate and stable reading).

If you have a humidifier in your home, it will have a built-in hygrometer. Therefore, you won’t need to buy a handheld tool. Instead, this internal hygrometer will automatically monitor and adjust the humidity level in your home, keeping your Edmonton home comfortable all year round.