Moisture Magic - or Mayhem?
Why humidity matters and other damp truths
This post follows up on last week’s and we’re tackling another comfort damper: humidity. Ever walk into a room and think, "it smells Eau de Musty"? Or wake up with a scratchy throat in winter? Your air is broken, my friend.
Humidity comes from the Latin humidus, meaning, ‘moist’ or ‘wet.’ It’s related to the Latin word ‘humor,’ which originally meant bodily fluid. Maybe that’s why when the air is dry, your sense of humor dries up too.
We've been battling humidity for centuries. The Bible even references it in Leviticus 14:34, warning about spreading mold. Apparently the Good Book was also the original house manual offering holy home tips.
In continental climates with four seasons—like much of the U.S., Europe, or Canada—indoor humidity can feel tricky to manage. Modern energy-efficient homes trap air more tightly than ever, which is great for your heating bill but not always great for your comfort. Winter leaves your house feeling as arid as a desert, and summer turns it into a swamp. Nature knows how to make us sweat.
Most of us completely ignore humidity until it's raining on our day. But what if mastering this invisible thing could actually make your home more comfortable and cut down on costly repairs? The good part is it's not as complicated as you might think.