A humidistat (sometimes called a humidistat control) is a device that works with a home's heating and cooling system to automatically adjust the amount of moisture in the air to maintain a specific humidity level throughout the home.

What should my humidistat be set at in the winter?

When setting the humidity in the winter, I always recommend to set the humidistat to the highest humidity level the home can support (up to 55%). Remember, higher humidity levels are healthier and lower utility bills because they are more comfortable.

What should the humidistat be set at?

So to be safe, we recommend setting your humidistat's relative humidity (RH) to 58 percent and setting your thermostat temperature between 77 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. These settings will not maintain your selected temperature indoors but will maintain 58 percent humidity.

How do I know if my humidistat is working?

Turn the humidistat to a very high setting, such as 80% relative humidity, or until you hear a “click” sound. The multimeter should register about 24 volts. If you show 24 volts at the connection from the humidistat to the solenoid, then the humidistat is operating correctly.

Can a humidistat fail?

If the humidity levels in your home seem off, there's a chance your humidistat isn't malfunctioning, but rather just set incorrectly. What you should set your humidistat at can depend on other factors: A humidistat set too high can cause uncomfortable humidity levels, but too low and your home can turn cold.

How To Work A Dehumidistat In Florida with Tri County Air Conditioning

How does a humidistat work?

A humidistat (sometimes called a humidistat control) is a device that works with a home's heating and cooling system to automatically adjust the amount of moisture in the air to maintain a specific humidity level throughout the home.

Is a humidistat necessary?

Humidistats are designed to maintain optimal moisture levels within your home by running the HVAC system only when needed, which helps to save on utility bills. ... Having moisture in these areas can lead to the growth of mold and mildew and not to mention a shorter lifespan of building materials and windows.

Is 60% humidity too high?

A home should have a relative humidity of 30% to 60%. Above 60% and you have what's considered “high” humidity. Besides being less comfortable, high humidity causes a host of other problems in your home, including: Growth of fungus and mold in various parts of the home.

Can a thermostat control humidity?

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.

How can I lower the humidity in my house in the winter?

1. Turning on your bathroom fans for up to 24 hours during cold temperatures.
2. Turning on your kitchen range hood when cooking and boiling water.
3. Open all bedroom and bathroom doors whenever possible to ensure adequate air circulation throughout the home.

What is a good humidity level?

What are Normal Humidity Levels? ... The ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is somewhere between 30-50% humidity, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means that the air holds between 30-50% of the maximum amount of moisture it can contain.

Does a humidistat save money?

By running your system to combat humidity, the humidistat can and will save you money on your electric bill. It will run your a/c system more efficiently sparing it the needless wear and tear and help extend the unit's life.

What is a humidistat switch?

A humidistat or hygrostat is an electronic device analogous to a thermostat but which responds to relative humidity, not temperature. ... A humidistat has the functionality of a switch and is not just a measuring instrument like a hygrometer is.

What is the proper humidity level for a basement?

Normal Basement Humidity Levels

A comfortable basement should maintain a humidity level of 30 to 50 percent — however, those may differ depending on your climate.

What is an uncomfortable humidity level?

While there's no set humidity threshold above which general comfort level begins to deteriorate, NOAA typically considers relative humidity (RH) levels of 50% or more, and dewpoints (a more direct measure of humidity) above 65 F (18 C) to be uncomfortably high.

Why is my house at 60% humidity?

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and some pests such as dust mites begin to thrive in humidity outside this range. Indoor relative humidity above 60% for several hours in an air-conditioned indicates that the air quality control should be improved. Monitoring the indoor humidity is not a guarantee that mold will not develop.

Does a humidistat add moisture?

A humidistat goes beyond monitoring, helping to restore and maintain an optimum or preferred humidity level. ... It provides the current humidity level right at the air quality appliance, then adjusts to control moisture output until the preferred level is reached—but only in its surrounding space.

How does a humidistat sense humidity?

A humidistat features a sensing element composed of a flat plate that's fitted with two metal conductors. ... Based on the readings, the humidistat turns on the humidifier if the electrical resistance shows the air is too dry and turns off the humidifier after the desired humidity level has been achieved.

Do Humidistats dehumidify?

Before the humidity ever reaches such an undesirable level, your humidistat would signal your dehumidifier to turn on. Once the desired humidity level is reached, the humidistat will turn off the dehumidifier.

How does a thermostat with humidity control work?

Here's how a standard HVAC system with a Humidity Controlling Thermostat works; the humidity controlling thermostat will tell the AC that even though the inside air is 76 degrees the humidity is too high (say 65% RH), this control module will kick on the AC to control that humidity but the furnace will need to run for ...

How do you test a humidistat?

To check the operation of the humidistat and solenoid: Turn the humidistat to a very low setting or to “off.” The multimeter should register no voltage. Then, turn the humidistat to a very high setting, such as 80 percent relative humidity, or until you hear a “click” sound.