BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A new study shows that Baton Rouge is the fifth-most humid city in the country.
Research from Fixr.com said that a comfortable humidity level is between 30% and 50%, but the humidity level in Baton Rouge is at 74%. That humidity level can affect your health or damage property. But there are ways to protect yourself and your home.
“Early mornings are usually when we have 90-100% relative humidity, but we do not have the sunshine to warm us up,” NBC Local 33 and FOX 44 Chief Meteorologist Ashely Ruiz said. “The most dangerous time of day, when it’s hot and humid, is roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
Ruiz said our bodies have a difficult time cooling down when it’s hot and humid outside.
“When we have high humidity in place, that means there is a lot of moisture in the air. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air,” Ruiz said. “Your body cools itself by sweating, but when it’s hot and humid outside, sweat evaporates more slowly. In turn, our bodies cannot cool efficiently.”
She said it’s important to stay hydrated.
“Drink water, even if you are not thirsty to stay ahead of dehydration,” she said. “Avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol since they are dehydrating.”
High levels of humidity can cause serious damage to the structure of a home
Humidity levels between 62% to 93% can cause serious damage to the structure of a home, according to Fixr. High levels of humidity can cause toxic mold, condensation, damaged or peeling paint and rotting wood.
“If you live in a humid area, moisture can enter the home due to lack of proper ventilation, poor insulation, or old windows,” said Caroline Granville with fixr.com
One Louisiana air conditioning company said poor ventilation, leaks and indoor plants can cause humidity inside a home. Lee’s AC suggests ventilating certain rooms, like a bathroom or an attic, which can keep the air flowing and decrease humidity.
A dehumidifier can help decrease moisture in the home, and the study said that some home improvements can give a homeowner peace of mind.
“It’s important to monitor the humidity levels both inside and outside the home to prevent the risk of costly damage to its integrity,” Granville said. “Anyone concerned with the moisture levels in their home can monitor the humidity with digital thermometers or hydrometers.”
Installing insulation can lower the cost of bills by maintaining a cool temperature during the summer and keeping moisture outside, according to the study. A cheaper alternative is to install ceiling fans to keep rooms ventilated.
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