Understanding Humidity - Kenmore 2500 Owner's Manual

THANK YOU! ....
Thank you for selecting a Sears Humidifier.Itwill provideyears of sarvlca ff you give it a littlecare.
UNDERSTANDING HUMIDITY
Humidity can be puzzling. It cannot be seen, heard, touched,
smelledor tasted. Many peopledo not understand what a humidi-
fier willor will not do.
Probablythe best way to judge whetherthe humidityis too high,
too low or about dghtis towatch yourwindows.If they are heavily
fogged you most likely have too much. If there is no moistureon
them at all, especiallyin the comers, you have too little. (NOTE:
Moisturewill notnormallyformon thermopaneor whenstorm win-
dows are used.) If there is some moisture in the windowcomers
and alongthe edges, the humidityis Justaboutright.This isa good
rule of thumb, if you do not have an expensive piece of testing
equipment. Y ourcomfort is another good check.
TYPICAL QUESTIONS ASKED
1. Why do moisture requirements vary from home to home?
Requirements depend on the amount and dryness of air to be
humidified. The larger and more loosely constructed the home,
the greater the quantity of moisture required.
5. What else causes static shock besides low humidity?
Some types of carpets tend to create more static than others.
While the proper humidity level will reduce the static level, it
may not eliminate static entirely.
2. How can I best check my home's relative humidity?
First give your humidifiertime to build up the humidityto an
acceptablelevel. Instruments are availableto measurerelative
humidity,but from a practical standpoint,your comfortis the
best guide.You cannot depend on table top or wall hung dial
gauges.
3. How long will It take my humidifier to build up the
humidity In my home?
Much depends on the outside temperature, time of year, home
construction, and how dded out the home has become. In some
cases, it may take a week or more.
4. What are some of the common things that cause higher
than average air leakage In the home, therefore causing
low humidity?
A. Jalousie windows
B. Open fireplace dampers
C. Cracks around windows and doors
D. Open doors and windows
E. Unusually large attic or foundation vents
F. Range hoods and bath fans
6. What Is the safe humidity level for my home?
In order to determinethe safe relativehumidityfor homes ex-
posedtovadouslowoutsidetemperatures,NESCA* conducted
tests and publishedrecommendedhumiditylevels for various
outdoortemperatures.These are shown in the chart.These
levels help preventdamage to your home such as water run-
ningdown the wallsor even buildingup insidethe walls.
The safe indoor relative humidity percentage is not a fixed num-
ber but will increase or decrease as the outdoor temperatures
dse or fall.
Outside Temperatures Maximum Safe Recommended
Indoor Relative Humidity
-10 ° F 20%
0 o F 25%
10 ° F 30%
20 ° F 35%
30 ° F 35%
"NESCA = National Environmental Systems Contractors Association,
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