are humidifiers bad for wood floors

Full Answer

Do HVAC humidifiers damage hardwood floors?

While most HVAC humidifiers do not saturate the air with enough water to damage your hardwood floors, there is such a thing as too much moisture. 50% may be a terrible number for your university test grades, but it’s the perfect humidity level for your floors.

Is humidity bad for wood floors?

The wood floor experts at SVB Wood Floors have a few tips about how to control the humidity in your home in order to maintain your beautiful wood floors. Why Is Humidity Bad for Wood Floors? Because wood is a porous material, it soaks up moisture which can damage it.

Will a humidifier keep wood from drying out?

If the area that you live in has less than 30% humidity most of the year, then using a humidifier will help keep your wood from drying out. Most properly functioning furnace mounted humidifiers will get your home to about 50% humidity and not much more, so you don’t need to worry about your humidifier over-saturating your floors.

Can humidistat be used on wood floors?

A humidistat that’s built into the unit will let you set humidity levels rather than leave it to chance. This is an ideal solution because it allows you to control humidity levels year-round so you can avoid damaging your wood floors with humidity levels that are too high in the summer.

What happens if your humidifier is too large?

If your humidifier is large, a puddle could form on the ground beneath it without you knowing, thus causing damage before you have a chance to fix it.

What Amount of Moisture is Safe for Hardwood Floors?

While most HVAC humidifiers do not saturate the air with enough water to damage your hardwood floors, there is such a thing as too much moisture.

How much humidity does a furnace humidifier have?

Most properly functioning furnace mounted humidifiers will get your home to about 50% humidity and not much more, so you don’t need to worry about your humidifier over-saturating your floors.

How to detect a leak in a humidifier?

In order to detect leaks easily, it is best to place your humidifier on a hard surface so you can see puddles forming easily.

Why is my humidifier leaking?

Neglecting your humidifier may cause its sensor to become faulty, allowing the humidifier to generate too much or too little moisture. Also, improper maintenance may cause the water tanks to leak, causing standing water damage to your floors.

What is the main job of hardwood floors?

After all, in nature, the main job of wood is to absorb and circulate water throughout the tree. Even after lumber has been transformed into flooring, wood will still try to do its job.

Why is my wood warping?

If you are worried about your wood cupping & warping due to shower moisture and humidity, consider leaving a fan on in the bathroom.

What Is the Best Humidifier for Hardwood Floors?

This is the question that we have been asked many times, and it is never quite easy or clear what the right answer is. Instead, we have broken it up into looking at the type of home you have and its location to ensure that your floors will always be perfect.

What is the best way to keep hardwood floors from getting damaged?

A humidifier is one of the best ways to ensure that your hardwood floors are always perfect and that they will not be damaged over time. We recommend having a system to measure the overall humidity in your home throughout the year to compensate properly.

What is a small humidifier?

These are usually small, can be placed in the corner, and will help you increase the overall humidity of your house with ease.

What happens if you dry out wood?

The immediate danger homeowners face from too dry wood is that it will start flexing and changing shape. As the hardwood dries out, usually because of dry winters or even air-conditioners that are always on, they will automatically dry out the air as a part of their function.

Can you rejuvenate hardwood floors?

Fortunately, a hardwood floor that has become too dry can be saved; with the introduction of a humidifier and some floor wax, you can rejuvenate the wood . However, some sanding, realigning, and reapplication of the nails throughout will be needed to ensure that the floor is perfectly stable.

Can you expose hardwood floors to humidity?

However, it’s important to point out that you can expose your hardwood floors to too much humidity, with many people overcompensating during drier months.

Do humidifiers need to be refilled?

Further, they have the added benefit of being linked up to the waterline, not requiring you to refill them but requiring that you clean their filters.

Why do wood floors dry out in winter?

Here’s the deal: Wood functions a lot like skin, and the low humidity of winter months can cause it to dry out. “A humidifier can be helpful in raising the relative humidity levels in the drier times of the year, which will minimize shrinkage cracks developing in any wood floors and furniture,” says Todd Schutte, Bona’s director of eLearning.

How much does a humidifier cost?

While you can certainly spend a lot for a fancy humidifier, it’s not necessary: Options abound at the $40 to $50 range. The one from Levoit, above, is a great budget pick.

Why do wood floors curl up?

“In the wetter months, it could raise the humidity levels too much , causing any wood to swell and floors to possibly cup,” Schutte says, meaning the edges of the boards could curl up.

How to check humidity?

You can monitor humidity levels through a thermometer/hygrometer combo —they’re available online for as little as $10. This top-rated one is just $20 on Amazon. Another way to keep track? Look to your thermostat; many smart ones are able to track moisture levels.

What is the best temperature to maintain wood floors?

The National Wood Flooring Association recommends a humidity level of 30 to 50 percent to maintain your floors, as well as a consistent temperature of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Do houseplants need moisture?

Your houseplants may enjoy higher levels of moisture in the air, too, as they’re braving it through the dry winter months with the heat blasting. But, says Schutte, make sure that you don’t overdo it. In winter, keep monitoring the humidity so it doesn’t exceed 50%—otherwise, you risk mold growth.

How much humidity does a humidifier need?

If your humidifier only runs when your thermostat calls for heat, it may not operate often enough to keep your home above 35% relative humidity in the dry season. A humidifier that runs the blower on your furnace – even when heat isn’t needed – adds humid air throughout the day to keep your home consistent.

Why do wood floors fail?

The National Wood Flooring Association estimates that 90% of wood flooring failures relate to relative humidity and moisture problems in the home. Many homeowners spend thousands of dollars on new wood floors that might end up ruined because they don’t have a whole-home humidifier – which costs a fraction of the price of their floors.

Why does my humidifier rot?

When the air outside turns really cold, it holds less moisture. If your humidifier attempts to add too much moisture on a cold day, the air starts to condense on your windows which can cause wood rot. This external thermostat provides more information to your whole home humidifier about how much moisture to add to the air.

Why is my wood flooring not looking good?

When the air is dry, wood shrinks. When it is moist, wood expands. These cause a host of problems. Investing in a whole-home humidifier is the best way to keep your floor looking great for years.

What is the best way to monitor humidity?

Additionally, monitor your home with a small device called a hygrometer to ensure your HVAC and whole-home humidifier system is working properly. These devices usually measure both temperature and humidity to keep track of the high and low points.

What is the best way to keep your floors from gapping?

A whole home humidifier is the best way to keep your floors from gapping.

What happens if you install engineered flooring?

Maybe the edges of the boards are cupped or curved upwards. If you installed an engineered floor, the layers may even have separated. After calling the installer, retailer, and perhaps a professional flooring inspector, you are told that the warranty is void.

Why Is Humidity Bad for Wood Floors?

Because wood is a porous material, it soaks up moisture which can damage it. Depending on how much moisture, and how long the hardwood floor is exposed to it, it can do irreparable damage.

What is the best humidity for wood floors?

So what’s a safe humidity range for your wood floors? Most experts agree that an ideal level of indoor humidity is around 45%, although anything between 35% and 55% is acceptable. Summer is usually not as big of a problem as winter. As long as you run your air conditioner, it will remove excess humidity from the air.

Why does my hardwood floor shrink in winter?

What happens is that, when we turn our furnaces on, the humidity level inside our homes plummets. This causes the wood to shrink. Hardwood floors do not shrink consistently in all directions.

Why do wood planks crack?

Excess humidity in the summer can cause the wood planks to expand and press against each other. This increase in pressure can cause the boards to cup or become higher on the edges than in the center. Just as in low humidity cases, the boards swell more from side to side than end to end. In extreme cases, the pressure can cause the boards to crack. ...

Why is it important to watch the humidity level in your home?

Wood floors are porous and absorb moisture. That’s why it’s important to watch the humidity level in your home. The humidity level, whether too high or too low, of your home can affect your wood floors. So how do you know if you have a humidity problem and what’s the magic humidity level?

Do you need a humidifier in the winter?

Your home needs extra humidity in the winter, but how do you add it and control it to maintain an optimal level. Here are a few humidifier tips to help you do just that:

Do hardwood floors shrink?

Hardwood floors do not shrink consistently in all directions. When humidity levels decrease, the boards will shrink more from side to side than end to end. Thus, the distance between the planks grows larger causing gaps. This also means that wider boards will shrink more than narrower boards.

Are humidifiers safe for hardwood floors?

The room’s humidity levels are increased by the moist air in the Humidifiers. They pull the moisture from the water by using an evaporative belt or rotating drum with absorbent padding. The wood floors won’t be damaged by a malfunctioning humidifier.

Will a dehumidifier help hardwood floors?

The excess humidity in the air can be removed with an automatic dehumidifier. This will reduce the amount of humidity in the air and most automatic settings will keep it that way. It’s good for your health if you have any wood floor types.

Will a humidifier ruin my floors?

The area immediately surrounding the portable unit can get too humid, and the water droplets that fall from the air close to the humidifier can damage small areas of the floor.

Do humidifiers ruin wood?

If you’re setting up a humidifier, don’t place it near wood: on a wood floor, on wood furniture, or near wood trim and cabinets. Similar to how moist air can loosen up mucus in the nose, it can also be helpful in the home.

How do you dry hard wood floors?

The floors can be dried with a dehumidifier placed at the highest setting. It should be placed in the center of the room and left there for at least 24 hours. The fans should be placed around the room so that the blowing air gets to the whole surface. The fans should be placed at the most optimal settings.

Why are my hardwood floors cupping?

It’s a problem when it comes to hardwood cupping. When the humidity level is high, the boards absorb too much water from the subfloor, from water leaks and spills, or even by cleaning the flooring in the wrong way.

Will a dehumidifier dry a wet floor?

Dehumidifiers use dry air to replace the moist air in the room. They can help speed up the drying of the floor. It’s not a good idea to use a dehumidifier to dry out a floor because it will collect water from the whole room.

What Is The Best Humidity Level for Hardwood Floors?

Humidity levels that fall anywhere between 30-50% are the best for hardwood floors. The average living conditions stand at 18-24 degrees Celsius (65-75 F) coupled with a relative humidity that ranges between 30-50% . The stated conditions are best for human health and, indeed, your hardwood flooring.

What is humidity in wood?

Humidity is a measure of moisture content in the atmosphere. Different geographical regions have different levels of moisture during various seasons of the year. As a wooden structure owner, you must be aware that wood reacts to changes in atmospheric humidity. Hardwood flooring, for example, is a natural wood product that will respond ...

What causes hardwood floors to warp?

If the humidity goes above 55%, there’s every chance that moisture will seep into the wood. Too much moisture will result in swelling of the boards, which creates pressure between the boards, causing the board’s warping in the long run.

Why does my hardwood floor split?

Low Humidity Levels. Usually, it becomes a problem to hardwood floors when the humidity level drops below 35% because this can make the wood dry out. Drying of wood translates to it becoming weak hen ce the floor splinters. Additionally, this can cause the floor to split along the grain.

How to maintain humidity in a room?

You must maintain proper humidity levels in your room using the air conditioner, dehumidifier or even the wood stoves

How to keep your home humid?

Ensure that you maintain a proper humidity level in your home. You can do that by using a humidifier during the cold months. Items such as wood stoves, fire pits for deck and electric heaters tend to create very dry conditions inside a room, if you have one such item functional, ensure that your humidifier is on.

Why do you need rugs on wood floors?

Despite all these, you still need rugs to help protect the floor from damages , especially areas that see so much traffic.

What happens if humidity is too low?

Relative humidity settings that are too low may cause respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis and asthma. – During summer: It can move up to 50-55%. Relative humidity that is too high may have health effects due to mold growth, dust mite infestations, as well as certain bacteria and viruses. To discover how Lauzon is going ...

Why does wood flooring shrink in winter?

During the winter, when homes are heated and the air is dry, wood flooring loses some of its moisture and contracts or shrinks as a result.

Why do hardwood floors warp?

During warm and humid summers, your hardwood floor will absorb moisture from the air, swelling and expanding as a result. This expansion can create pressure between the boards, which can cause the boards to warp, cup or crack.

Why do wood boards crack?

When extensive moisture or humidity causes the wood to expand significantly, adjoining boards start pressing against each other. In extreme cases, this increased pressure can cause the affected boards to lose their structural integrity and crack.

Why do wood floors shrink?

Once the humidity drops, the floor may shrink back, but it is possible that you may see spaces between the wood boards. – Cracking: When extensive moisture or humidity causes the wood to expand significantly, adjoining boards start pressing against each other.

How to prevent dryness in a home?

Preventing dryness problems. – Maintain a proper humidity level in your home by using a humidifier during the winter months. – Be aware that wood stoves and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions, so make sure to use your humidifier when these are on.

What is the ideal humidity for your health and comfort?

The ideal relative humidity for your health and comfort is about 40-50%.