Humidity & Climate
What indoor humidity should I keep for hardwood floors in Florida?
Keep indoor relative humidity between about 30% and 50% year-round to keep hardwood floors stable — in Florida that means running air conditioning and, in some homes, a dehumidifier.
Wood floors are manufactured for a normal living environment of roughly 30–50% RH and 60–80°F. Florida’s outdoor humidity sits well above that for much of the year, so the indoor climate has to be actively managed.
Air conditioning removes moisture as it cools, which is usually enough for an occupied home. The risk period is when a home is left closed up without climate control — that’s when floors move the most.
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Related answers
What happens to hardwood floors in a seasonal home left empty in Florida?
A hardwood floor in a seasonal Florida home can cup, gap, or move if the house is closed up without humidity control, so leave the air conditioning or a dehumidifier running while you’re away.
Read more →Why do hardwood floors cup or gap in Florida?
Hardwood floors cup or gap in Florida because of moisture: too much moisture (from a slab or humid air) makes boards swell and cup, and too little makes them shrink and gap.
Read more →How do you prevent mold under wood floors in Florida?
Mold under a Florida wood floor is prevented by controlling slab and air moisture — a tested slab, the right vapor barrier, and indoor humidity kept in the 30–50% range.
Read more →