Adequate ventilation? Control of Pollutants? Cleanliness and freshness in the air? Chances are, you’re overlooking humidity and its effects on air quality. When relative humidity is too high or too low, it can result in general discomfort, health problems, and significantly diminished air quality.
The human body is most comfortable at humidity levels that range between 20 and 60 percent. Mold and mildew begin to grow at levels higher than this resulting in musty odors and even health problems. At levels lower than 20%, you may experience dry eyes, irritation of the skin, and an increased likelihood of upper respiratory illness as your mucus membranes dry up.
It’s especially difficult to keep your house at appropriate humidity levels during winter as cold air tends to be dry. The challenge here is to keep humidity levels low enough that excessive condensation doesn’t cause mold growth yet high enough to ward off static electricity and dry skin.
All this is to say that you’d probably benefit from investing in whole-house humidifiers when looking to improve indoor air quality.
Benefits Of Whole House Humidifiers During Winter
1. Increased Comfort And Indoor Air Quality
Your HVAC system does a great job of keeping your home warm and comfy no matter the season. However, as any indoor air quality specialist will tell you, heating tends to remove most of the moisture from your air. Such lingering dry air can have a detrimental effect on the health of you and your family. With minimal moisture in your air, your body’s ability to fight off infection is compromised, leading to increased viral infections.
With a whole-house humidifier, you can keep indoor humidity at optimal levels, alleviating any and all dry air issues. It also adds an element of safety to your home as dry air tends to increase static electricity, which is incredibly dangerous.
2. Reduce Heating Costs
Even with regular fall HVAC maintenance, your home may not feel warm enough in the depth of winter. But don’t call your furnace contractor just yet. You’ll notice that when humidity is high, the temperature feels a little higher too. Consequently, low humidity can make your house feel colder. To compensate, you’ll find your household increasing the heat in an attempt to make up for the dryness.
Humidifiers help to keep indoor moisture balanced and at optimal levels, helping your house feel warmer and allowing you to turn down your thermostat to save energy. As it turns out, adding humidity to your home can save you money in terms of reduced utility costs.
3. Reduces Snoring
Yes, seriously! Poor indoor air is directly linked to chronic breathing issues such as allergies, asthma, and, you guessed it, snoring. Dry air can inflame your air pathways, making it more difficult to breathe. Some of the most common symptoms of dry indoor air in winter include eye irritation, dry skin, sore throats, and even bloody noses. A whole-house humidifier helps to keep your respiratory system well-hydrated and comfortable, opening up your airways and preventing respiratory issues.
Kick Dry Air To The Curb With H & H Heating And Air Conditioning
With an easy-to-install and low-maintenance whole-house humidifier, you can keep your home comfortable and healthy. Get in touch with our heating contractors to see how we can keep you warmer this winter.
This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/why-you-should-consider-whole-house-humidifiers-for-the-coming-winter/
