If you own a home, it’s important to keep balanced levels of humidity for your sake and the sake of your home. When it’s hot and muggy out during the summer, having too much moisture in the air can trigger the growth of mildew and mold and attract pathogens and all kinds of other unwanted pests indoors. On the other hand, during the wintertime, excessively dry conditions can be the worst. During the winter, low levels of humidity can cause all kinds of health problems, sleeping problems, skin problems, comfort problems and damage that can cost you money.
So what is the optimal range of humidity levels in a dwelling and how do you maintain that level during the winter? Health officials report the ideal range of indoor humidity levels should be between 30 and 50 percent. Keeping a house inside this range is easy and affordable when it is equipped with a whole-home humidifier.
To discuss the benefits of humidity during the winter further, we at Delaware Heating & Air put together the following list of 6 Major Benefits of Whole-Home Humidifiers:
Save on Energy Bills
Although a whole-home humidifier will benefit your health, having one installed will benefit your wallet as well in the long rum. By keeping the amount of moisture in the air within normal range,, it makes your home feel warmer at much lower temperatures, which will reduce the need for heat and lower heating costs. This is because air with moisture naturally maintains heat levels, which means it will feel warm all winter long. The reverse is also true: Low humidity in a house means the air will feel cooler inside, forcing you to have to turn up the heat more than necessary to be comfortable.
Better Breathing, Better Sleep
During the winter months, dry breathing conditions can easily aggravate illness, discomfort and sleep problems. Because of the dry air, people who don’t usually snore begin snoring, and those who snore become louder as other sleep issues arise. Snoring has always been known to interrupt sleep cycles; it can cause sleeping problems for the person snoring as well as others in the home. To make matters worse, dry air can make other coughing and breathing problems crop up that disrupt sleep. Moreover, dry throats from low levels of humidity can aggravate this problem. Fortunately, having a whole-home humidifier installed will improve sleep quality and resolve other problems as well.
Cold & Flu Season Prep
As the cold and flu season approach, maintaining optimal humidity levels in your home is important. The human respiratory system is lined with membrane tissue that needs moisture to function properly. When the air is too dry, the dry air removes moisture from this tissue and causes irritation, often making a person’s throat sore and scratchy while causing painful sinus problems and other respiratory tract irritation. Once cold and flu season arrives, these otherwise mild issues can become magnified. Worse yet, there are a lot of common viruses known to spread faster in dry homes. Meanwhile, people who suffer from inflamed respiratory systems caused by dry air are more susceptible to getting these viruses. The result is a kind of double-edge sword, that can lead to misery.
Allergy Symptoms
Allergy symptoms are at their worst when the air inside is dry. When the immune system is fighting against airborne pollutants and fighting dry air, its mucous membranes swell and generate too much mucus. Typical symptoms include sneezing, runny noses, watery eyes and dry skin. When the skin is dry, hives and other irritations lead to excess itching. If you or your loved ones are experiencing problematic allergy symptoms and your home’s humidity levels are low, installing a whole-home humidifier is something you should give some serious consideration.
Keeping Skin Healthy
Anyone who’s suffered from eczema or dermatitis can tell you, dry and itchy skin can be painful. Low humidity levels, or dry conditions, make these problems worse and can even trigger these problems. If you have dry skin or skin problems during the winter, installing a whole-home humidifier would help a lot. Humidifiers keep conditions from drying out so that skin can hold its natural moisture. Moisture gives skin its elasticity. Without the moisture skin needs, it will form wrinkles much sooner than normal. Furthermore, dry air makes oil-producing glands in the body hyperactive, which triggers acne problems or makes acne worse. Because the outdoor air is dryer during the winter months when it’s cold, sustaining optimal indoor humidity levels helps keep skin from drying out.
Furniture & Wood Protection
If you have wood furniture, cabinetry, molding, trim and other woodwork in your home and you want to preserve it from damage, keep in mind that dry conditions are harmful. Wood inside homes lasts much longer and looks much better when the proper humidity levels are maintained during the winter. When levels drop below 30 percent, as it does during the winter, the dry air will pull moisture from not only our skin, throat and body, but also the wood in our homes. Over time, this causes wood to split, crack and warp or distort. This includes window frames and doors. When dry air damages them it can make it more difficult to open and close them. The bottom line is that moisture is needed in our homes. If you want to preserve the wood in your home, having a whole-home humidifier installed would help preserve many of your wood belongings and the house itself.
Dry air in your home? We can help!
Keeping the air from drying out in your home will make sure everyone is more comfortable and healthy. As Indoor Air Quality and HVAC specialists, we care about the quality of the air in your home, we want you and your loved ones to live comfortably and enjoy the holiday season! If you’re interested in having a whole-home humidifier installed, please call Delaware Heating & Air today at 740-227-8302, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
