Reasons to Consider a Humidifier
Signals of Dry Air in Your Home
We may associate the winter months with holiday cheer, but there is nothing cheerful about the dry environment that the cold winter air and our furnace produces. While cold air retains hardly any moisture and heating systems strip what little moisture is left in the air, the combination of the two is unfavorable as your health and home rely on moisture to thrive. Dry air has a greater effect on your life than you may realize and disrupts the balance of your overall wellness and the state of your home. Below are several reasons why a humidifier can better your home and everyone in it.
Health Benefits of Installing a Humidifier
Perhaps one of the earliest signs of winter’s onset is a change in how we feel. Many people notice that pre-existing conditions such as eczema or allergies worsen in dry environments. Dryness attacks your body in many ways and can look like but is not limited to:
- Skin irritation: cracking, redness, itchiness, flakiness
- Lip irritation: chapping, soreness, peeling, splitting
- Eye irritation: discomfort, blurriness, itchiness
- Nose irritation: nose bleeds, stuffiness, snoring
- Throat irritation: congestion, phlegm, coughing, breathing issues
Creams, lip balms, eye drops, nasal sprays and other topical products can be used to alleviate these symptoms, however, they may not be enough, and some people may not want to use these products. Humidifiers naturally remedy and prevent these conditions from arising or worsening. Restoring moisture in your home via a humidifier is an investment into your health that will come to benefit you through the cold, dry season. With good overall health through the winter, your immune system will stay stronger through the rest of the year as well.
Combat Symptoms of Sickness with Balanced Humidity
While too much or too little moisture in the air can produce or support sickness, it is important to make sure that your humidifier is set to the optimal humidity. The United States Environmental Protection Agency describes the optimal indoor relative humidity as ‘between 30 and 50 percent.’ Without a humidifier, humidity levels average around 20 to 30 percent. Boosting the moisture in your home can effectively:
- Reduce the risk of flu – Studies indicate that sickness has a much higher survival rate in cold, dry environments. Transmission rates are notably lower at room temperature (68°F) with a relative humidity upwards of 35 percent.
- Dry cough vs. productive cough – The effectiveness of a cough comes from its ability to clear out congestion so that you can breathe easier. A humidifier can help turn a dry cough into a productive cough by moisturizing the throat, allowing for a cough to loosen phlegm that may be lodged.
Happier Home, Healthier Family
Dry air not only attacks your health, but also disrupts the ecosystem of your home. Like humans, plants are living organisms that experience harmful effects from dry air. Plants require optimal humidity levels to thrive and avoid wilting, discoloration, or stunted growth. Even your furniture suffers from overly dry air, particularly wood and leather materials which may shrink, crack or split.
At Comfort Solutions HVAC, we specialize in whole house humidifiers to improve the overall air quality of your home. A more comfortable home is just a phone call away at 610-438-9300 where one of our certified HVAC specialists can give you a free estimate or answer any questions you may have about installing a humidifier. You can also contact us through our online form.
