It’s important homeowners maintain balanced levels of humidity in their home. During the summer, having too much moisture in the air can trigger the growth of mold and mildew and attract unwanted pests in a home. During the winter, on the other hand, dry conditions can be the worst. Dry air during the winter can cause all kinds of health problems, skin problems, sleeping problems, comfort problems and damage that can cost you money.
Knowing this, one might wonder: What is the proper range of humidity levels indoors and how do you maintain it during the winter? Health officials say the healthy range of indoor humidity levels should be between 30 and 50 percent. Keeping your home within this range is easy and affordable when you have your home outfitted with a whole-home humidifier.
To explain this in more depth, we at Springboro Heating & Cooling put together the following list of 6 Major Benefits of Whole-Home Humidifiers:
Saving Money on Energy
Did you know maintaining humidity levels can save you money on energy costs? The U.S. Department of Energy says you save around 4 percent off your overall heating bill for every single degree lower you adjust your thermostat. Because homes that have higher humidity levels feel warmer, you can lower your thermostat and be comfortable, which saves you money.
Improving Sleeping Conditions
Throughout the winter, dry breathing conditions are known to cause 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.
Preserving Furniture & Wood
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.
Cold & Flu Season
Maintaining optimal humidity levels inside is helpful for when cold and flu season arrive. 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.
Proper Skin Health
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.
We can solve dry air problems in your home!
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 Springboro Heating & Cooling today at 937-600-6834, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
