Determining the quality of the air in your home is not only a measure of any pollution and allergens that may be present, but the level of humidity as well. That is because overly dry indoor air not only causes physical discomfort, but it can actually be damaging to your family’s health and to your home itself.
Discomfort and Health Concerns
A single day spent in a home with dry air is not necessarily going to have any impact on your health; however, if you live in a home with insufficient humidity, the daily exposure can cause frequent discomfort and negatively impact your overall health.
The discomforts you may experience include nasal bleeding; dry, itchy eyes and skin, and sore throats. These are troublesome issues when they occur every once and a while; however, when you live in a dry environment you may experience them with increasing frequency.
Exposure to dry air can also cause inflammation of the mucus membrane of your respiratory tract. This inflammation may make people more vulnerable to catching colds and can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. Some people also become more susceptible to respiratory infections.
Low Humidity Can Damage your Home
In addition to causing discomfort in the members of your household, dry air can also take its toll on your home. This can be especially true during the colder winter months.
Here are a few ways that insufficient humidity can harm your home:
- Increased home energy costs: Low humidity makes you feel colder, so you crank the heat
- Electronics can be plagued by static electric charges
- Bent boards and gaps in your hardwood flooring
- Separation or shifting of mitered corners
- May cause drywall to separate.
The Solution to Dry Air at Home
The best way to remedy the problem of dry air in the home is through the installation of a whole house humidifier.
There are a few different types of whole house humidifiers that you can choose from, including flow-through, reservoir, and steam humidifiers. The best way to determine which type is best for your home is to speak with your local HVAC specialist.
No matter what type you choose, all humidifiers involve a process of introducing moisture from water and turning it into a warm steam that is emitted by the furnace. They deliver just the right amount of humidity to your entire home, in order to reduce the effects of dry indoor air.
There is no need to worry about introducing too much humidity into your home, since some industry-leading humidifier manufacturers offer fully automated digital humidifier control and Wi-Fi enabled thermostats, giving you total control.
If you frequently experience dry, uncomfortable air in your home, contact your local HVAC expert to learn more about how installing a whole-home humidifier can help!
