Have you been wondering if your home would benefit from a humidifier this winter? While they don’t necessarily have to be used all year long, adding a little moisture back into your indoor air during the driest times of the year could have positive benefits for your health and comfort, not to mention that humidifiers can actually save you money in the long run. Regardless of what make and model of humidifier you invest in, there are definite benefits of running a humidifier in the winter.
Humidity Levels in the Winter
Ensuring that you have enough moisture in your indoor air is a delicate process. You want to avoid having too dry of a home, as this can make your skin dry and irritate your sinuses. However, adding too much moisture back in can have a negative impact as well. You could be promoting mold growth, which can damage your health as well as your home. Ideally, a humidifier should be set to run on a schedule that keeps humidity inside your home between 30% and 50%.
Humidifiers Benefit Your Health
During the winter, humidifiers benefit both your body and the space in which you reside. Sufficient moisture will help keep your skin hydrated and glowing while your nasal passages and airways remain healthy. Did you know that humidifiers can actually reduce your risk of catching a common cold or virus? There is a very high transmission rate of things like the flu in the winter because of the dry air outside. Mucus tends to flow much easier when you’re breathing in moist air, allowing you to flush out those unwanted germs. You can also prevent allergy symptoms by employing the same concept.
Humidifiers and Allergies
A lot of people experience seasonal allergies during the spring and summer. After all, this is when everything tends to be in full bloom. However, there are plenty of allergens inside of your home during the winter months as well. Things like pet dander, dust, and mold spores are just some of the particulates that can be present in your indoor air at any time. A humidifier maintains a level of moisture in the air that decreases the number of allergens that you come into contact with. You should see a decreased risk of symptoms like itchy eyes, scratchy throat, stuffy nose, and coughing.
Preserving Your Home
There are parts of your home that are very susceptible to damage from conditions that are too dry or too moist. Things like solid wood floors, baseboards, molding, and furniture all react to varying humidity levels. Dry air usually makes these materials contract, resulting in bubbling, warping, or cracks. Too much moisture has the opposite effect, making these materials swell in a way that potentially causes damage. You can destroy an entire solid wood floor by allowing it to be exposed to excessively high or low humidity. When wood swells, it needs extra room to expand, and if that space isn’t available, the floor can actually buckle. When wood flooring is allowed to dry out, it contracts, causes gaps, and sometimes splits.
Making Your Home More Comfortable
Air that comes out of your furnace is very dry. Because of that low humidity level, it can also feel a lot colder in your home during the winter months in Mooresville and the surrounding areas of North Carolina area. Instead of wasting money on turning up your thermostat so your furnace runs more frequently in the winter, consider investing in a whole-house humidifier to promote more comfort. Since we go back to our home to unwind after a long day, it makes sense to invest in items that will promote optimal comfort. When you have a humidifier installed onto your HVAC system, this makes the process of adding moisture to your indoor air automatic. You don’t have to worry about maneuvering, filling, and cleaning a stand-alone unit in various rooms of your house.
If you’re interested in learning more about how a humidifier can help improve the overall comfort, safety, and value of your home, reach out to us at Putnam Mechanical for more information. We offer experienced and efficient heating, cooling, and indoor air quality equipment installation, maintenance, and repair. Besides that, we provide a full line of electrical services. To arrange a consultation and explore the benefits of a whole-house humidifier for your home anywhere in the Greater Charlotte area, call our team at Putnam Mechanical today.
