In Winter the air is dry

With central heating, people are confined indoors with unnaturally dry air for many months each year.  If the humidity is too low, it can dry out your nose and throat as well as wood floors, musical instruments, house plants, and paintings and can cause a build up of static electricity.

Humidity can also affect your comfort level and, thereby, your heating and cooling bill. Dry 26° air seems cooler than 26° humid air. With dry winter air, you may find yourself bumping up the thermostat a few degrees to feel comfortable.

A humidifier will put moisture into the air, making harsh, dry air easier to breathe.

A whole house humidifier can help

The most complete solution is a whole house humidifier attached to the air handler of your heating and cooling system. Whole house humidifiers improve the air quality in every room of your home. One problem with tabletop, or portable, humidifiers is that they can require frequent maintenance. If the water isn’t changed enough, bacteria can build up in the reservoirs. A whole-home solution that attaches to your furnace or air handler and adds moisture as needed to the air throughout your home and there’s no need to clean and fill the unit on a constant basis.

Installing a humidifier is simple if you are replacing your furnace. But you can also have a humidifier fitted to your current system with minimal labor, since it is designed for installation in your heating ductwork.

Tips to manage your home’s humidity and humidifier

Hygrometers can be used to measure your home’s humidity level. You want to make sure that the indoor humidity level is 35 – 40%. Don’t crank up the humidifier higher than that, though, or you could develop another problem — mold, fungi, dust mites, and other tiny critters.

Periodic cleaning and draining of the reservoir is strongly recommended to avoid potential bacterial growth.

We would be happy to help you select the right humidifier for your home. Just give us a call or send an email.