Living in Idaho, we’re pretty familiar with the experience of dry air during the winter. This lack of moisture can cause a variety of problems such as dry, itchy skin and static electricity. But what’s even more frustrating than dealing with dry air outside is contending with it inside your home.
This is where Coeur d’Alene, ID humidifier services come in. There is no bad time to have a humidifier installed, therefore there’s no time like the present to give us a call! But of course, we don’t expect you to rush out and buy a whole-house humidifier or any home comfort device without knowing the benefits of doing so. Keep reading to learn more about humidity and the problems that too little of it cause.
The Big Deal with Too Little Humidity
First, it’s important that you know how indoor humidity is measured—it is in terms of relative humidity—the percentage detailing the amount of ambient moisture existing in your indoor air. Anything lower than 30% relative humidity means that any moisture will be leeched from your surroundings.
This includes your skin, as we mentioned above, which can lead to itchiness and painful cracking. Dry air also creates static electricity, and dries out your sinuses to make you and your family more susceptible to colds and other illnesses. This is especially hazardous for people who suffer from allergies and asthma.
Running your climate control device—whether it be your AC during the warmer months or your heater as we progress into winter—only exacerbates the problem of low humidity.
The Solution: Whole-Home Humidification
A humidifier itself is a generally simple system. It’s composed of a wick or pad, which is fed water by a reservoir. A fan blows over across the top of that pad, sending moisture into the air through the ductwork, into your heating (or cooling) system. This is much more effective than using a single room humidifier, in many ways, including:
- Reduced Static Electricity: As a kid, it can certainly be fun, and funny, to slide in your socks across the carpet on a dry day and “shock” your sibling. But by the time your adult, static cling, the painful feeling of being shocked by doing something as benign as touching a doorknob, and having frizzy hair can get pretty old.
- Lowered Risk of Illness: This is a considerably more important advantage of a whole-house humidifier. Dry air makes household occupants less resistant to colds and other contagious illnesses, because it lowers your immunity. Whole-home humidifiers help homeowners and their family members stay happy and healthy!
- Healthier Skin: With a whole-home humidifier in place, your skin won’t feel as dry and chapped as it would have otherwise. Humidifiers help cut down on annoying skin conditions like eczema, and can help your skin feel healthy overall. This means you can be comfortable in your own home all winter long. After all, that’s what you deserve!