A BALANCING ACT: HEAT AND HUMIDITY AND YOUR HOME’S FURNACE
Maintaining a proper level of humidity in your home during the winter months is essential to your health, your home, and the energy efficiency of your furnace.
Since heating the air also tends to dry it out, trying to keep a proper moisture level while maintaining warmth can be difficult. The installation of a whole house humidifier can help you with this balancing act and save you money on your heating bills.
Dry air and the impacts on your health
Our bodies are comprised mostly of water and we not only have to drink adequate amounts in order to maintain our health, we also need our environment to be sufficiently humid. If the air in your home is too dry, it can lead to issues affecting various parts of your body and make it easier for viruses to spread. Some of these health-related conditions include:
- Dry or chapped skin and lips
- Itchy skin
- Nosebleeds due to dry sinus cavities
- Increased allergy symptoms due to airborne contaminants
- Respiratory difficulties and dry coughs
- An asthma attack
A whole-house humidifier can help restore proper moisture in the air of your home and alleviate many of these symptoms.
Excess dryness can harm your home
The benefits of a furnace humidifier extends beyond your family's physical health. It also helps to protect your home and furnishings. If the air in your home is very dry, items made of wood will lose their moisture and can shrink or crack. Not only will this ruin your furniture or cabinets, it can weaken the structure of your home as well since it is mostly made with wood products. Excess dryness can also cause chipping of any painted items and cause cracks or lifting in wallpaper.
If your humidity level in your home is balanced, you will notice that cleaning is easier. When the air is dry, dust and debris are more mobile than when you have adequate moisture so you may dust regularly yet never seem to have a dust-free home. The increased moisture helps to reduce the particles in the air that gather as dust so you will not have to clean as often.
A whole house humidifier improves energy efficiency
Just as humid days in summer make it seem hotter than the true temperature reads, a home that has proper humidity will also feel warmer than a home that is very dry. The moisture in the air is able to hold the heat longer, meaning you will not have to work your furnace as hard. By dropping your temperature by just a couple of degrees when you have the right humidity, you can save a significant amount of money on heating costs without feeling cold.
Target humidity levels
For maximum health, home and energy efficiency, the humidity in your home should be between 40 per cent and 48 per cent. At this level, you will enjoy all the benefits of added moisture to your air without inviting problems that can arise from too much moisture.
If the humidity level in your home goes too far below 40 per cent, you will begin to notice symptoms of dry air returning, and your energy savings will decrease. A whole house humidifier has controls that allow you to set the humidity level desired so there is no guesswork involved. All you have to do is enjoy the comfort and cost savings.
