Humidifiers are designed to increase the humidity in your home. Whether it is a room humidifier or a whole house humidifier, this type of appliance can help add moisture to alleviate dry sinuses, bloody noses, dry skin and cracked lips – all symptoms caused by air that is too dry.
Colder temperatures cannot hold as much moisture as warm air. Dry winter air can cause humidity levels to drop down to 15 percent or less inside your home – ideally humidity levels should be between 25 and 40 percent, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Dry air not only affects humans, it can also affect your home and your furniture.
Dry air tries to absorb moisture wherever it can find it. This means that during cold winter weather, dry air can start to pull moisture from the structure of your home. As the humidity levels decrease in your home, you many begin to notice that your hardwood floors begin to creak or gaps appear between walls and ceiling or in windows made entirely of wood.
You may also notice an increased amount of static electricity – do your clothing or blankets stick together? Does your hair stand up when you brush it? Or, is there a painful electric shock every time you touch a doorknob or other metal surface?
Dry air can also damage wood furniture, causing it to bend and even crack. Musical instruments can lose their shape, and books and artwork can become brittle and warped. Humidifiers can help preserve the most valuable assets in your home.
Humidifiers work by changing liquid water into steam – a mist – which increases the moisture in the air. When working properly, a humidifier can keep your nasal passages and throat moist, which can help your sinuses resist bacteria and can reduce symptoms of a cough and cold.
The biggest complaint by homeowners with a warm air furnace (forced air system) is that the air in their homes is significantly dryer than homeowners with hot water or steam boilers. That is why most humidifiers are designed to be installed in combination with a warm air furnace. These humidifiers are called Central Humidifiers, which alleviate the dry air in your entire home through your ductwork.
There are instances where homeowners with radiant heat or baseboard complain of dry air in their homes as well. Depending on the type of air conditioning system in your home, there are humidification systems that can be connected to the ductwork to provide additional humidification. It is best to consult with a professional if this is how your home is equipped.
Over humidifying your home can cause condensation on walls, floors and other surfaces that trigger the growth of bacteria, dust mites and mold – allergens that cause respiratory problems. Central Humidifiers come with humidistats that control and monitor humidity levels in your home and maintain comfortable humidity levels.
Even though humidifiers do more good than bad, they can promote bacteria and mold growth if not properly maintained. If considering installing a humidifier, or if you have one already, it is important to routinely clean and service it. Dirty reservoirs and filters can breed bacteria and mold, which can especially be a problem for people with asthma and allergies. Even healthy people can experience flu-like symptoms or lung infections if contaminated mist or steam is released into the air.
As with all heating and air conditioning equipment, your humidifier should be serviced annually and should be included in your preventive maintenance agreement.
Small room humidifiers can be a good alternative to a central humidification system if you do not have a warm air furnace. If sized properly, they can provide a sufficient amount of humidity to keep dry air away. However, the guidelines for use should be followed closely. Typically, it is best to use distilled or demineralized water. Tap water contains minerals that can create deposits inside your humidifier that promote bacterial growth. When released into the air, these minerals can appear as white dust on your furniture.
In general these individual room humidifiers require that you change the water daily, do a deep clean about every three days and make sure they are electrically safe before plugging them in.
If you think you need a humidifier, think you have a humidifier but aren’t sure, or have heating issues that need to be addressed before the cold winter temperatures, call a professional heating company who can provide you the expert advice you need to ensure you and your family enjoy a comfortable winter season.
Jim Hall, President – Jim Hall HVAC
