The health of your home and your well-being during the winter depend on maintaining proper humidity levels. In general, the winter months have much dryer indoor air than the summer months. The reason for this is that warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. As a result, the relative humidity in your home could significantly decrease. This may result in a number of issues, such as:
- Dry skin and respiratory problems: Low humidity can lead to dry skin and make breathing more difficult. This is because breathing in dry air can irritate your throat and nasal mucous membranes, which can cause respiratory issues.
- Damage to your home: Low humidity levels can harm your house, especially if it has wooden furniture or hardwood floors. This is because dry air can lead to the cracking and splitting of these materials..
- Increased energy costs: Dry air in your house might make it feel colder than it is. You could be tempted to increase the heat as a result, which will raise your energy costs.
So, what can you do to rectify this? These are three strategies for keeping your home’s humidity levels optimal in the winter:
- Employ a humidifier: A humidifier is a machine that makes the air in your home more humid. Humidifiers come in a variety of designs, including warm mist, cool mist, and ultrasonic. Both portable and whole-house models are available.
- Fix air leaks: Your home may have air leaks around windows, doors, and other points that allow warm, humid air to escape while allowing cold, dry air to enter. Fixing these leaks can help to keep a more constant humidity level in your home’s air.
- Use indoor plants: Indoor plants can help your home’s humidity levels rise. They manage this by releasing moisture into the air through a process known as transpiration. Peace lilies, ferns, and spider plants are a few excellent choices for humidifying plants.
You can keep yourself and your house healthy and comfortable during the winter by keeping the appropriate humidity levels in your home. Quigley can help you with all your HVAC questions and needs. Call today to schedule your appointment with one of our expert technicians.
