How Humidity Affects Your Home and Tips
The humidity level in a home has a direct impact on heating and cooling. The amount of moisture in the air influences our perception of how warm or cold we feel. The air cannot hold high levels of moisture during the cold winter months.
This results in very dry air for much of winter, which can affect your home’s heating system. Not only that, dry air feels cooler than humid air. This means that if the air in your home is particularly dry, it can make your house feel colder than it really is.
“The Ideal Relative Humidity Level is Between 40% and 60% –
Yes, you read it right! Anywhere outside of this range may cause a little discomfort to everyone in the house. Over 60% could mean you’re exposed to excessively high humidity, which requires a prompt solution.”
Dry air can also lead to discomforts such as dry skin, chapped lips, and a sore throat.
So what can we do about this?
There are two ways to battle low humidity during the winter:
- Buy a portable humidifier
- Install a whole-home humidifier
A portable humidifier can be an inexpensive or even perfect solution for a dry bedroom or den. However, if you need multiple rooms treated, you will either need to buy several of these or unplug it and move it to different rooms in your home.
The better solution for this is a whole-home humidifier, which can regulate humidity levels throughout your entire house simultaneously.
Portable Humidifier Cleaning & Maintenance
As you may know, humidifiers are a good thing to have in the colder months. If your home’s humidity is too low, it can make the time you spend in it very uncomfortable.
Among other things, low humidity can lead to irritated skin, coughing, and a sore throat.
Because humidifier tanks store water, neglecting to properly clean them can lead to the growth of bacteria and mold. If you use your humidifier when these microorganisms are present, it will allow them to become airborne, which can cause respiratory problems for those who inhale the contaminated air.
Your humidifier should come with an instruction manual which discusses proper cleaning techniques specific to each model. In the absence of instructions, you can use this as a general guide to clean any type of portable humidifier:
- Unplug the humidifier.
- Remove the filter and rinse it under cold water. Place on a clean surface and allow it to air dry.
- Remove the water reservoir and empty out existing water.
- Pour two cups of white vinegar in the tank and shake it around. Let sit for 30 minutes.
- Thoroughly rinse the tank with tap water until the scent of vinegar is gone.
- Wipe down the frame with a sponge.
- Fill the tank with distilled water and replace the filter.
- Use the humidifier as normal and clean again in 48 hours.
Complete the above process every two days to ensure your humidifier remains clean and bacteria-free.
Following these steps will extend your humidifier’s life and ensure it performs safely and efficiently.
If you suffer from low humidity throughout your entire home, it may be wise to invest in a whole-house humidifier.
If you would like to see your whole-house humidifier options, click the link below to contact quality and professional HVAC technicians in Aurora, Lisle, Warrenville or Sugar Grove.
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3491 Swenson Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174
- CALL: 630-363-9067
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