As the weather gets colder, humidity levels reduce and the air gets drier. That may cause or aggravate a number of cold-weather ailments such as dry skin, itchy eyes, and allergies. Humidifiers put moisture back into the air. So how are they beneficial? Read on to find out the advantages of using a humidifier during the heating season.
Several studies have shown viruses to thrive in indoor environments with low humidity. That increases your chances of getting the flu and other respiratory infections. A dry environment can cause chapped lips, sore throats, dry nose, and skin dryness and itchiness. It can also worsen allergy and asthma symptoms. By replacing the lost humidity in your home, a humidifier helps reduce the incidences of these health problems.
The painful and unexpected static electricity shocks are most common when there's dry air. Humidifiers reduce the static electricity in the indoor air, resulting in fewer shocks.
Water vapor has a better thermal capacity than air. It's also less dense, creating convection currents that warm you faster than dry air. The extra moisture that humidifiers add makes the air feel warmer than dry air of the same temperature. Installing a humidifier will make you feel warmer even at lower temperatures. The Environmental Protection Agency states that you can save as much as 4% on heating costs with every degree you turn your thermostat down.
The dry winter air can damage your wood floors, paint, artwork, furniture, musical instruments, and electronics. A humidifier protects the contents of your house from dry air, helping preserve their integrity. As you can see, installing a humidifier can create health, comfort and energy-saving benefits for you and your family. To learn more about how a humidifier can help you during the heating season, please contact us at Russell's Heating & Cooling. We've been proudly serving the Hampton Roads area of Southeast Virginia for nearly 40 years. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about humidifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 757-750-1831. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “freedigitalphotos”