Your Home May Be Too Dry...How Humidity Impacts Your Health and Safety The air inside your home needs not only to be purified, but it must also have the right concentration of moisture. Humidification, which is the process of adding moisture into the air, is one of the more important, but often ignored aspects of achieving whole-home comfort. In fact, balancing the right amount of moisture could reduce the number of sick days you experience each year, especially in the winter and flu season. Common Misconceptions about HumidityMost people confuse humidity with heat. After all, that is when most humidity levels rise and temperatures too. However, while humidity is not the most enjoyable in the summer, you need a certain level of humidity all year; especially in the indoor environment of your home. With air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter, indoor air is constantly being exposed to circulating air in an enclosed space, passing through your ducts and ventilation system. Of course, too much humidity can make your home uncomfortable, but on the other hand, properly controlled humidity offers proven benefits to your family's health and comfort. How Humidity Impacts Your Health and SafetyYou may not think twice about the moisture in the air, but a reduction in humidity can lead to several health problems, including: Increasing the likelihood of catching a cold, flu or upper respiratory infection. Certain viruses, especially those that cause the cold and flu, thrive in low humidity environments. If your home has a lowered humidity level, you can actually be more susceptible to infection. Aggravated allergies. If you already suffer from allergies or asthma, you may notice they are easily aggravated in the winter - a time when your home's comfort system removes the most moisture. Increased damage to your home. Low humidity can also cause your home's walls, hardwood floors and other wooden items to crack and wear down. Electronics also become a risk for static electricity, which can result in expensive replacements.Increased energy costs - Lowered humidity can make your home feel colder than it really is, which makes you continually turn up the thermostat and costs you more in energy bills each month.Susceptible to other ailments. In addition to the illnesses and home damage, you may notice that you are more susceptible to bloody noses, dry mouth, itchy eyes, sore throats, cracked skin and dry itchy skin. A whole home humidifier can resolve most of these issues. With the right balance of moisture, you can minimize the ill-effects of decreased humidity and increase your home's overall comfort. Also, you can lower your home's thermostat, which in turn, saves you money. Once you consider how much you will save each year after installing a humidifier, you will find it practically pays for itself. If dry air is causing discomfort and resulting in too many sick days from work this winter, talk to us about a whole house humidifier for your home. Give us a call at 215-822-0515 today or contact us online.
