Colder air holds less moisture and tends to be drier, while warmer air will typically holds more moisture. Controlling the humidity in your home not only improves indoor air comfort, but also provides a healthy environment for you and your home.
Humidifiers
A humidifier works by adding moisture and humidity to the air, which can help alleviate some potential problems and improve overall comfort.
Humidifier Benefits
- Better Health – cold and flu viruses thrive in cold, dry air. By adding moisture to your indoor air the humidifier can help make your environment less conducive to those airborne viruses.
- Seasonal Comfort – When it comes to comfort, the dry winter air often brings more static electricity, dry or bloody noses, and even dry and chapped skin. An air humidifier can reduce those unpleasant experiences.
- Home Appearances – Homes with extremely dry air often experience more visible signs such as drywall tape shrinking & cracking, and the wallpaper and paint can be affected to the point of peeling. The wood floors can separate and leave gaps that fill with dirt and dust, which keep them from fully closing back. Proper humidity will help control those issues.
- Energy Savings – When the humidity level is controlled in the winter, your body feels warmer. Rather than cranking up the dry heat, simply add moisture to the air of your home to make you feel warmer. This way, you may prefer to go with a lower temperature setting on the thermostat and end up saving on your utility bill.
Dehumidifiers
A home dehumidifier works by removing excess moisture from the air to control the home’s humidity level.
Running an air conditioner can help remove much of the moisture from the air but it’s sometimes not enough. A basement is a common area where many homeowners in the midwest still prefer to have a dehumidifier in use.
Dehumidifier Benefits
- Helps Control Allergies – Many allergy triggers such as dust mites, mold and mildew thrive in humid environments. Rooms with higher humidity and often poor air circulation can be bathrooms and basements. A dehumidifier can help decrease the moisture in those areas.
- Protects your Home – High levels of moisture in a home can cause structural problems over time. Condensation can build up, causing mildew and mold to form, as well as warping and deterioration. Even your furniture can be damaged from long-term humidity and high moisture.
- Air Comfort – Homes with proper humidity levels are generally more comfortable. The indoor air quality is usually improved, and the air feels cooler when a dehumidifier is in use.
- Energy Savings – a dehumidifier may assist in controlling energy costs by helping your air conditioner work more efficiently. Because a dehumidifier works to remove moisture from the air, it means your air conditioner likely doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, thus saving energy use as well as wear and tear on your air conditioner.
Setting the Humidity Level
Humidity levels can vary due to changing seasons, weather, energy use, air circulation and other factors. Most experts agree that keeping the relative humidity level between 30% and 50% (or around 45%) for the best comfort and health. In the warmer months, you can expect the average interior humidity to be higher, and in the colder months it will likely be lower. You can typically find the humidity setting on your home’s thermostat. A good visual cue is if condensation shows on the window’s interior side, your humidity setting is too high. Conversely if visual separation or cracks appear on trim work or wood floors, your humidity level is too low..
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