Did you know that Colorado has some of the driest air in the country? Because of Colorado’s elevation and distance from large bodies of water, we experience dry air year-round. However, the dry air that makes hot temperatures more manageable in the summer isn’t necessarily advantageous in the winter.
Low humidity in the winter causes dry, uncomfortable air in your home. Here are some signs that your humidity is too low.
- Dry, chapped, cracked, and itchy skin
- Dry mucous membranes (one of the reasons why colds are more common in winter)
- Static electricity in the home
- Damage to wood furniture, floors, and wallpaper
- A heating system that works harder to heat your home
That last one might be one you’ve never heard of and should be a cause for homeowner concern.
When the air in your home is dry, it makes your house feel like it’s much cooler than it actually is. This causes you to run your heating system more, which leads to higher heating bills and a system that isn’t running as efficiently as it could.
When your home’s humidity is balanced, the benefits are twofold: it will increase the overall comfort level of your home while decreasing your heating bills and energy consumption.
Benefits of a Whole-House Humidifier
Although you could combat humidity with room humidifiers, they have many drawbacks. Not only would you need multiple units, but they’re also noisy and expensive. Even worse, if they’re not properly cleaned and maintained, they can become contaminated with mold, bacteria, and allergens that can worsen allergies and asthma and cause respiratory infections.
In contrast, so long as they’re properly maintained, a whole-house humidifier eliminates these issues. Here are the benefits.
Health Benefits
There are numerous health benefits associated with adding moisture to the air you breathe. You’ll no longer suffer from dry, flaky, itchy skin and hair. Increased moisture in the air also means your nasal passages and sinuses won’t be nearly as dry which will result in fewer respiratory ailments such as colds, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and nosebleeds. Whole-house humidifiers reduce your overall chances of getting sick because viruses and bacteria do not survive in moist air.
Cost Savings
Dryer air feels colder, which leads to people using their heating systems more. You’ll find yourself turning on your heat less frequently, which will result not only in decreasing your energy bills but increasing your energy efficiency.
Better Sleep
Having moister nasal passages could also decrease nighttime snoring. A better night’s sleep for you and your loved ones is an added benefit of a whole-house humidifier.
Less Static and Damage to Your Home
Who wouldn’t want to have less static electricity in their home? Moister air also means less damage to your wood floors and furniture as well as to paper products such as books, artwork, posters, and framed photos.
Consider our home comfort heroes as your friends, offering practical advice on how to improve the quality of the air in your home, rather than just an HVAC professional looking to close a deal.
Don’t let dry air get you down, call Brown’s to learn about whole-house humidifiers in Colorado Springs, CO.