You may have overlooked the value of a humidifier during the cold winters in Champaign, IL. Homeowners tend to solely focus on warmth and disregard humidity altogether. However, heat is only half the battle when it comes to keeping your home and family protected. Humidity is the other half.
As such, homeowners without humidifiers face dry air, which may cause dry skin, throat pain, and respiratory problems. So it’s essential to keep healthy levels of moisture in the air by using a humidifier while your heater is on. Continue reading to learn more about what humidifiers can do for you and what your humidifier options are.
Why Should I Use a Humidifier in the Winter?
Simply put, you need to use a humidifier during the winter because of dry air. Dry air is already a problem during other seasons. However, these problems are amplified during the winter because the air gets even drier.
The temperature of the air controls how much water vapor the air can hold. Additionally, higher temperatures indicate a higher water vapor capacity. For this reason, cold temperatures mean that the air is naturally drier.
Furthermore, heaters intensify the problem because heated air increases the air’s water vapor capacity without adding any moisture content. So when air is heated and its moisture content stays the same, the relative humidity of the air decreases. As a result, the warm air is uncomfortably dry.
Why Should I Care About Dry Air?
Although dry air may not seem like a significant issue, it can lead to problems for both your family’s health and your home. If the air in your home is too dry, you may notice the following symptoms:
- Dehydration
- Respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma and sinusitis)
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin
Furthermore, dry air can dry out wood floors and damage your treasured possessions, such as paintings, instruments, and plants. Luckily, all these issues are preventable by using a humidifier.
How Does a Humidifier Work?
The primary purpose of a humidifier is to release water vapor or steam in order to increase moisture levels in the air. As a result, the humidity levels of the air in your home will be increased. Humidifiers work in many different ways to increase humidity. Some of the most popular types of humidifiers include:
Central Humidifier
Central humidifiers are built directly into home heating and air conditioning systems. They are designed to humidify the entire house. Because of their ability to treat the air in every room, these systems provide the most reliable humidity levels for homes in Champaign, Illinois.
Ultrasonic Humidifier
Ultrasonic humidifiers use ultrasonic vibrations to create a mist that is released into the air.
Impeller Humidifier
Impeller humidifiers produce a cool mist using a rotating disk.
Evaporator
Evaporators utilize a fan to blow air through a wet filter, belt, or wick.
Steam Vaporizer
Steam vaporizers use electricity to create cool steam before it leaves the machine. Regardless of which humidifier you choose, they all work by pulling in air, adding moisture, and releasing the humidified air back into your home.
Humidifier Benefits
As you heat the air in your home, the air’s relative humidity drops, and the dryness becomes increasingly noticeable. As a result, the harsh dry air may cause allergies, dry throat, dry skin, coughing, headaches, and colds. For this reason, using a humidifier while your heater is turned on provides a more natural and comfortable environment.
Humidifier installation services can eliminate health risks and discomfort from dry air. Frequent use of your heating system is inevitable during Champaign winters, and using your heater and a humidifier simultaneously is the best choice for homeowners to combat dry air caused by constant heating. Want to know even more about the benefits of humidifiers? Here is an extensive list of reasons to use your humidifier together with your heater during the winter.
Reduce the Risk of Catching a Cold or the Flu
Bacteria and viruses don’t travel as well in moist air, so installing a humidifier improves your indoor air quality and may prevent you from catching a bug this winter season.
Comfortable Sinuses
More moisture in the air means more comfortable sinuses. This is because the dry winter air dries out your sinuses and lowers your resistance to bacteria. A humidifier will prevent you from waking up with a dry and tight nose.
No More Waking Up with a Sore Throat
Do you ever wake up with a scratchy throat that continues worsening throughout the day? This may be because of the dry air you’re breathing in as you’re sleeping. Moister air from a humidifier can keep you from waking up with an irritated throat.
Soft, Radiant Skin
The dry winter air saps the moisture from your skin, which causes flaking, dryness, and accelerated aging. A humidifier adds moisture into the dry winter air, which can help you maintain glowing skin.
Lower Heating Bills
Humidifiers can reduce your heating bills during the winter by making the apparent temperature appear higher than it is. Due to the water vapor or steam they release, humidifiers make your home feel warmer and more comfortable.
Protect Your Furniture
A lack of moisture inside your home may cause wood furniture or flooring to split and crack. A great way to prevent this from happening is by using a whole-home humidifier.
Better Sleep
If you or your partner are known for snoring, it may be because of dry sinuses. A moist environment created by a humidifier can soothe dry sinuses and give you extreme comfort as you’re sleeping.
Control Static Electricity
Another issue dry air causes is static electricity. As a matter of fact, static electricity shocks are harder to avoid in the winter because of the dry air. A humidifier will decrease the chance of getting randomly shocked in your home.
Healthier Plant Life
Plants are also affected by the dry winter air in Champaign, IL. When the air is too dry, you may notice their leaves sagging and the soil seeming drier than average.
Faster Recovery
In an unfortunate situation where you do catch a cold, sinus infection, or flu, a humidifier could reduce your recovery time. The moisture in the air keeps your nasal passages and throat moist, which can reduce symptoms such as sneezing or coughing.
Why Getting a Humidifier Professionally Installed Is Important
The process of installing a humidifier that treats your entire home isn’t as simple as it seems. First, you will need to determine the optimal humidity levels for your home. Then, you’ll need to choose a unit that will help you reach the desired humidity level.
Although portable humidifiers work well to a certain extent, they require constant maintenance, such as frequently refilling the water. However, whole-home humidifier units are built directly into your home’s cooling or heating system.
As a result, whole-home humidifiers automatically deliver the perfect amount of moisture to each room in the house. Automatic control means you don’t have to monitor humidity levels constantly or wonder whether your home and family are at risk.
Humidify Your Home Today
At Castle Home Comfort Heating & Cooling, we specialize in helping our customers make informed decisions on which humidifier to get. We offer humidifier installation services throughout Champaign, IL, and the surrounding areas.
Our goal is to improve your indoor air quality, prevent issues caused by dry air, and transform your at-home comfort. Don’t hesitate to call us today to find out more about our humidifiers and how we can help.