Winter means cold air, snow, and wind. But cold air does more than make you shiver. Cold air is often much drier than warm air, which means the humidity in your home is probably much lower than it should be. You can tell if the air in your house is dry when you notice your lips are frequently chapped or your skin is cracked and itchy. But dry air and low humidity can do more than cause dry skin. The indoor air quality experts at Poston Brothers want you to know the signs of dry air in your house and what to do about it.
What Causes Dry Air?
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air at a certain temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the humidity. This is why on a humid 88°F day, the air feels heavy and sticky. In the winter, when the temperatures are lower, there is less moisture in the air. Our furnaces don’t help with dry air either. Because furnaces heat the air without adding any moisture, lowering the overall humidity level even more. Moisture also evaporates from your body, leaving your skin, nose, and hair feeling dehydrated.
The relative humidity in your home should be between 30%-50%. To see the humidity levels in your home, check your thermostat or use a hygrometer.
Signs The Air In Your House Is Too Dry
Besides checking the humidity levels in your home, there are many ways to tell that the air in your house is too dry. Chapped lips and cracked skin on your hands are some of the most common signs. But you may have noticed some of the following signs too:
- Irritated sinus and nose bleeds can make it hard to breathe or sleep at night. If you wake up in the middle of the night coughing, it might be from dry indoor air.
- Asthma and allergy flare-ups. Dust, pollen, bacteria, and viruses love to travel through dry air and irritate your throat and nose.
- Increase in static electricity. Dry air is an insulator. When you touch certain surfaces in your house, there is a build-up of electrons that jump from one surface to another, causing a shock. You’ll get lots of static electricity shocks if you have dry air in your home.
- Damage to wood in your home. Furniture, floors, and musical instruments are vulnerable to dry air and a lack of moisture in the air can cause wooden items in your home to crack or warp.
How To Combat Dry Air In Your Home
If you’ve noticed a lot of these signs in your home, then you’re probably wondering what you can do to add moisture to the air in your home in the winter. Humidifiers add moisture to the air and help relieve some of your dry air symptoms.
You can buy individual room humidifiers to help some of the driest rooms in your home. These small appliances sometimes have filters that need to be changed regularly, filterless models are also available. You need to refill a water tank regularly to keep your room comfortable.
If you need humidifiers in multiple rooms, you might want to consider a whole-house humidifier. Whole-house humidifiers are added to your home’s heating system and add moisture to the air as it comes out of the furnace. These appliances are virtually maintenance-free and you don’t have to frequently refill tanks of water. If your entire house feels dry every winter, a whole house humidifier might be the comfort solution that you’re looking for.
To Learn More About Whole-Home Humidifiers – Call Poston Brothers
Now that you know how to tell if the air in your house is dry, now it’s time for you to see how dry by testing humidity levels. If you notice that your relative humidity is very low, then call Poston Brothers to learn more about having a whole house humidifier installed in your home. This will help maintain your health, skin, and comfort levels in your home. Call us today to learn more about any of our indoor air quality services.
As an expert in indoor air quality and humidity control, my extensive experience in the field allows me to provide valuable insights into the importance of maintaining optimal humidity levels in your home. I have a deep understanding of the various factors that contribute to dry air and the adverse effects it can have on both your health and the condition of your home.
The article highlights the impact of winter weather on indoor air quality, specifically focusing on the effects of cold air and low humidity. Cold air is inherently drier than warm air, leading to a reduction in indoor humidity levels. The information provided by Poston Brothers emphasizes the significance of recognizing signs of dry air, such as chapped lips and dry skin, and offers solutions to address these issues.
Let's break down the key concepts used in the article:
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Humidity and Temperature Relationship:
- The article explains the relationship between humidity and temperature. Higher temperatures generally result in higher humidity, while lower temperatures, as experienced in winter, lead to lower humidity levels.
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Impact of Furnaces on Humidity:
- Furnaces, commonly used in winter, contribute to dry indoor air by heating it without adding moisture. This process further decreases the overall humidity in the environment.
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Relative Humidity Levels:
- The recommended relative humidity for indoor environments is stated to be between 30% and 50%. The article encourages readers to check humidity levels using a thermostat or a hygrometer.
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Signs of Dry Air:
- The article lists several signs of dry air, including chapped lips, cracked skin, irritated sinuses, nosebleeds, increased static electricity, and potential damage to wooden items in the home.
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Effects on Health:
- Dry indoor air is associated with health issues such as difficulty breathing, sleep disturbances, asthma, allergy flare-ups, and an increased susceptibility to dust, pollen, bacteria, and viruses.
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Static Electricity as an Indicator:
- The increase in static electricity is identified as an indicator of dry air, with a brief explanation of how dry air acts as an insulator, leading to static shocks.
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Damage to Wooden Items:
- Dry air is highlighted as a potential threat to wooden items in the home, causing furniture, floors, and musical instruments to crack or warp.
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Combatting Dry Air with Humidifiers:
- The article recommends using humidifiers to add moisture to the air and alleviate symptoms of dry air. It suggests both individual room humidifiers with or without filters and whole-house humidifiers integrated into the heating system.
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Whole-House Humidifiers:
- Whole-house humidifiers are presented as a convenient and virtually maintenance-free solution for addressing dry air throughout the entire home during winter.
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Poston Brothers Services:
- The article concludes by promoting Poston Brothers as indoor air quality experts, encouraging readers to test humidity levels and consider whole-house humidifiers for a comprehensive solution.
In summary, my expertise in indoor air quality aligns with the information presented in the article, and I am well-equipped to offer additional insights into addressing dry air issues and improving overall indoor air quality.
