During winter, humidity levels can drop drastically in your home, leading to adverse health effects. A humidifier can help restore the air’s moisture, enhancing air quality and providing multiple health advantages. Here are the advantages of having a humidifier during the winter months.
Helps Prevent the Spread of Airborne Viruses
While the dry air of winter may not be pleasant for our sinuses, it can provide a welcoming environment for viruses. That dry winter air is ideal for the spread of these. The low humidity allows them to float and remain airborne for longer periods. Studies suggest that air in the range of 40% to 60% humidity can help reduce airborne virus transmission. In a home with a humidifier, viral particles will absorb moisture and fall out of the air more quickly. This means there will be fewer of these particles floating around to be inhaled by household members.
Humidifiers also help keep the mucous membranes in your nose and throat moist. These membranes are your body’s first line of defense against viruses and other pathogens. When dried out, they’re much more likely to allow viruses through.
Helps Prevent Snoring
Snoring can be annoying for many people, particularly during the chillier months when dry air worsens the problem. When the air is dry, the tissues in the mouth, throat, and nasal passages can become parched and irritated as well. This can cause swelling and constriction of the airways, making it more difficult for air to flow freely while breathing, resulting in the offending noise. Humidifiers can soothe this issue by keeping the airways hydrated and reducing swelling.
Alleviates Dry Skin
During the winter, low humidity levels can deplete the skin of its natural oils, resulting in dry and scaly skin. A humidifier can increase the moisture levels in the air, thus hydrating the skin and preventing it from becoming dry, flaky, and itchy. Additionally, a humidifier can help relieve existing skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Promotes Healthier Houseplants
While cacti and succulents benefit from dry conditions, many other houseplants do not. You may notice that your plants get brown tips in the winter. While some of these plant issues may be related to reduced sunlight hours, dry air does not help. Increasing the humidity levels in your home not only has health benefits for the human occupants. You’ll discover that your plants will thank you as well.
May Relieve Allergy Symptoms
When the air is dry, the nasal passages’ tissues can also become irritated and dry, making it easier for allergens to enter the body. This can exacerbate allergy symptoms and make breathing more difficult. Humidifiers can ease this issue by keeping the nasal passages hydrated. This can make it more difficult for allergens to enter the body, alleviating allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes.
Prevents Damage to Wood
During the winter, low humidity levels can damage wood in your home such as furniture, flooring, and cabinets. When the environment is dry, wood can shrink, crack, and become brittle. It can also result in warping, splitting, and other forms of wood damage. Adding a whole-house humidifier to your HVAC system can prevent this damage by increasing humidity levels to maintain the wood’s moisture content.
Helps Your Home Feel Warmer
The proper humidity level in your home will make you feel warmer and more comfortable. This is because humid air carries heat throughout your home more efficiently than dry air. In addition, dry air causes water to evaporate more quickly from your skin. This evaporation has a cooling effect and can cause your body to feel colder.
Contact the Professionals
At Sturm Heating & Air Conditioning, we have been serving the residents of Spokane, WA, and the surrounding areas since 1945. It’s our mission to nurture long-term relationships with our customers by offering quality services and top-notch workmanship. We repair, maintain and install all types of heating and cooling systems. In addition, we provide indoor air quality, duct cleaning, and commercial HVAC services.
If you are in need of a humidifier, we can help. Our humidifiers are user-friendly, energy-efficient, and available in various sizes and styles to accommodate any space. To schedule an appointment, contact us at Sturm Heating & Air Conditioning today so we can get started!
