If you've never given any thought to the relative humidity in your household, now might be the time. With winter upon us in the Mid-Ohio area, indoor air can be at its driest. A whole-house humidifier can benefit your household in a few different ways, including reducing dry air and eliminating static electricity.
Benefits of humidification
There are several benefits to maintaining your home's relative humidity:
- Dry air can cause a variety of health problems, including dry eyes, chapped lips, itchy skin and increased susceptibility to colds. Maintaining a humidity level between 45 and 55 percent significantly reduces these issues, and can also ease asthma symptoms and those from other breathing disorders.
- Maintaining an ideal humidity level can help protect your wood floors, furniture and fixtures from potential damage caused by dry air. This damage can include cracking and warping. Proper humidification levels also protects wood musical instruments, such as guitars, pianos and violins.
- Moisture hinders the buildup of static electricity. Static electricity, as you're probably aware, often shows itself in the form of frizzy hair, clingy clothing and sparks when you touch metal objects. If you reduce dry air in your household, it will significantly lower the amount of static electricity.
Humidification options
There are several options you have when considering how to control humidity in your home:
- Many homeowners use tabletop and tower humidifiers. They have the advantage of being portable and relatively inexpensive, but they only humidify the air in a single room, which means you will need several of them to adequately humidify your entire house. They also are exposed in your living space, where they could be knocked over and may be unsightly. Many homeowners prefer humidification equipment to be kept out of sight. Additionally, they require daily filling and weekly cleaning.
- Whole-house humidifiers, as their name suggests, can humidify the air throughout your home. They are more expensive than individual portable models, but they are more effective and more efficient. They also work with your heating and cooling system, allowing them to be kept out of sight, and are installed directly into your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) equipment.
For more information on home humidification options and the potential benefits you'll experience when you reduce dry air in your home, contact Joe Behr Plumbing and Heating. We've been serving the Mid-Ohio area since 1969.
