It can get worse if you ignore the signs of dry air in your home. You run the risk of inflaming the mucous membrane that lines your respiratory tract, increasing the risk of contracting the flu and other infections. Even your home can suffer. Dry air can cause wood furniture and hardwood floors to contract, splinter and even crack open along seams.
The solution lies with adding moisture to your indoor air. During the summer, “humidity” conjures up discomfort, but in the winter, it's vital to counteract the myriad effects of dry air.
Experts In Your Home follows the lead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recommending an indoor relative humidity level of between 40 and 50 percent. You can monitor this level – and make the necessary adjustments – with a humidity gauge, also known as a hygrometer. This nifty tool is sold at most home improvement and hardware stores.
So how can you infuse your home with a healthy amount of moisture while using your heating system this winter? You might be surprised to learn that there are many natural, practical ways to do so. (Some might even generate giggles from the young ones, but whoever said that humidity is a dry topic?)
First, the case should be made for humidifiers. The most efficient type is whole-house humidifier, which can be installed in your cooling and heating system with ease. It sends humidity in the form of water vapor through your ducts, and the level is monitored by your thermostat.
A whole-house humidifier carries the added benefit of helping you feel warmer. And when you feel warmer because of extra moisture in the air, you can lower your thermostat and save money on your energy bill, too.
These projected cost savings are important to keep in mind, especially because whole-house humidifiers are an investment that not every homeowner can afford to make. This is why many homeowners turn to small, portable humidifiers.
There are four basic types of humidifiers that can help combat dry air in your home:
Just looking closely at this list might spawn you to think of your own creative ways to inject moisture in your indoor air. If so, Experts In Your Home likes the way you're thinking because we know these ideas can make a noticeable difference, too:
Experts In Your Home would love to hear how you might find clever new ways to humidify your indoor air, so don't be a stranger – and don't wait too long after you discover the effects of dry indoor air sneaking up on you.
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