Is A Whole House Humidifier The Right Choice For You?

What to do about dry, winter air?

During Kentucky’s infamous winter months, our temperatures are known to fluctuate a great deal. One week, it could be 50 degrees out, while the following three weeks after, the temperatures can drop into the single digits. Because of such temperature volatility, your home HVAC unit can work pretty hard in its effort to keep your house comfortable. During those colder days, your home’s furnace keeps your living space warm by adding heat to the incoming air. Because outside cold air doesn’t have as much moisture in it, this results in your house being filled with dry, warm air; and while the warmth is certainly welcome, the dry air can make things somewhat uncomfortable for you and your family.

Humidify Your Dry Air

One tried and true way to deal with the dry air caused by the winter cold is to use a portable humidifier in the room that’s occupied the most. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, greatly reducing the potential health issues overly dry air can cause. As an EPA report on home humidifier use points out, “Humidifiers are commonly used in homes to relieve the physical discomforts of dry nose, throat, lips, and skin. The moisture they add to dry air also helps alleviate common nuisances brought on by winter heating, such as static electricity, peeling wallpaper, and cracks in paint and furniture.” With that in mind, what kind of humidifier is right for you? Will a portable one do the trick as you move room to room, or is a whole-house humidification system the right way to go?

Health Benefits of Humidified Air

Whole-house humidifiers give homeowners more control over the level of moisture being added to their internal atmosphere. While portable humidifiers help the room they are operating in, whole-house humidifiers add water vapor at the source of your home’s air: the ductwork. This ensures a consistent level of moisture is added throughout. The moisture level is controlled by your thermostat instead of moving a portable unit where it’s needed. The health benefits of whole-house humidifiers also show their importance to overall home comfort. An added benefit of a whole-home humidifier is no longer dealing with you the bothersome electric shocks to other members of your family or guests, thanks to the significant reduction in the amount of static electricity in the air. 

Furthermore, as the National Institutes of Health points out, dry air may actually help facilitate flu outbreaks: “This dry period is not a requirement for triggering an influenza outbreak, but it was present in 55-60% of the outbreaks we analyzed, so it appears to increase the likelihood of an outbreak…” While the dry air may not cause a flu outbreak, scientists believe it helps in the transmission because warm, humid air does not appear to be conducive to virus growth. Therefore, home humidifiers are key components in improving the air quality of your home and health.

GreenBox Home Services: Your Whole House Humidifier Experts!

At GreenBox Home Services, we have the necessary equipment to reduce the amount of dry air circulating through your home during the winter months. Our team of certified, licensed professionals are here to help Central Kentucky with all of your humidifier and air quality concerns. Request HVAC service on our website to schedule your free estimate or if you have any questions about what kind of humidification system is best for you and your family!