This is a common problem we have homeowners come to us with—they’re using their heaters but finding that it’s drying out their indoor air, so they want to use them less, but then they’re uncomfortable. We certainly don’t want you to be uncomfortable for the sake of your indoor air quality! Dry air is a frustrating problem, for sure, but ceasing use of your heater won’t help.
The thing is, modern home construction has our homes sealed up so tightly against the elements, that it blogs out many things like allergens and pollutants, while keeping your heated or air-conditioned air inside your home. This is great for HVAC efficiency! But dry air is certainly a beast. The reason we say ceasing heater use isn’t the answer is because installing a humidifier is the answer!
“It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity”
Have you ever heard that phrase? It’s not a common one in our area, but if you’ve ever visited the east coast you’ll commonly hear this complaint. We could reverse this in our area, “It’s not the cold, it’s the dry air.”
Simply put, humid air retains heat better than dry air.
The cold air of winter doesn’t maintain humidity, which is what makes us feel so dry. This may seem like a minor problem, but you’ll find that humidifying your home with a whole-house humidifier will benefit both your home and your health in a number of ways.
How Dry Air Affects Us
When the indoor air in our homes is too dry—that is, below 30% relative humidity—it leads to the drying out of everything exposed to it. This includes us. Chapped lips, flaky and itchy skin, frequent coughing and subsequent sore throats, and even illness due to dried out mucous membranes can afflict you.
This isn’t the end of it, either. There are a number of household problems that can accumulate due to the presence of dry air, including splitting wooden floorboards, cracks in wooden furniture, damage to electronics from static shock, chipping paint, and even splitting wallpaper.
The Advantages of a Whole-House Humidifier
A whole-house humidification system is advantageous to your home in the same way an HVAC system is—it helps keep you and your family more comfortable, and healthier! Sure, you could invest in a small portable system, but it won’t be nearly as effective as a whole-house system. Whole-house humidifiers are integrated directly into your ductwork so they work in combination with your heater to bring you the best of both worlds—heat, and humid air that you need in the winter.
And because the increased humidity helps you feel warmer, you won’t have to set your thermostat as high in the wintertime. This results in a heater that doesn’t have to work as hard, and when a heater doesn’t have to work as hard, it’s not expending much energy. This all results in lower heating costs for you, as long as you have your heater maintained on a regular basis.
For expert indoor air quality and heating services in Kent, WA, contact Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. today! We take your comfort as serious as you do.