Achieving optimum humidity levels in the home is a tricky science. Too humid, and you run the risk of mold and water damage. Too dry, and health ailments such as dry cough, congestion, and cold and flu can be more common.
A humidifier is a great way to control indoor moisture levels in homes with dry air. The recommended humidity level for the winter months is between 30-40%, whereas humidity in the summer falls a bit higher at 30-45%. The overall ideal relative humidity for both comfort and health is between 30-50%, on average.
Benefits of a home humidifier
There are plenty of reasons to add a humidifier to your existing HVAC system. Here are our top five benefits.
- Avoid colds and flu. Viruses are typically less likely to survive in areas with higher humidity levels, whereas they thrive in dry air. Keeping your home within the 30-50% humidity range helps to decrease your risk of contracting a virus indoors.
- Loosen congestion. Humidifiers, specifically cool-mist humidifiers, can help to ease congestion and coughing due to colds – another great reason to keep moisture levels within the healthy range.
- Prevent dry skin and cracked lips. This one seems obvious, but many people suffer through dry skin and cracked lips in the winter months without connecting the dots that the air inside their home is to blame. Maintain skin health by bumping up the indoor humidity level.
- Healthier hair and scalps. Similar to dry skin, your hair and scalp can suffer from air that is too dry within your home. If you notice an increase in dandruff or dry, brittle hair in cooler months, it’s time to invest in a quality humidifier.
- Save money on monthly utilities. You might think this is counterintuitive, as humidifiers would be one more appliance using energy in your home. However, many homeowners are pleased to find that humidifiers actually decrease the amount of money they spend on heating bills. Higher humidity levels make the air feel warmer indoors, resulting in less need to bump up the thermostat and put your heating system to work.
Maintenance for humidifiers
Having a humidifier isn’t always as easy as plugging it in and forgetting about it. To keep your home healthy and at the best humidity levels, you’ll need to take steps to maintain the system properly. For whole-home humidifiers, maintenance is as simple as ensuring the pad is clean and the water level is checked. If you opt for a stand-alone plug-in device, follow these four steps:
- Use distilled water.
- Change the water daily.
- Clean the humidifier weekly.
- Change or clean filters regularly.
Humidifier Installation in the New Orleans and Metairie areas
There are several benefits of using a humidifier system in your home. Whether you are using a whole-home humidifier or a standalone device, maintaining a healthy humidity range is important for your property and the health of those living in the home.
Ready to enjoy the benefits of a high-efficienct whole-home humidifier system? Call Bienvenu Brothers today at (504) 835-7783 for a consultation and estimate.