Why You Need A Whole Home Humidifier in the Winter

In an extremely cold environment, having the right amount of humidity isn’t only beneficial to your home, but it is also important for your throat, skin, and your overall wellness. Exposure to scant humidity can dry out and inflame the mucous membrane lining your respiratory tract, increasing your risk of colds, the flu, and other infections. Also, when humidity levels are low, flu viruses develop and spread more easily.

Moreover, when a home is less moist, the air will feel cooler which means you need to turn up your furnace to get your preferred heat. Low humidity is also linked to dry skin and a higher risk of catching airborne diseases.

A whole-home humidifier is a great way to overcome these issues. Four Seasons Air Specialists is a heating company in Vadnais Heights MN that carries whole-home humidification systems designed to provide you with just the right amount of humidity.

Humidity Defined

Humidity refers to the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere. It is totally transparent, similar to the rest of the gases in the atmosphere. 

Humidity is important because it affects many properties of air, and of materials in contact with air. Water vapor is the main agent in both weather and climate, and it is an important atmospheric greenhouse gas. Without water vapor, the Earth would be 87.8 colder.

What is a Humidifier?

A humidifier is an appliance that manages your home’s humidity levels. It adds moisture to an individual room or the whole house. In residential uses, portable humidifiers are commonly used to add humidity to a single room, while whole home humidifiers are incorporated into a home's HVAC system, providing humidity to the entire house. 

The Importance of Humidity at Home

Since most of us Americans spend nearly 90 percent of our time indoors, it is important that the air we breathe at home is clean, pleasant, and healthy.

Humidification enhances your home’s air quality. That is why being able to measure the humidity levels in your home is an essential part of maintaining a healthy living environment.

You can save money during the day and even more at night while you sleep by setting your thermostat at a lower temperature while running your humidifier. A humidifier is a small device that uses far less energy than your furnace.

If you have babies or young children at home, using a humidifier can be beneficial, especially if they have respiratory problems or cold or flu-like symptoms. This is particularly important during the winter when the air tends to get drier due to excessive home heating.

We tend to snore harder if our sinuses and throats are dry. If anyone in your home frequently snores, a humidifier may be the solution. A properly humidified environment tends to feel warmer and more comfortable, resulting in a good night’s sleep.

If you have a cold, a sinus infection, or the flu, a humidifier will help trim your suffering. Keeping your nasal passages and your throat humidified will help you heal faster, and will lessen symptoms like coughing and sneezing.

Those suffering from allergies can enjoy all the benefits of humidified air and reduce allergic reactions mainly by investing in an air humidifier geared with an anti-microbial, air-purifying filter.

During the cold months of winter, it is normal for people to have dry skin. This is especially true of the exposed skin of your face, lips, and hands. Dry skin wrinkles and cracks more easily, and living in a dry house can cause and aggravate a number of skin ailments.

When used according to the manufacturer’s specifications, humidifiers do not present any risk. Having said that, if they are not properly maintained, they could worsen respiratory problems for people who have preexisting conditions such as asthma and allergies.

Ask the Humidification Experts

Four Seasons Air Specialists offers a wide variety of whole-home humidification systems. Whatever the size of your home, we sure have something for you. Our seasoned HVAC professionals will ensure your brand new humidifier will be installed properly and operate smoothly. We are your reliable Mahtomedi heating and air conditioning contractor serving you over the last four decades.