The winters in Utah are known for well below freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. But they’re also known for their especially dry air. As the air dries out, you may find yourself struggling with flaky, irritated skin, chapped lips, and frequent sore throats. But with one major HVAC upgrade, these seasonal irritations can become a thing of the past.
If you’re tired of dealing with the irritation that comes with winter’s drier air, this winter may be the perfect time for you to invest in a whole-home humidifier. In this blog, we’ll discuss why dry air is so impactful on your everyday life, the benefits of investing in a whole-home humidifier, and what to look for in a system for your home.
The Impacts of Dry Air on Your Home and Health
When temperatures drop, the air struggles to hold onto as much moisture. When you couple this with the increased use of your home’s furnace, your home may feel drier than it does through much of the rest of the year. There are several reasons why this can be detrimental to your health and home, including:
- Shrinking wood, leading to cracks, warping, and structural problems.
- More dust accumulation due to increased static electricity.
- Increased energy costs, as dry air often feels colder.
- Respiratory irritation, including coughs, sore throats, and asthma flare-ups.
- Increased likelihood of developing viral illnesses, like the flu and colds.
If you’ve noticed increased illness, home damage, and higher energy bills, investing in a new home humidifier may be the best option for your space.
Why a Small Humidifier May Not Be Enough
If you’ve been struggling with dry air in your home for quite some time, you may consider plugging in a small, personal humidifier to address the issue and respiratory irritations. However, this may not provide the relief you’re looking for. Many personal humidifiers are designed only for spaces of 400 square feet or less.
If you are trying to boost your home’s moisture levels with a smaller humidifier, you may find yourself frequently refilling the tank, only to end up with subpar humidification results. While a personal humidifier may be a good option for smaller bedrooms or living areas, they aren’t equipped to handle an entire home.
The Benefits of Investing in a Whole-Home Humidifier This Winter
If you’ve tried keeping your home comfortable with a small, personal humidifier to no avail, a larger system is your best option. There are many benefits to investing in high-quality, professional whole-home humidifiers.
- Soothe Respiratory Irritation: With more moisture in the air, your respiratory system is far less irritated, helping you alleviate frustrating winter weather problems, including increased asthma attacks, allergy symptoms, and dry sinuses.
- Reduce Illness: Germs like viruses and bacteria have a much harder time developing and spreading in moist air. When you invest in a whole-home humidifier, you may notice that you get sick less frequently during the winter months.
- Prevent Nosebleeds: When the air in your home is dry, your nasal passages may be easily irritated, leading to frequent nosebleeds. With a whole-home humidifier, you can soothe your nasal passages, reducing the frequency of nosebleeds.
- Reduce Energy Bills: Moist air feels much warmer than dry air. By investing in a whole-home humidifier, you may be able to set your thermostat to lower temperatures, reducing your overall energy consumption.
- Protect Your Home: By relying on a home humidifier, you can trust that you’re doing everything in your power to prevent the warping and cracking of much-loved wooden furniture, floors, musical instruments, and more.
What to Look For in Your Home Humidifier
While a whole-home humidifier may be the right choice for your home, it is essential that you choose the appropriate system. Not all home humidifiers are created equal, and you want to ensure the system you choose is equipped for your home and needs. Some things to look for in a home humidifier include:
- Appropriate Tank Capacity: When choosing a humidifier for your home, ensure you select a system that is the proper size. Trying to save money by choosing a smaller system will only result in poor results.
- Warm- and Cool-Mist Options: Before choosing, talk to your HVAC technician about warm- and cool-mist humidifiers to determine which would be a better fit for your home and humidifying needs.
- Humidity Control: Your chosen system should have a built-in control system that allows you to select the appropriate humidity level for your home and for the system to adjust as humidity levels fluctuate.
- Added Features: In addition to humidity control, you may want to look for a system that includes additional air purification and UV lights to help you address mold growth and bacterial spread in your home.
Do You Need to Be Worried About Mold?
If you’re considering investing in a whole-home humidifier, you may be worried about the potential risk of mold growth. While increased moisture in your home can pose a risk of mold development, this shouldn’t be a problem if you are operating the system as recommended by your trusted HVAC technicians.
Your home humidity level should never exceed 60% and is best set at 30-50%. When you set it at this sweet spot, you can trust that you’re not doing anything to encourage mold growth. Additionally, don’t forget to schedule regular HVAC maintenance appointments. During these appointments, don’t hesitate to ask about your home humidifier.
While many home humidifiers require little maintenance, they can still show signs that the system needs cleaning or a filter replacement. If your HVAC technician recommends any of these essential cleaning or replacement services, don’t hesitate to take this advice, because it can save you from avoidable mold growth in the long run.
Let R&D Heating & Air Install Your Whole-Home Humidifier
When you’re ready to invest in a whole-home humidifier, don’t hesitate to contact our team at R&D Heating & Air. With decades of experience helping homeowners across Roy, UT, and beyond find the appropriate humidifiers for their homes, we’re confident that we can do the same for you.
If you would like to learn more about our whole-home humidifiers, contact our team today for support.
