It is estimated Canadians spend close to 90% of their time indoors. As most people in Toronto know, the air inside your home can get pretty dry year-round, and especially during the winter. While warmer air contains higher levels of moisture, colder air has a lower humidity, meaning less moisture. When you turn up the heat in your home, the air does warm up, but it still has a low humidity. This is one reason why it is so important to have a good quality humidifier in your home.
Here are a few more reasons to get you thinking about a humidifier.
Health
If the air in your home is too dry, you or someone in your family may experience some health issues. Some of these include a sore throat, sinus congestion, allergy and asthma attacks, dry skin, dry eyes, dry hair, nosebleeds, colds, and even snoring. Babies and young children have also been known to have disruptive sleep due to dry indoor air. A humidifier will increase the humidity in your home and can prevent these issues.
Damage to Your House, Furnishings and Belongings
Dry air can also be damaging to your home and its contents. It has been known to dry out wood floors, wood furniture, and even musical instruments made from wood. Seasonal fluctuations in humidity can also cause cracking or peeling in paint and drywall. A humidifier can prevent this from happening and can potentially end up saving you money. A humidifier can also save you money because having adequate humidity in your home will make you feel warmer, keeping you from using the heater as much.
Humidity Level
If you’re not sure what humidity level is in your home, you can use a hygrometer (first invented by Leonardo da Vinci in 1480) to find out. The appropriate humidity level in your home is about 40-50%, but it might need to be lower than that to keep condensation off your windows. If you end up with too much humidity in your home, mold and mildew could start growing. This is more likely in the kitchens and bathrooms. It’s best to measure humidity levels in your home regularly.
A properly humidified home can help you breathe more comfortably with less dryness, save on energy costs, and even help protect your hardwood floor and wood furniture. Learn more about the different types of humidifiers and details here.
Questions? Please give your team at High Efficiency Cooling & Heating a call. We are happy to answer any questions.
