Dry air is a concern in terms of both comfort and respiratory health, as it can lead to persistent coughing and sinus irritation. You’re also more likely to get sick when the air is overly dry as a result of it drying out your mucous membranes and lessening one of your main lines of defense against infection.
Dry air is a common problem during winter because cold air can’t hold as much moisture and also because running your heating causes the air to dry out even more. Running your AC can lead to the air being overly dry as well, as AC systems continually dehumidify indoor air by causing moisture to condense.
How Humidifiers Can Improve Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Comfort
In terms of respiratory comfort, the main concern with dry air is that it saps moisture out of your throat and sinuses, causing them to be dry and irritated. This is where running a humidifier at certain times can be beneficial. Humidifiers work by continually pumping out moisture to increase the humidity level.
By increasing the humidity level, your throat and sinuses won’t be as dry and you’ll be less likely to experience coughing fits. Running a humidifier also helps to prevent and overcome issues with dry, itchy skin and runny eyes. Maintaining the proper humidity level can make a big difference in indoor air quality and overall comfort as well.
Humidifiers are great if you live in a dry climate or experience issues with the air in your house being overly dry during the winter due to your heating frequently running. If you suffer from allergies, running a humidifier during allergy season can help alleviate some of your symptoms. A humidifier won’t eliminate all allergy issues, but you’ll still typically cough and sneeze less if your throat and sinuses aren’t overly dry.
While humidifiers can help with respiratory comfort and health, they can also negatively affect indoor air quality if not used properly. One issue is that you can end up with mold growth inside your house if the humidity level is too high. Overly humid conditions also lead to an increase in dust mites, which can lead to more frequent and more severe allergy symptoms or asthma attacks.
Types of Humidifiers and Their Pros and Cons
Portable humidifiers are classified as either cool mist or warm mist. Cool-mist humidifiers just spray tiny water droplets, whereas warm-mist humidifiers use a heating element to boil water and produce steam that then gets blown into the air. Both types are just as effective at adding moisture to the surrounding air so that it’s not so dry, but each one has advantages and disadvantages.
For instance, many people prefer a warm-mist humidifier during the winter, as cool-mist units can make the surrounding air feel cold and damp. Cool-mist units also need cleaning regularly to prevent mold and algae growth and tend to coat surfaces with a white powder due to mineral deposits in the water. The main concern with warm-mist units is that children and pets can get seriously burned if they touch the heating element.
Why Whole-Home Humidifiers Are the Superior Choice
Whole-home humidifiers have many advantages over portable units, making them the best solution for ensuring your house is never too dry. One issue with portable humidifiers is that they only humidify the surrounding air, meaning you’d need to have units running in various rooms to keep your entire house from being too dry.
Whole-home humidifiers instead pump moist air directly out into the HVAC ductwork, and the HVAC system then circulates the moisture into every room. A whole-home humidifier also connects to the house’s plumbing, meaning you never need to refill it with water like you do portable units.
The other major advantage of a whole-home unit is that you can control it with a humidistat or a smart thermostat. That means you can program your desired humidity level, and the humidifier will then only run when the air in your house is below the set level. That way, you’ll never need to worry about the humidifier making your house too humid and potentially causing indoor air quality issues.
Call Us Today
Since 1976, Lakes Heating & Air has been providing reliable humidity control and indoor air quality solutions to customers throughout Northeast Ohio. If you’re tired of dealing with dry indoor air, we carry a range of quality whole-home humidifiers that will effectively meet your needs. You can also count on us if you have a humidifier that needs to be repaired or maintained. To schedule a consultation and learn more about our humidifier and indoor air quality services, contact us today.
