Benefits of a Home Humidifier

The Benefits of a Whole House Humidifier

By Jennifer Noonan from bobvila.com

As the days are getting colder, the air is getting drier. While lotion coupons are in the forefront of the Sunday paper’s circular section, many people are accustomed to replacing the moisture they are losing in their bodies and environment with a humidifier.

Most are familiar with the small, portable type that are set up in individual rooms. You fill a tank with water, turn it on, and the machine puts humidity into the air until you turn it off or it runs out of water. There’s not a lot of control.

Related: 10 Houseplants to Improve Indoor Air Quality

In contrast, a whole house humidifier is installed directly into your cooling and heating system. It introduces humidity in the form of water vapor into the air at the source—your heating ducts. The level of humidity is then monitored and controlled by your thermostat, just like the temperature is, and an even level of moisture can be released into your house all year long.

Putting a whole house humidifier into your home can reward you in many ways:

Health

Many viruses thrive in low-humidity environments, which can increase your likelihood of catching the flu, colds, and other respiratory ailments. And an overly dry environment can make people more susceptible to infection. Putting humidity back into your home can reduce the incidence of all these maladies.

Comfort

Over-dry air can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms and lead to dry noses, sore throats, and cracked, itchy skin. Not to mention those painful and surprising shocks you get from static electricity.

Preservation

Dry air can damage many things in a home, including wood floors, plaster, paint, furniture, artwork, electronics and musical instruments. Supplying your house evenly with the proper amount of humidity can protect your home and contents from the adverse effects of dry air.

Energy Efficiency

Turning up the thermostat will raise the temperature in your home, but it won’t necessarily make you feel any warmer. Installing a whole house humidifier can help you feel warmer at lower temperatures. According the EPA, you can save up to 4% on your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat. And humidity control can help a home qualify for the National Association of Home Builders’ Green-Built Certification Program.

You can install a whole house humidifier in either a new or an existing heating/cooling system. There are even systems available for homes with radiant or baseboard heat, so the opportunity is there for everyone to benefit from a controlled-humidity environment.

You might still want to stock up on lotion for the winter—but you can keep it in your car instead of on your nightstand.