Harmful Effects of Dry Air in Your Home

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Disease Prevention

The air in your home shouldn’t be too dry or too humid. The ideal relative humidity level is between 30 and 50 percent. When indoor humidity levels are below 30 percent, it can create an environment that’s ripe for the spread of illness. Dry air dries out mucous membranes, making you more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. Low humidity levels can also trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.

If you or a family member is sick, it’s even more important to maintain proper indoor humidity levels. Viruses that cause colds and the flu thrive in dry conditions.

By increasing the humidity in your home, you can make it harder for these viruses to survive and help shorten the duration of illness.

Low Humidity Affects Your Skin

Dry air can also lead to dry, itchy skin. In extreme cases, low humidity can cause your skin to crack and bleed. If you already have eczema or psoriasis, dry air can make your symptoms worse.

Low humidity levels can also accelerate the aging process. You’re more likely to develop fine lines if your skin is dry.

If you’re noticing more dry skin, or if your existing skin conditions are worsening, increasing the humidity in your home may help.

Static Electricity

Another one of the effects of dry air is static electricity. If you’ve ever been zapped by a doorknob or had your hair stand on end after taking off a sweater, you know how frustrating static electricity can be.

While a little static electricity may not seem like a big deal, it can cause damage to electronic equipment. If you have sensitive electronics in your homes, like computers or TVs, it’s important to mitigate humidity issues as best as possible.

Damage to Your Home

Not only can low humidity levels cause health problems, it can also damage your home. When the air is too dry, it can cause wood floors and furniture to crack. Paint and wallpaper may also peel, and musical instruments can go out of tune.

Damage to Furnishings

Dry air can also damage your furnishings. When the air is too dry, your furnishings will begin to dry out and deteriorate. Moisture is needed to keep many of them in good condition over the years.

How to Combat Dry Air

Now that you know the dangers of dry air, you may be wondering how to increase the humidity levels in your home. Getting a humidifier for dry air is your best solution. Humidifiers are an effective way to increase humidity levels as it adds moisture directly into the air.

If you have a large home, you may need more than one humidifier to maintain proper humidity levels throughout the house. You also want to consider how often you use it, and ensure that you’re following the proper instructions for cleaning and refilling.

Choose the Right Humidifier

Not all humidifiers work the same. Some emit a cool mist, while others emit a warm mist.

Cool mist humidifiers are easier to find, but they can also be a breeding ground for bacteria. While warm mist humidifiers kill bacteria before releasing moisture into the air.

Whatever type of humidifier you choose, make sure to read the instructions carefully before using it. This will help you get the most out of your humidifier and prevent any accidents.

Contact Us

Whether you’re looking to minimize the likelihood of illness, reduce static shock, or maintain the quality of your home over the years, getting a proper humidifier is important to ensure moisture levels remain acceptable within your home.

ThermEnergy has years of experience in humidifier installation and maintenance. With an industry-leading selection and service team, we’re well prepared to handle any of your humidifier needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services!