If you live in North Carolina, you know something about humidity! After all, in the summer, we’re all trying to survive each day without looking sweaty or having frizzy hair. But believe it or not, during the winter, it’s easy to have the opposite problem — with humidity levels far too low in our homes. Fortunately, you can be in control of the humidity in your home.
Humidity’s Impact on Health
First, you may wonder, “Why should I worry about the moisture in the air?” Aside from dry skin, humidity levels can impact your health.
Dryness in the air will pull moisture from your body, resulting in dry skin and hair. The lack of humidity in the air also leads to an increased chance of getting a cold and can cause breathing problems. You may have a runny nose, increased allergy symptoms, nose bleeds, or a dry throat. With deficient levels of humidity, you may experience headaches. You’ll also have a lot more static electricity in your home.
More than half of our bodies are made up of water. Humidity acts as a purifier of the air, allowing us to take in clean air, which is best for overall health. For good skin health, moisture is absolutely essential.
How to Measure Humidity
If you think the humidity levels in your home may be too high or too low, you can measure it in a few ways.
- Hygrometer – A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure water vapor in the air and overall humidity in your home. This tool is relatively inexpensive to purchase online or at home improvement stores. However, some may be more accurate than others. You’re aiming for about 40% humidity.
- Simple Test – Another easy way to determine if you have proper levels in your home is through a simple science experiment. Place an ice-cold glass of water in one of your rooms and leave the room for about 10 minutes. When you return, see if water droplets have formed on the outside of the glass. If you see those droplets, you’re fine.
Using Humidifiers
Many AC units have an option to view and control the humidity levels in your home. Check your unit instruction manual or call your unit provider to learn more about this feature. In general, AC units will pull moisture out of the air, but most don’t overdo it.
However, many heating units blast arid air, which is why you may want a humidifier during the winter months.
Humidifiers will add moisture to the air, preventing those health problems. There are many humidifier options, differing in style as well as price. Consider whether the humidifier is quiet or has features to kill germs. Make sure to read the manual and properly maintain your humidifier for it to work effectively. For example, some humidifiers require filters that need to be changed monthly.
Your Heating Unit Can Control Humidity
Did you know that newer furnaces and heating systems can control the humidity levels? If you’re considering a new furnace for your home, ask us about which systems have this feature. That way, you can say good-bye to the extra humidifier.
Contact us today to learn more.
