We are getting to the time of year when your heating system is running pretty regularly. This may also be the time of year when you stock up on lotions because your skin gets excessively dry. But could your skin, eyes, nose and throat be getting excessively dry from your heating system? This is a common phenomenon with heating systems during the winter months, particularly forced-air heating systems. But there is a great solution that can help your dry, itchy skin and more: a whole home humidifier.
Humidify Your Home
Moisture in a home is typically looked at as a bad thing, but this isn’t the case – it is excess moisture you want to avoid. You actually need a level of moisture in your home year-round to be comfortable. The EPA states that this range is anywhere from 30-55% humidity. Why do you need humidity, particularly during the winter months? There are a few reasons. The first is that humidity holds heat. This isn’t good when the temperature outside is 90 degrees, but it is good when the temperature outside is 20 degrees.
A home without enough moisture is one that will always feel chilly, even if the temperature is reading what you want it to be. In other words, having enough humidity in the air means you can use less heat to feel comfortable. Then there’s your personal health. When the air is too dry, your mucous membranes dry out. This can lead to itchy skin, watery eyes and even nose bleeds. It also reduces the ability of your immune system to effectively fight off infections. Another negative consequence of too-little humidity is damage to wood products. Wood needs a certain amount of moisture to stay in good shape; otherwise, it cracks and splits. This means your wood furniture, flooring, paneling and wood structure components can be damaged.
A whole home humidifier adds the right amount of moisture to your air in conjunction with your heating system. Call Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling today and see how we can make your home in Ambler, PA more comfortable with a whole house humidifier!