Cracked skin, nosebleeds, and dry lips… Can your HVAC system really help to prevent these inevitable signs of winter? Aris Parviz of Virginia’s Able Air-1, Inc. says, “Absolutely.” Parviz explains that the HVAC industry has been refocused in recent years. Today’s health- and eco-conscious homeowners are concerned about more than just heating and cooling their homes. Moisture control is becoming an important consideration for any HVAC system. Here Parviz talks about the benefits of installing a humidifier in your home.
Today’s homes are built for energy efficiency. This means they’re better insulated than older homes and they’re more airtight. While an airtight home helps reduce your energy costs, it can also contribute to poor indoor air quality if other issues like air filtration and moisture control are not taken into account. Newer homes allow less air in from the outside, creating a situation in which poor quality air, if it exists, continues to re-circulate through the home.
For this reason, the HVAC industry has shifted its efforts away from just heating and cooling indoor air; now we’re more focused on the total comfort of a building’s inhabitants. And a home humidifier is just one way we can improve indoor air quality.
Health Benefits
A home humidifier works in two ways. First, it measures the moisture within the home; and second, it hydrates the air when moisture levels are too low. Too little moisture in the air can contribute to a number of health problems including dry and cracking skin, nosebleeds and dry lips. Dry air also causes the body to become dehydrated more quickly. And for individuals with asthma or other chronic respiratory problems, inadequate moisture can trigger asthma attacks, sinusitis, bronchitis and other types of inflammation.
Introducing moisture into the air can help keep the body hydrated, soothe dry skin and lips, ward off nosebleeds and prevent respiratory difficulties. Adequate hydration can also help reduce your family’s susceptibility to infection by keeping mucus membranes moist and helping the body expel foreign particles like pet dander, mold spores and bacteria. If you do happen to catch a cold or the flu, moisture in the air can help relieve your symptoms. In fact, many doctors recommend home humidifiers to help speed recovery from respiratory illnesses and flu.
Cost Savings
When it’s cold outside, dry indoor air can actually cost you money. People tend to feel colder when air is dry, regardless of the air temperature itself. Introducing moisture into the air with a humidifier can actually make you and your family feel warmer at cooler temperatures. This will allow you to keep your thermostat set at a lower temperature in the winter, lowering you heating bills.
A home humidifier can also help prolong the life of certain elements of your home. Extremely dry air can cause cracks to form in molding and hardwood floors. Wood furniture is also susceptible to cracking and separating when air is too dry. By regulating the moisture within your home, you can help preserve your delicate woodwork and furniture as well as maintain your home’s value.
Adequately hydrated air also helps reduce static electricity. Static — the buildup of an electrical charge on surfaces like carpets, metals and human hands — can become especially problematic when indoor air is dry. When few moisture molecules are present on indoor surfaces, static is better able to form and accumulate. Excess static electricity can do more than just deliver an annoying shock; it can also harm your computer equipment and other home electronics. By preventing static buildup, you can prevent equipment failures and static-induced erratic behavior, and you can avoid costly repairs or replacements.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
