How to Keep the Humidity Up This Winter

If you’re like most people, when you think of humidity you don’t have positive feelings about it. You likely think of the humidity you experience outside on a hot day. You think about how muggy it is, or how dry it is. But when you speak with a furnace expert you’ll quickly learn that humidity has a huge impact on how comfortable we are in our homes during the winter.

As the year goes on, and the air in your home changes, humidity levels change too. The ideal comfort comes when humidity levels are anywhere between 35% and 50%. When it’s cooler and you experience dry air, you can count on respiratory discomfort as likely side effects. This happens when the mucous membranes in your throat and nose are dry, which leads to scratchy, sore throats and dry noses. It can also lead to a better chance of getting a cold.

The benefits of correct humidity levels in your house

There are numerous benefits to having the right level of humidity. They include:

• Increase the lifespan of your furniture, flooring, and paint. Wood is especially susceptible to the negative aspects of low levels of humidity. Of course wood can be warped with too much humidity as well, which is why it’s not enough to simply have a humidifier – you must be sure you’re getting the right level of humidity.
• Lower your chances for static electricity and shocks. No one likes static electricity, yet many people assume all they can do is use fabric softener and hope for the best. The reality is that humidity has a huge impact on whether or not you deal with static electricity.
• Indoor plans will live longer when your home has the appropriate amount of humidity. There’s no question that the right interior environment is important for the health of your plants, and humidity is part of that.
• Dry skin and other skin irritations don’t automatically have to be a part of your winter. The right level of humidity can alleviate them quickly, easily, and affordably.

Now that you know how important the right humidity levels are, it’s time to learn how you can perfect them. The right heating and air conditioning system can take care of it for you. While typical heaters may draw the heat out of your home, the right one will replace it. Contact AC-World to learn more about your options.