If you wake up with a dry mouth, a nosebleed, or a raspy voice, the culprit might surprise you. WebMD points out that dry indoor air can lead to those problems and a number of others, especially during the cooler and drier fall and winter months. Choosing the right humidifier can be a simple solution, and Lakeview Heating and Cooling is here to help.
Dry Indoor Air Causes Problems
Dry indoor air is expensive. If that sounds odd, stop to consider what dry air does: you snore, so you and your spouse lose sleep. Your skin is dry, you’re more prone to colds, flu, and sinus infections, and even things like your houseplants and furniture suffer. So you’re more likely to miss work or lose productivity, and it’s also raising your heating bills.
Humidifier Benefits
That’s right. A dry house feels colder than one with proper humidity, so using a humidifier means lower heating bills. It also means healthier skin, fewer colds and infections, and not getting a mood-killing electric shock every time you kiss your significant other. Time for a humidifier!
Choosing the Right Humidifier
Many common home remedies for humidifying only work in small spaces for short periods of time. Putting a bowl of water on the radiator, hang-drying clothes, or leaving the door open when you shower only goes so far.
So where does that leave you? Let’s run down the common types of humidifiers.
Warm Mist Humidifiers
Older warm mist humidifiers boiled water and used steam to work. For safety, these machines now heat the water to a lower temperature and use an ultrasonic motor to form a mist.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Quieter and more energy-efficient, ultrasonic humidifiers use high-frequency sound waves to mist water. Some machines offer a choice of a warm or cool mist, or deliver both at once.
Evaporative and Impeller Humidifiers
Evaporative humidifiers draw water from a tank using a wick, then use a fan to create and distribute vapor. An impeller humidifier uses blades to agitate water, working on somewhat the same principle as an ultrasonic humidifier.
If a single-room unit isn’t doing the trick, consider a whole-house humidifier (also called a central humidifier). These require the services of Lakeview Heating and Cooling or a similar professional installer, but they’re a viable solution if your whole home is chronically dry.
Humidifier Maintenance
Always start by reading the humidifier manual. Your humidifier will need to be cleaned; your manual will tell you how. It may also need replacement parts; your manual will tell you what, and when. Change the water at least once a day, and use distilled water if your tap water leaves mineral deposits.
Low humidity is just one reason your home may not feel as warm as it used to. Contact Lakeview Heating and Cooling to set up a quick HVAC system check. If your furnace is the culprit, we’ll make the needed repairs. If there’s something else that might be more of a help — like better insulation or replacement windows — we’ll advise there as well. Call 773-698-6569 today!