Why Humidify?
Humidity – depending on the season and where you live, it’s something we either want to increase or decrease in our homes. Fall and winter bring drier air to most of the country – which gets drier still when we turn on our heaters and furnaces.
Dry indoor air can be damaging to wood floors, furniture and painted surfaces. But it can also make us extremely uncomfortable.
The most common signs of discomfort due to dry air come in the form of dry skin, itchy eyes or throat, sinusitis, even bloody noses. And have you ever walked across your carpeted floor to turn on a light switch – only to receive a static electricity shock? That’ll wake you up in a hurry!
Human beings are most comfortable – and healthiest – at a relative humidity level of about 30-50%. And with our indoor air in winter sometimes dropping below 20% — drier than the Sahara Desert – it’s no wonder we look to add moisture and improve our comfort at home.
Humidifiers Add Moisture
Humidifiers do exactly what the name implies – they humidify, or add moisture to our air. They come in both portable and whole-house styles, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Portable (or one-room) humidifiers include warm mist (steam vaporizers), cool mist (impellers) and ultrasonic models, and are available at retail.
While inexpensive and easy to operate, portable humidifiers do have their shortcomings. If you want to add humidity to more than one room, you must purchase multiple units. Some people object to the space these units take up on surfaces, as well as the noise levels created while operating.
When it comes to using portable humidifiers, the most important factor to consider is cleaning and maintenance. Because of the risks associated with exposure to microorganisms such as bacteria and mold – which grow easily in humidifier models with tanks of standing water – the U.S. EPA cautions consumers to “use a humidifier only when conditions require it, to use the correct moisture setting for existing conditions, and to clean it thoroughly.” They also recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions in changing the water and cleaning the unit daily.
As your trusted filter experts, we’d be remiss if we didn’t add that portable humidifiers with filters or wicks must be changed regularly in order to avoid the buildup of scale, a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
Whole-house humidifiers are usually installed by a professional heating contractor, out of sight in or near your HVAC equipment. One unit delivers humidified air to the entire home via your ductwork, eliminating the need for multiple units and thereby saving energy.
Bypass-type models rely on air moving through your home’s ductwork in order to transfer moisture to the air. Because water trickles across a bypass humidifier’s “pad,” or filter, mineral deposits build up and reduce the unit’s efficiency and ability to deliver moist air. Change your filter regularly to keep it in top operating shape.
Whole-house steam models use less water than other whole-house units, and can be more eco-friendly because there is no wasted water flushed down the drain. Because most steam models operate independently of the furnace fan, more-consistent humidity levels can be maintained.
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