While you may not have made the connection, when your heating system is in regular use, you may experience dry, itchy skin and irritated nose, throat, and eyes. This is a common issue with heating systems, particularly if you have a forced air HVAC system. This can make the winter months feel even more unpleasant. Fortunately, there is a solution available to help relieve itchy, dry skin and irritated eyes; a whole house humidifier.
The Importance of Humidify:
Most of us consider moisture in our homes to be a bad thing, but this isn’t always the case. It is only excessive moisture that can be a problem in your home. You actually need a certain amount of moisture inside your home in order to feel comfortable throughout the year. According to the EPA, this level is between 30 and 55% humidity.
Humidity is needed, particularly in winter for a number of reasons. The main reason is that humidity holds the heat. While this isn’t good in the hot summer months as it creates that muggy feeling, in winter it can help your home to feel warm and cozy. If your home doesn’t have enough moisture, it will feel chilly and cool even if the temperature is set at your comfortable level.
Another important reason to have moisture in your home is your personal health. If the air is too dry, it can cause your mucous membranes to dry out. This causes watery, itchy eyes and dry skin. In extreme cases, you may even experience nose bleeds. There are also symptoms that may not be quite as apparent. When the air is excessively dry, it can compromise the immune system’s ability to fight off infections effectively.
Finally, you need adequate humidity to keep your furnishings in good condition. If there is too little moisture in your home, it can cause damage to your wooden furniture and products. Wood needs adequate humidity in order to stay in good condition. If the air is excessively dry, it can cause wood to crack or split. This means that wooden furniture, paneling, flooring and any wood structure components are vulnerable to damage.
A Whole House Humidifier:
A whole house humidifier can be a simple addition to your HVAC system. A professional HVAC technician can install a whole house unit to ensure that the correct amount of humidity is added to the air in harmony with your heating system. This means that you don’t need to worry about programming a separate device since the humidifier can be calibrated to ensure that your home benefits from the optimum levels of moisture. So, you can avoid itchy eyes and dry, irritated skin throughout the whole year.
If you are concerned that the humidity levels in your home are not adequate and could be causing skin irritation and dry eyes in your family, you should speak to your local HVAC technician. A professional specialist can assess your system and advise you of the whole house humidifier options available, to make your home feel more comfortable.