Overly dry air is a common household problem in the winter, something a humidifier can easily rectify. The appliance adds moisture to the air, therefore helping with issues such as dry skin and throats, allergies and other illnesses/conditions that arise from too-dry air. Humidifiers add moisture to dry home air via water vapor, which is distributed through a tray. Four different varieties of humidifiers exist, so choose the one that’s best for your home.
- Humidifier health benefits: Adding moisture to the air in your home protects against cold weather health issues such as static shock, increased asthma and allergy symptoms, sore throats, itchy skin and nose bleeds. Health experts note overly dry air increases chances of developing colds, upper respiratory infections and flu as many viruses are more easily transmitted in dry air.
- Humidifier home benefits: The appliance also protects the home itself against problems such as cracked or split wood floors, trim, molding, furniture and chipping paint and plaster. Adding a humidifier to your home will also save energy, as the appliance makes the air feel warmer, meaning you won’t have to turn your thermostat up.
- Tabletop humidifiers: Also called portable humidifiers, this version is ideal when adding moisture to one room. They are lightweight, and work by pulling water from an easily-refillable tank.
- Tower humidifiers: Ideal for adding moisture to a medium-sized room, tower versions are set up on the floor and often require less refilling than tabletop options.
- Console humidifiers: Another self-contained appliance, console humidifiers also feature refillable tanks, but are designed to humidify multiple rooms at once. Because their tanks are large you won’t have to refill them as often.
- Whole-house humidifiers: Whole-house versions add moisture to a forced-air heating system. The moist air blows from a wet wick into a duct attached to the furnace, therefore whenever the furnace is running, moisture is added throughout the home. They also use the least amount of energy compared to the other options.
For more tips regarding home comfort, please contact us at Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating. We have served the Los Angeles and North Hollywood area since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about humidifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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