When should I turn my humidifier on in the winter? | Americans are accustomed to the sudden arrival of extremely cold winter weather. Dry air is one of the new indoor air quality problems that arise with cold weather.
Many negative health consequences, such as dry skin, itchy eyes, dry nose and throat, and nosebleeds, can be brought on by dry winter air; however, a humidifier can mitigate the majority of these ill effects.
“When should I turn on my humidifier this winter?” is a question we are asked by homeowners frequently. We are unable to provide you with a specific date because the arrival of cold weather fluctuates from year to year.
The ideal course of action is to use your humidifier as soon as you detect that the air in your house is becoming dry, but you can also take preventative measures and begin using them as soon as your furnace is started for the season.
Because of the cold and bad weather, Canadians spend about 90% of their time indoors during the winter, therefore it’s critical to have the highest air quality possible in your house.
This entails maintaining the proper moisture content in the air within your house during the winter. The ideal range for the air’s moisture content is 30% to 50%.
The best approach to balance the moisture levels in your house is with a humidifier, but when selecting the finest humidifier for your house this winter, there are a few factors to take into account.
Contents
Handheld Humidifiers
While portable humidifiers are useful for enhancing the quality of the air in certain rooms and may be relocated as needed, they are not a reliable method for enhancing the general quality of the air in your house.
These devices’ inability to detect moisture is their drawback; until you switch them off, they will keep running.
This may result in your home’s moisture content exceeding 50%, which encourages the growth of mold and mildew. Additionally, they feature reservoirs that require manual filling.
Whole-House Misters
The greatest approach to counteract dry air and enhance your home’s overall quality of air throughout the winter is with a whole-home humidifier.
They are set up to circulate damp air around your house in tandem with your furnace. There are several choices, but they’re all equipped with some kind of moisture sensor, so they only activate when the relative humidity in your house falls below a predetermined threshold.
In most situations, they are also immediately connected to your home’s water supply, so you never have to worry about forgetting to fill them.
For more than 25 years, Harding Heating & Air Conditioning has been gladly meeting Ottawa’s comfort demands. Our staff is committed to giving our customers trustworthy equipment and dependable service.
Choosing the Indoor Humidity
Relative humidity determines how the humidifier that is connected to your HVAC system or furnace is adjusted. For most dwellings, a pleasant relative humidity ranges from 30% to 50% in the spring, summer, and fall.
Your family and house should be comfortable for most of the year if you set your humidifier to this setting.
But in the winter, when the temperature drops much, you might have to modify. Around 50% humidity will result in harmful condensation on the walls and window sills of your house.
You’ll be better off with a 20% humidity level at temperatures between 0 and 10 degrees. Adjust the setting to 25% when the outside temperature is between 10 and 20 degrees.
Naturally, monitoring the temperature outside can be a hassle. If you would like not to, adjust your humidifier to a setting between 30% and 50%. If condensation appears on your windows, reduce the humidity.
When should I turn my humidifier on in the winter [Tips to improve the performance]
A whole-house humidifier is the greatest method to prevent the drier winter air from spoiling your holiday spirit.
A home’s humidity levels are more crucial than many homeowners realize. It goes beyond simple comfort. It has to do with life quality. You don’t think we’re real? Continue reading. These are eight ways that turning on a humidifier immediately improves wintertime living.
Targeting 40–60% relative humidity is advised for a healthy household in order to prevent the growth of germs and viruses that cause colds, the flu, dry eyes, and itchy, cracked skin.
To be more precise, we advise:
• Aim for 45 to 55 percent relative humidity in the summertime when the air is humid and wet.
• When the air is dry in the winter, aim for 35 to 45% relative humidity.
You must dehumidify in the summer and humidify in the winter in order to reach these values.
The benefits of utilizing a humidifier in the winter months
MORE CHEAP HEATING CHARGES.
Optimal humidity differs from too dry or too wet air in how it transfers heat. Even at the exact same temperature, humid air seems warmer than dry air.
Using a decent humidifier from November to April allows you to set your furnace to a lower setting and save money all winter long.
A HEALTHIER FAMILY IS MAINTAINED.
Although they can’t completely protect against the cold and flu, humidifiers can help keep germs and viruses at bay if the relative humidity level is just right.
High humidity doesn’t seem to go well with a high frequency of colds and flu, according to studies.
A well-maintained home’s humidity level might be the difference between a sickly family and more quality time spent together.
YOU’LL HAVE MORE TIME.
Moderate snorers become terrifying snorers in dry air. Sinuses can become dry and clogged, causing regular breathing to sound like a dragon’s breathing.
You won’t have to fear the next five months any more than you fear an ordinary night if your spouse snores.
Joyful Sinuses.
As previously said, dry winter air dries out and leaves your sinuses raw. The chilly air inhibits respiration, even if you feel fit as a reindeer.
Your sinuses become dry and allow germs and viruses to enter your body more easily. Having healthy sinuses throughout the winter helps you breathe more easily and maintain your health.
SMOOTHER, LESS RUBBERY SKIN.
Dry skin may easily crack the area around your nose, on your elbows, on your heels, and under your fingernails.
It aches! Skin begins to peel off and appears drab, wrinkled, and tense. In addition to using lots of moisturizers, you may assist fight dry skin by adding some moisture to the air!
GET WELL MORE QUICKLY.
A body that is at its ideal humidity level will heal from a cold or the flu more rapidly.
Additionally, it helps lessen those awful cold and flu symptoms that keep you up at night, such as runny noses and dry coughs.
ENSURE YOUR ANTIQUE FURNITURE IS SAFE.
Your antique wood decorations can be drying out little by little. Winter speeds up the process, causing fractures and making the area more vulnerable to various types of harm.
Give that antique desk a winter humidification and summer dehumidification if you plan to preserve it for longer than a few years!
Give and take plants.
The air in your house may be made cleaner using plants. Your plants begin to struggle to maintain their end of the living arrangement as the air becomes dry, and the benefits of the air cleansing begin to fade.
We can assist in selecting the ideal humidifier for your family, whether it’s a traditional plug-in model or one that can be used throughout the house.