Dry air in the home
During the winter months, it is common to experience dry air with central heating. While central heating keeps us warm on those cold days, the dry air in the house can make it difficult for some people to breathe and dry our skin out too. One way we can make this better is to buy a home humidifier.
How does a home humidifier help this situation? To answer this, we can go back to 8th-grade science where we learned what the difference is between dry air vs humid air. Dry air does not hold any moisture, just as it says, it is “dry air”. While humid air is the air that is holding water vapor.
When the air is hot, like during the summer months, it holds more moisture, but during the winter, the air is cold and holds little to no moisture. With this information, we learn that by determining dry air or moist air is heavier, that moist air isn’t as heavy as dry air because it is full of water molecules while dry air is composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen molecules.
So, how does a home humidifier fix this? It puts moisture into the air. Pretty simple sounding, right? There are other ways you can add moisture in the air too, and here we offer 12 of the most common:
- Turn the heat down. Yes, it is hard to do that on a cold winter day, but if you can layer your clothing and cover up with a throw while watching television, you’ll keep the moisture in the air, lower your energy bill, and practice a healthier, greener lifestyle! This is the best home humidifier and it’s a win-win on so many levels.
- If you have radiator heat or Dearborn heaters, put a pot of water on top of it. As the water heats, it will put moisture in the air. Again, you’ll be practicing a healthier, greener lifestyle.
- Hang clothes to dry near the radiator or Dearborn heater (not too close!). As the water evaporates from the clothing, it is putting moisture in the air, just like a home humidifier would do. Yes, a healthier, greener lifestyle that will also save on energy bills because you’re not using the clothes dryer.
- Place a damp towel or washcloth over the heat vent in a room and as the warm air from that circulates, it evaporates the warm water from the dampened towel or washcloth and creates a humid atmosphere.
- Fill containers with water and place them on the radiator is a great homemade home humidifier.
- Place shallow trays filled with water in the direct sunlight, kind of like making sun tea. In fact, go ahead and make some sun tea while you’re heating the house.
Cook more! Or boil water on the stovetop.
Use your crockpot or microwave instead of the oven, which zaps moisture out of the air. If you have to use your oven, put a pan of water on the stovetop to boil while the oven is on.
Placed water-soaked sponges throughout the house and they’ll release moisture is a safe way to create a home humidifier. Just be sure to rinse them and freshen them frequently so they don’t start growing mold.
Using a spray bottle of water, dampen the curtains then open the windows to let warm air come through the damp curtains. This will evaporate the water and release it into the air.
Leave the bathroom exhaust fan on during and after showering. An automatic home humidifier that you’ve had all along!
Let the water sit in the bathtub after you bathe until it has cooled down.
How do you know if the air in your house is dry?
During the winter, we keep the doors and windows shut and the heat on or the fireplace burning. While we’re toasty warm and comfy, this is also drying the air out. But when is dry air too dry? Here are four signs that are telling you to turn the heat down and put on a jacket if you’re cold and buy a home humidifier:
- Sparking: If you spark every time you touch something or somebody, you have static electricity and that comes from the air being too dry.
- Trouble Breathing: When the air is dry in our homes, we often wake up stuffy headed, have a dry throat, dry nose. A home humidifier can resolve this for you quickly.
- Dry Lips, Dry Skin: Any time of the day or night, if your lips and skin are feeling dry, your home needs a home humidifier.
- Paint Cracking and Wood Warping: A home that has hardwood flooring and is overly dry will start to see those floors warp. Or you may see paint starting to crack and peel. A home humidifier can resolve this for you.
Is dry air harmful?
Dry air can cause the following health issues:
- Breathing dry air can cause asthma, bronchitis, general dehydration, nosebleeds, and sinusitis.
- Dry air will evaporate the moisture from your skin and cause skin irritations.
- Dry air will dry your eyes out and cause them to itch.
- More irritating than dangerous, but for anyone with heart issues, it could be dangerous is the static electricity that causes mild shocks when you touch metal.
- The body feels cold because the “apparent temperature” in the air is lower than the thermometer reading.
Will opening a window help with dry air?
It doesn’t seem logical does it, but yes, it can help. Maybe not as much as a home humidifier, but it can help to open the windows and let fresh air in. How? The air that comes, even it is damp, will also force the already trapped damp air out. If that fresh air coming in is colder than the air inside the house is, it will heat up. As this heat the air, the relative humidity of the airdrops.
How do I fix dry air in my house?
One of the ways is to purchase a home humidifier. If you can afford it, a whole-home humidifier is wonderful, but if you get one for the bedroom or the one room that is the center of the house, it will help more than you think. When winter is approaching, take the time to seal around doors, windows, and vents. Do what you can to keep cold air out. For your body, keep your mouth and skin hydrated, take shorter showers, and moisturize afterward.
Do humidifiers help dry skin?
Definitely! A home humidifier can alleviate dry, itchy skin, dry eyes and nose, and congestion associated with colds, flu, and sinus infections. A home humidifier also eases allergies and asthma. A home humidifier will help your family and your home in so many ways, it is definitely something that you can invest in and get the ROI personally. If you’re experiencing dry air and can’t afford a home humidifier, try the other options we have furnished in this piece.
For your home humidifier installation in Vacaville, CA, call A 100% Guarantee Heating and AC today at 707-689-5128!
