Why Does the Air in My Home Feel so Dry During Winter?

Posted: January 14, 2020

We all know how hot and humid it can get in the Delaware Valley during the summertime. The air feels heavy because it contains so much moisture. But things get reversed when the cold air blows in and our heating system starts pushing out a lot of hot air, sapping the moisture out of our home environment.

When your home becomes too dry, many problems can begin to crop up. Problems can range from dry, irritated skin and increased allergic responses. Dry indoor, if left unchecked, can also result in physical damage to your home and furniture.

The good news is you can tackle the problem of dry indoor air with a simple solution that ensures healthy moisture levels throughout your home: a whole-house humidifier.

Wired to your heating and air conditioning unit, as well as your plumbing, a central humidifier adds water vapor to your home air via your ducts. You can then control humidity levels using your thermostat, just like the temperature.

Consider the benefits of achieving an optimum level of humidity in your home, considered to be 55%.

• Better health – Humidifiers reduce the incidence of colds, flu, and other respiratory ailments by controlling viruses that tend to thrive in dry air.
• Greater comfort – Air that’s too dry can make asthma and allergy symptoms worse and lead to dry noses, sore throats, and cracked, itchy skin. With properly humidified air, you’ll experience fewer of these problems.
• Less damage to your home – Dry air can wreak havoc on wood floors, plaster, paint, furniture, artwork, electronics and musical instruments. By keeping the right amount of water vapor in the air, you avoid that kind of damage.
• Lower bills – Properly humidified air feels warmer than dry air, which means a whole house humidifier will help you feel warmer at lower temperatures. According the EPA, you can save 3-4 percent on your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat.

Do you want to improve your indoor air quality with a humidifier? Contact the indoor air experts at Wilson Oil and Propane today to learn more and get a FREE estimate.

Read more about keeping your home healthier.