Whether you enjoy cozying up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate or partaking in outdoor snow activities, the winter season has plenty to offer. And for those who are fans of snowy weather, it’s a beautiful time of year. Regardless of your feelings about the season, winter also means an overall drop in temperature and humidity. Lower humidity levels can have serious consequences for both your health and home. To combat the concern, consider the benefits of using a humidifier in the winter.
Some telltale indicators of low humidity levels include dry skin, worsening cold and flu symptoms, static shock and warped wood floors. That’s just to name a few.
While you cannot control the weather outside, you can control the temperature and humidity levels indoors. Keep reading to find out the many health and home benefits that come from using humidifiers, and how to choose the best winter-season humidifier for your indoor space.
More: Want to learn more about the differences between low humidity and high humidity? Once you know the key attributes, you’ll be able to spot both conditions from a mile away →How Does Winter Affect Humidity?
But first, what is the connection between winter and humidity? It’s actually the connection between temperature and humidity. Indoor humidity levels, or relative humidity, measure how much moisture is in the air at a specific temperature compared to how much moisture could be in the air at said temperature. So, as temperatures drop in the winter, so does the humidity. This is ultimately because cooler air cannot hold as much moisture compared to warm air. And that lack of moisture results in drier air.
As the weather gets colder, you also rely more on your home’s heating system to keep you and your family warm. This is another reason the winter season and weather impact indoor humidity levels. While your home’s furnace is working to keep you warm and comfortable in the cold, it also lowers indoor humidity levels. That dry air feeling indoors may be the worst part of colder weather. That’s why we recommend a humidifier in the winter.
More: All homeowners should monitor indoor humidity levels, regardless of the season. Home humidity knowledge prevents common humidity-related issues →Benefits of Using Humidifiers in the Winter
There are many benefits to adding a humidification solution to your home’s HVAC system. Specifically in the winter, when low indoor humidity is a common problem, humidifiers help preserve home quality and improve occupant health. Here is a quick breakdown of some of the perks:
1. Humidifiers increase moisture levels. This is an obvious one, but ensuring your home has good humidity levels has several benefits. It eliminates common wintertime indoor air concerns such as:
- Reduces congestion: A humidifier keeps your nasal cavity and sinuses from drying out, meaning less congestion and fewer sinus issues.
- Fewer nose bleeds
- No scratchy throat: Again, humidity keeps your mucus membranes from drying out (especially overnight!).
- Goodbye dry skin and chapped lips: Extra moisture in the air helps keep skin and lips moisturized.
- Reduces sinus headaches
2. Less dry indoor air in the winter means fewer symptoms for those with allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions.
3. Reduces static electricity meaning fewer shocks, static hair and static cling.
4. Helps preserve wood and paper materials in your home. This includes wood furniture and hardwood floors which shrink and warp with low indoor humidity. Humidity regulation also benefits wallpaper, painted surfaces and the structure of your home.
5. Humidity control reduces the risk of infection and helps prevent viruses from spreading indoors. Humidifiers help prevent illness because moisture in the air makes it harder for bacteria and viruses to travel and spread indoors.
6. Better sleep! The added moisture can also help alleviate snoring. And, it simply makes your sleeping environment more comfortable.
7. Humidification can help you save money on utility bills. Higher indoor humidity means it feels warmer and you won’t have to set the heat as high, saving money and energy.
Health Benefits of a Humidifier
The potential health benefits of a home humidifier are often the main reason homeowners pursue humidity control.
Especially to prevent the expected winter season symptoms. For anyone that has woken up to dry indoor air in the winter likely knows the pain of a scratchy throat, stuffy nose, dry skin and chapped lips. Increased indoor humidity prevents your nasal passage and sinuses from drying out in the first place. But that’s not humidification’s only health benefit!
We cannot emphasize this enough … proper indoor humidity levels also help prevent infection and illness. The science behind this? The drier your nasal passage, the easier it is to absorb virus and bacteria particles. This means indoor relative humidity levels influence how infections spread.
How exactly do germs thrive in dry air conditions? In dry air, an infectious droplet can float through the air longer and travel farther because it is lighter. In an indoor space with proper humidity regulation, the droplet would grow in size and weight due to the moisture in the air and fall faster. Research about the impact indoor humidity has on infection is ongoing, but it’s clear that humidifiers help reduce the risk of illness and infection.
What Is The Best Way To Humidify a House in the Winter?
In the wintertime: the warmer your indoor air, the drier the indoor air. And that goes for the entire home. This is why we suggest whole-home humidification solutions. In our opinion, it’s the best winter humidifier option. Compared to a portable unit, a whole-home system actively ensures ideal humidity levels for the entire living space.
Whole-home humidification includes all the benefits with minimal maintenance. It installs directly into your home’s HVAC system and works in tandem with the existing system. The humidifier adjusts and regulates your home’s air and levels automatically. This provides your space with the healthiest, cleanest air at all times.
Another huge advantage of a whole-home system? You don’t have to worry about the nuances of a standalone unit. There is no ensuring correct water levels, changing the water regularly, buying distilled water or cleaning that comes with a portable humidifier.
Standalone units need to be thoroughly and regularly cleaned to prevent bacteria and mold growth. Compared to a whole home system that improves your family’s health without labor, the answer should be clear. A whole-home purifier is truly a hassle-free upgrade.
Choose Whole-Home Humidification This Winter
There are many benefits of using a humidifier in the winter. Humidification systems actively increase the amount of moisture in the air, making it an ideal winter season fix.
As the colder weather continues, we can help you find a local IAQ expert to evaluate your space for a whole-home humidification system. Investing in a home humidifier benefits your health, your family’s health and your home!
