Humidifiers: Why are they needed, and how do they work?
Humidifiers, a household appliance often overlooked, can significantly impact your home’s comfort. They can provide health benefits and protection for your home if used properly. Humidifiers can also help homeowners save energy.
We’ll be looking at how humidifiers can benefit your home. We will also talk about the best humidity levels for your home, how humidifiers work and the various types of humidifiers.
Why Use Humidifiers?
Air moisture is expressed in percentages. This means that the amount of water vapour in the air is proportional to the maximum water vapour at the temperature. This measurement is called relative humidity. Too much moisture can lead to mould growth and the peeling of paint.
Dry air can cause serious health problems if there isn’t enough moisture. These will be covered in a moment. What is the ideal relative humidity level indoors? For indoor air quality, the ideal level is between 30 and 50%. No matter where you live, controlling the humidity in your home is essential for your happiness and health. Here’s why.
Humidifiers have many health benefits
Humidity has a number of benefits, including the ability to moisturize and reduce dryness. Dry air issues are not in short supply. Dry air is a good environment for cold symptoms like wheezing and coughing. A humidifier can not only be used to treat symptoms if they occur, but also prevent you from getting sick.
Dry-outs can make it more difficult for asthmatics and allergy sufferers to avoid infection. The list of dry-air-related health problems doesn’t stop there. Consider a humidifier if you have any of these issues.
- Cracked lips
- Dry skin
- Fragile hair
- Influenza
- Irritated nasal passages
- Irritated vocal cords
- Itchy eyes
- Sinus congestion
- Sinus headaches
- Sinus inflammation (sinusitis)
- Snoring
- Sore throat
- Throat dryness
- Nosebleeds
- Nose irritation
These issues are most common in the winter months. However, if you live somewhere warm and humid, you may not be as affected. These dry air-related problems are also common during air conditioner season. Air conditioners work as dehumidifiers, removing moisture from your air and circulating dry air throughout your home.
How Can Humidifiers Reduce Your Electric Bills?
A humidifier will keep your space warmer because humid air is warmer than dry. Because humidity increases the temperature, the air feels warmer. This can help you save money on your energy bills. You can now set your thermostat to a lower temperature. You can sometimes turn off your heating or space heater.
Humidifiers require an average of 35 watts to run. It would be less than $40 if you used your humidifier continuously for 24 hours per day, not that you would. This is for the entire year.
This can potentially save you quite a bit on your heating bills and keep your indoor environment at a healthy humidity level. To calculate your exact electricity consumption, you can use the calculator.
What Causes Humidity at Home?
Any substance that can create moisture inside of our homes can provide natural humidity. These are the most common suspects:
- Cooking
- Sinks
- Showers
- Dishwashers
- People (or pets) breathing
- Open windows and doors
- Leaky doors and windows
- Poorly maintained HVAC systems
