The Benefits of Humidifiers During Dry Spring
Over the last few years, drought conditions in Southeast Wisconsin have contributed to dry springs. This lack of moisture can result in dry air in your home. That’s where humidifiers come in handy, releasing water vapor to balance the humidity and prevent a whole host of issues. Here in Wausau and the surrounding areas, Southport Home Services is the go-to HVAC company for top-notch humidifiers and services that’ll help you breathe easy at home all season long. The perks of using a humidifier when the air gets parched are hard to overstate. Let’s dive into how these devices can upgrade your home’s environment and your overall well-being during the dry spring months.
How Whole-House Humidifiers Work
Whole-house humidifiers introduce water vapor into your home’s airflow through the HVAC system. The humidifier is equipped with a reservoir or water line that supplies water to a distribution tray or panel. As warm air passes over the moistened surface of the tray or panel, it picks up moisture, increasing the humidity levels in the air before being circulated throughout your home. Some models may also feature built-in sensors or controls to automatically monitor and adjust humidity levels, providing precise humidity control.
Installing a Whole-House Humidifier
Having an HVAC professional install a whole-house humidifier is straightforward. They will first work with you to select a unit based on your home’s size and specific needs. The professional will then assess your house’s layout and HVAC system to determine the best place for the humidifier. Most likely, this will be near the air handler. This allows the humidifier to distribute moisture evenly throughout your home, ensuring consistent humidity levels in every room. Once your whole-home humidifier is installed, you will enjoy several benefits.
Alleviates Dry Skin and Lips
Dry spring air can really do a number on your skin and lips, leaving them feeling tight, itchy, cracked, and just downright uncomfortable. Humidifiers swoop in like a moisture superhero, adding that much-needed hydration back into the air to soothe and nourish your skin. This helps keep your skin supple, elastic, and looking its best. Additionally, humidifiers can help soothe and heal chapped lips, reducing the need for constant application of lip balms or moisturizers.
Reduces Allergy Symptoms
For those who suffer from allergies, dry air can be a real pain, triggering all sorts of sniffly, itchy, congested misery that makes spring a season to dread instead of enjoy. Humidifiers help soothe nasal passages and respiratory tracts, reducing inflammation and irritation from allergens.
When your nasal passages stay lubricated with moisture, they’re better equipped to filter out allergens like pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold before they can cause a full-blown allergic reaction. You’ll be able to breathe easier and cut down on constantly reaching for tissues and allergy medicines.
In addition to soothing nasal passages and reducing inflammation, humidifiers can help alleviate allergy symptoms by weighing down airborne allergens. When the air is adequately humidified, particles are less likely to remain suspended in the air. Instead, the increased moisture causes them to become heavier and settle out of the air, reducing the likelihood of inhalation and allergic reactions.
Prevents Static Electricity
Dry air leads to static electricity, causing shocking, hair-raising experiences, clingy clothes that stick to everything, and even sparks when you touch something metal or hard surfaces. Not only is static electricity annoying and uncomfortable, but those little sparks can potentially damage sensitive electronics like computers, TVs, gaming consoles, and smartphones.
However, by adding moisture to the air, humidifiers help dissipate static charges more effectively, preventing them from accumulating on surfaces. When the air has the right balance of humidity, it becomes a better conductor of electricity, minimizing the likelihood of static buildup. This not only makes your living environment more comfortable but also helps protect your valuable electronic devices from the damaging effects of static electricity.
Protects Wooden Furniture and Floors
Parched air can really do a number on wooden furniture, flooring, cabinets, and more, causing unsightly cracks, warping, splitting, and permanent damage over time. Wood is a natural material that constantly absorbs and releases moisture to expand and contract, so keeping the humidity balanced is key to preserving its longevity. Without enough moisture, that gorgeous hardwood coffee table can start looking beat up, floors can buckle and warp, and kitchen cabinets might not open and close properly. Humidifiers help maintain the ideal moisture levels to preserve the beauty and structural integrity of all your valuable wooden pieces, saving you from costly repairs or replacements down the line.
Improves Sleep Quality
There’s nothing worse than waking up with a parched, dry mouth or a sore throat or feeling congested from mouth-breathing all night when the air is too dry. It can decrease your sleep quality and leave you feeling groggy and unrested in the morning. Humidifiers add soothing moisture to the bedroom air, allowing you to breathe easily all night and even reduce snoring.
Decreases the Risk of Infections
Keeping your mucous membranes moist is a crucial way humidifiers help boost your body’s defense against illnesses. When the air gets too dry, it can cause protective linings in your nose and throat to dry out and lose their ability to trap harmful bacteria and viruses. Your respiratory system relies on moist, sticky mucus to filter out all the icky germs you breathe daily. But when those membranes get parched and cracked, it’s like leaving the front door wide open for infections. Humidifiers create that a moist environment that keeps your body’s first line of defense working properly to stop pathogens before they can make you sick.
Benefits Houseplants
If you’ve got a green thumb and a cherished collection of houseplants, you know those leafy friends thrive on proper humidity levels that mimic their natural environments. Dry air can cause wilting, yellowing leaves, failure to thrive, and even plant death, undoing all your hard work. Humidifiers can help create the ideal growing conditions for your houseplants, promoting healthy growth and vibrant foliage. Many common houseplants, such as ferns, spider plants, and philodendrons, are native to tropical environments where humidity levels are naturally high. When these plants are exposed to dry air, they can experience stress and struggle to absorb the nutrients they need to grow. By maintaining proper humidity levels, your plants will flourish with lush, vibrant foliage and beautiful blooms, all while staying protected from fungal diseases, mold, and pests that thrive in dry conditions.
Contact Us Today
At Southport Home Services, we have been serving the residents of Wausau, WI and the surrounding area since 2005. We install, repair, and maintain heating and cooling systems. In addition, we are indoor air quality experts and provide plumbing services, including water treatment, drain and sewer cleaning, and bathroom remodels.
If you’re ready to install whole-home humidity control, we can help. Our experienced team can help you choose a system suitable for your home, and that fits your budget. We offer a 100% guarantee on all new installations. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our HVAC technicians so that we can get started!
