Winter often brings a unique set of challenges for homeowners. Do you notice dry, itchy skin, frequent nosebleeds, or even cracks in your wooden furniture and floors during the colder months? Low humidity levels inside your home could be the culprit. Dry indoor air not only affects your comfort and health but can also lead to lasting damage to your home. Luckily, humidifiers offer a way to tackle this problem. Adding moisture to the air can make your home a healthier, more comfortable place to live. At Mainstream Electric, Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing, we’ve spent over 20 years helping Spokane homeowners improve their indoor air quality. Let’s take a closer look at how humidifiers can make winter more manageable.
How Humidity Changes in Winter
Winter weather doesn’t just bring freezing temperatures—it also significantly reduces humidity levels. Cold outdoor air naturally holds less moisture. When this dry air is brought indoors and heated, even more moisture is lost, leaving your home’s air drier than ever. Heating systems, though necessary to stay warm, contribute further to this dryness, often creating an uncomfortable environment.
But dryness isn’t just confined to winter. During the summer, air conditioners remove heat and moisture from the air to cool your home. This process can leave your indoor air dry all year long, making it difficult to achieve a comfortable humidity level without taking specific steps. Without addressing the problem, you might experience dry skin and nasal discomfort no matter the season.
The Best Humidity Levels During Winter
Keeping your home’s humidity between 30% and 50% during the winter provides the right balance for comfort and health. Levels below 30% can make the air feel overly dry, leading to irritated skin, breathing discomfort, and damage to wooden surfaces. On the other hand, exceeding 50% may cause issues like mold growth and condensation.
Staying within this range benefits both you and your home. For your skin, balanced humidity helps retain moisture, reducing dryness and irritation. For your home, it protects wooden floors, furniture, and other materials from shrinking or cracking. A simple hygrometer can help you track indoor humidity and maintain the ideal range throughout the season.
How Low Humidity Impacts You
What It Feels Like
Low humidity directly affects your day-to-day comfort. Dry air draws moisture from your skin, leaving it itchy, flaky, and prone to cracking. Conditions like eczema can worsen, causing redness and irritation. Dry nasal passages are another common issue, making nosebleeds more likely and increasing overall discomfort. You might also notice your lips becoming chapped more quickly, and even your eyes may feel dry and irritated after spending time indoors.
How It Changes Your Home Comfort
Your home suffers just as much as you do when humidity levels drop. Wooden furniture, floors, and window frames can shrink, warp, or crack due to the lack of moisture in the air. You may hear creaking sounds from your home’s structure, especially at night when temperatures dip further. Static electricity becomes another nuisance, leading to shocks when touching metal surfaces and interference with electronics. Over time, these issues can result in expensive repairs or replacements for your home’s features and belongings.
The Benefits of a Whole Home Humidifier
- Improved Skin Health
A humidifier can help combat dry air’s effects on your skin. Adding moisture to the air keeps skin hydrated, reducing itchiness and flakiness. For those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema, a humidifier can noticeably improve daily comfort. - Enhanced Comfort
Proper humidity levels make the air feel warmer, even at lower thermostat settings. This could allow you to lower your heating bill without sacrificing comfort. The added moisture also makes breathing easier and soothes dry nasal passages or sore throats. - Protection for Your Home
A whole home humidifier safeguards your home’s wooden surfaces by preventing them from drying out and cracking. It also reduces static electricity, which not only improves comfort but helps protect your electronics from unexpected damage caused by shocks.
Types of Whole Home Humidifiers
Bypass Humidifiers
Bypass humidifiers offer an efficient and budget-friendly solution for many households. These systems use your home’s existing ductwork and furnace airflow to distribute moisture throughout your living spaces. They are simple to maintain and a popular choice for improving indoor air quality without a large investment.
Steam Humidifiers
Steam humidifiers provide a more advanced option, especially for homes without extensive ductwork. These systems operate independently by creating steam to add moisture directly to the air. They are highly effective and maintain consistent humidity levels, even in larger homes or those with unique layouts.
The Importance of Professional Installation
Expert Installation
Getting the most from your humidifier depends on proper installation. Professionals evaluate your home’s size, heating system, and layout to recommend the best option for your needs. Poor installation can lead to inefficiency or even damage, so it’s always a good idea to rely on an experienced team.
Regular Maintenance
To keep your humidifier running smoothly, regular maintenance is essential. Hard water can cause mineral buildup, affecting performance over time. At Mainstream, we suggest replacing humidifier pads at the start of every heating season to ensure the system works efficiently and delivers clean, healthy moisture to your home’s air.
Be More Comfortable at Home Today
As the winter season progresses, dry indoor air can quickly become a source of discomfort in your home. At Mainstream Electric, Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing, we understand the importance of maintaining a healthy and comfortable living space, especially during the colder months when you spend more time indoors. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you find the perfect humidifier solution to combat the effects of dry air and enhance your overall well-being.
With over two decades of experience serving homeowners in the Spokane area, we have the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the process of selecting and installing the ideal humidifier for your home. Our comprehensive range of services, including our Service Partner Plan, ensures that your humidifier remains in optimal condition, providing you with the comfort and health benefits you deserve.
Don’t let dry indoor air diminish your quality of life this winter. Trust the professionals at Mainstream to deliver the humidity control solutions you need to create a more pleasant and inviting home environment. Contact us today at (509) 237-6483 to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards a more comfortable winter season.
We Are Air Quality. We Are Mainstream.
