Is dry winter air impacting your family and home? If you’ve noticed dry sinuses, bloody noses, cracked lips, static electricity as you move about your home, or dry air indoors, chances are, your family could benefit from a whole home humidifier. On the other hand, if your home is suffering – wood furniture and floors are drying out or you see plaster and paint separating, peeling or cracking, your home may be in desperate need of a whole-home humidifier.
What Is Humidity?
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. The amount varies depending on the season. But generally speaking, humidity levels are higher in the summer and lower in the winter. Ideally, humidity levels in your home should remain between 30 and 50 percent. Humidity that’s too low or too high can result in damage to your home, furniture and upholstery, as well as create health issues, such as respiratory problems, for your family.
How Can I Ease the Symptoms Of Dry Indoor Air In My Home?
Invest in a whole home humidifier to raise humidity levels in your home, even during the driest, coldest winter days. Using a whole home humidifier during the winter increases the moisture throughout your home. The moisture created by a home humidifier has a variety of health benefits for your family, including preventing and relieving dry, itchy skin, reducing the occurrence of nosebleeds, alleviating cold, cough and flu symptoms, providing relief for asthma sufferers and helping children to sleep better. At the same time, a humidifier reduces static electricity, extends the lifetime of wood furniture and floors, and cuts down energy costs by raising the humidity in your home, in turn keeping you and your home warmer.
How Does a Whole Home Humidifier Work?
At a cost of approximately $525, a whole home humidifier is installed in your ductwork near your furnace, either on the supply or return end, and also connected directly to your home’s water supply. Inside the humidifier is either a humidifier pad, a rotating drum, or a steaming system used to distribute water to your home’s air. When air from your ducts enters the humidifier, it is exposed to the water inside. The water evaporates into the air, which increases the moisture levels of the air that exits the humidifier on the other side to raise humidity throughout your home.
I Already Have a Whole-Home Humidifier. How Do I Turn It On For the Winter?
First and foremost, you will need to locate your humidistat. It is likely located near your thermostat or mounted at the furnace on the sheet metal box. Read the damper lever label, which should either read closed (summer setting) / open (winter setting), and make sure the damper lever is set to your winter setting. You can utilize the control setting to adjust the humidity level to the desired rate.
How Do I Know If My Humidifier Is Working?
Most humidifiers are installed to run when the furnace is running in heat mode. With this in mind, you should be able to see water draining from the humidifier while the heat is running or for a short time after the heat shuts off.
If you would like to learn more about whole home humidifiers or request a quote for your home, contact Wyckoff today.