It’s winter time in Iowa and all of us have been battling its bitter, cold, and dry wrath for the past 4-6 weeks. Like many people living in the Midwest, you have probably hit that point where thoughts of spring are on the horizon and you are fed up with winter. We hate to break it to you, but we still have probably a solid month or more of cold, dry weather to deal with before we start seeing real spring weather. To cope with dry air, many residents in central Iowa purchase humidifiers to assist with their health while also improving the air quality in their home.
Why Are Humidity Levels Important?
Humidity levels play a large role in allowing your body to regulate itself. Too much or too little of it can cause people with allergies, eczema, or other skin illnesses to have complications. On top of that, the dry air that we commonly experience in the late fall and winter seasons can also take a toll on your home furniture. This is why it’s so important to regulate humidity levels for your home as much as you can.
How Does A Humidifier Work?
There are multiple different styles of humidifiers. Some are small, wall plug-in operated and meant to humidify a single room while others are house-wide and built into HVAC systems. At Wyckoff Heating & Cooling, we only focus on installing whole-house humidifiers. Each type of humidifier system operates differently and carries different pros and cons with them.
Bypass humidifiers
These whole-home humidifiers work by utilizing your furnace unit to force moisturized air throughout your home. Air is sucked in through your home’s heat ducts before passing through a water panel to absorb moisture. From there, the water is then redistributed throughout your home, humidifying every room. Bypass humidifiers are the most common type of system that we install and service for central Iowa residents. We almost exclusively use Honeywell and Aprilaire bypass humidifiers.
Steam humidifiers
Although more expensive than a traditional bypass humidifier, steam humidifiers are the most efficient systems for properly dispersing humidity throughout your home. Rather than using a pad for water to pass through before it is pumped through the house ducts, steam humidifiers boil water and disperse it throughout the home. This, in turn, creates maximum efficiency for humidifying a home. However, the installation and maintenance costs for a steam humidifier are noticeably higher. On top of that, these systems require the use of reverse osmosis for its water supply, unlike a bypass humidifier.
Humidifier Benefits For Your Health
As mentioned above, the dry winter air can be brutal on peoples’ skin, especially those who have certain health conditions. There are a variety of ways in which humidifiers can increase your personal health during these harsh, dry months.
- Humidifiers decrease the chance of getting sick. Winter is a common time of the year for airborne viruses to spread throughout homes and communities. Viruses and bacteria do not travel through moist air as well as they do when it’s dry out.
- Moist air allows quicker healing. In the event that you do get sick during the winter, having a humidifier in your home will help with your recovery process.
- Reduce nose bleeds and itchy skin. People who deal with chronic nosebleeds generally have a much worse time with them in the winter, and installing a humidifier will open up nasal passages and moisturize skin.
- Improve your sleep. It’s common for people to snore more often during the winter months, as the air dries out their throat and nose. Humidifiers can help reduce snoring to those who are affected by it.
Humidifier Benefits For Your Home
Not only do humidifiers increase your personal health, but they also provide perks for the health of your home!
- Moist air protects your furniture. Dry air takes a beating on furniture, especially items composed of wood. Keeping the air moist will increase the longevity of your furniture items.
- Reduce your energy bill. Moist air retains heat better, which is why our summers are so hot and sticky. Implementing a humidifier in your home will ultimately allow you to run your furnace less often since the air in your home will hold in heat at a much better rate.
- Decrease static electricity in your carpets. If you are tired of getting shocked when doing things around your house, it’s time for you to install a humidifier. Dry air is the root of almost all static shocks that you get from your carpets, upholstery, and clothing.
Start Using A Humidifier In Your Home
If you are ready to make the switch to have a humidifier system installed in your home, contact us today! Our technicians can have new units installed in a matter of hours, no matter the size of your home. Wyckoff Heating & Cooling offers a variety of indoor air quality solutions for all seasons of the year. If you have questions about any of our products or services, feel free to give us a call. We look forward to helping you and your family!