If you live in a cold climate, the air in your home will be dry during the winter months. Dry air can cause a number of health issues and even damage to your property if left untreated. Humidifiers add moisture back into the air, helping to increase the humidity level in your home.
Signs Your Home’s Humidity Levels are Low
According to the EPA, your home’s ideal humidity level should range between 30-50%. Anything higher could lead to issues like mold. If your home’s humidity is below or on the low side of the recommended range, you may experience issues like:
- Irritated or dry nose, throat, eyes and skin
- Difficulty breathing – particularly for people who suffer from respiratory issues like asthma
- Poor sleep quality
- Static electricity
- Cracking paint or wood furniture
- Peeling wallpaper
Types of Humidifiers
There are a variety of humidifiers on the market, from small units that target the air in a single room, to humidifiers that integrate with your heating system and stabilize humidity levels throughout your entire home. Below is a basic rundown of the most common humidifiers:
Central Humidifiers
Central humidifiers are joined to your existing home heating system to provide consistent humidity levels throughout your home. At Henry Heating, we offer Bryant Humidifiers which include options to serve any size home and work with a variety of heating systems.
Portable or Room Humidifiers
Portable humidifiers, or room humidifiers, are individual units that can be moved from one location to another throughout your home. They come in a variety of sizes and configurations. Unlike central humidifiers, these humidifiers only humidify the air in the room they are put in.
Some common types of portable humidifiers include:
- Ultrasonic humidifiers – create ultrasonic waves that cause water to oscillate, forming tiny water molecules that are forced into the air with a fan
- Evaporative humidifiers – use a fan to push air through a damp water filter or wick, causing the water to evaporate into the air
- Vaporizer humidifiers- use an electric heating element to boil water which in turn creates steam that is released into the air
- Impeller humidifiers – use a rotating disc to send water to a diffuser which breaks down the water into small droplets that are dispersed into the air
Benefits of Choosing a Central Humidifier
While the portable or room humidifiers are less expensive than a central humidifier, central humidifiers provide greater benefits such as:
- Consistent humidity levels throughout your entire home – not just one room
- Easy maintenance – you don’t have to constantly refill or clean tanks
- Less environmental impact – it won’t add noise to or take up space in your living area because it is added to your existing HVAC system
- Better control – most units have automatic sensors the recognize when the home’s humidity needs to be adjusted
Call on Henry for Your Home Humidification Needs
At Henry Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, we are proud to offer Bryant’s Preferred™ Series humidifiers. As your local HVAC experts, we have the knowledge to help you determine which central humidifier is the right fit for your home and HVAC system. Once we integrate a humidifier into your heating system, you’ll enjoy a consistent humidity level throughout your home without having to think about it! Contact us today to discuss your needs!
