Using Whole-Home Humidifiers To Boost Indoor Air Quality
The relative humidity in your home should always remain between 30% and 50%. If you experience levels of moisture in your air that are higher than this, it can cause structural issues and mold growth. Also, high humidity levels can allow more particulate matter to be suspended in your air, decreasing indoor air quality. Low moisture levels in your air can irritate your sinuses, cause headaches, result in respiratory problems, and affect the furnishings and materials in your home. For example, wood floors can contract because of dry air. Let’s explore how to enhance your indoor air quality by reintroducing moisture.
Whole-Home Humidification
Portable humidifiers can quickly add some moisture to your indoor air. However, there are several minor inconveniences with these units. They only address so much square footage at one time. You must move your unit from one room to another to improve indoor air quality. You will also need to manually add water to your portable unit. Because of the size of these units, you’ll be completing this process frequently. An internal humidistat in your portable unit will control whether your equipment is running. Many homeowners find their humidifier turned off because there is enough moisture in the area immediately around the unit. However, the rest of the home remains dry.
Our team can install a whole-house humidifier onto your HVAC system. This unit will add moisture to all the air moving into your ductwork and out into your home by way of vents and registers. You will experience much more consistent relative humidity with this investment. You can control your whole-house humidifier using your thermostat or a control knob on the unit itself.
How Whole-Home Humidifiers Work
Two main types of whole-house humidifiers are bypass and steam-based. Bypass humidifiers use your HVAC system’s airflow to pass air through a water panel or “humidifier pad”, adding moisture. Fan-powered humidifiers include a built-in fan to speed up the process. Steam humidifiers boil water to release steam directly into the ductwork.
Why a Humidifier Improves Indoor Air Quality
As we mentioned, dry air can irritate your sinuses and airways. This leads to unpleasant symptoms like a dry cough, bloody nose, and sinus headaches. You don’t have to add moisture to your air to notice a difference. Most homeowners will experience an improvement in their symptoms by raising relative humidity by approximately 5%.
Dry air can also make your home feel colder than it is. This can result in you running your furnace more frequently to increase comfort. This can worsen the dry air problem if you’re not adding moisture to your indoor air. You’ll also see an increase in your monthly energy consumption. You may need more frequent HVAC repairs because of system strain caused by frequent use.
When To Use a Humidifier
There are certain times of the year in Belleville when a whole-house humidifier is more beneficial than others. In the middle of winter, you may find that your home feels very dry. This is usually because of increased furnace use and dry air outside. The summers can get relatively humid outside. You may not need your humidifier during this season. However, running your air conditioning equipment can remove moisture from your air because of the condensation process during cooling. You’ll want to observe your indoor relative humidity levels and adjust your humidifier use as necessary.
How Can I Find Out the Relative Humidity Level in My Home?
You can find out how much moisture is in the air at home using a hygrometer, a simple and inexpensive tool that measures humidity. Just put it in a central spot in your home for the best results. If you don’t have a hygrometer, look for signs of humidity problems, like water droplets on windows, a musty smell, or air that feels too dry. Some smart thermostats also come with built-in humidity sensors, which can make checking levels easier.
If you would like the assistance of an experienced professional in checking the relative humidity in your home, reach out to our team here at BELOMAN. We can also assist with the installation of a whole-house humidifier. Our team can provide routine maintenance for your humidifier as part of your annual HVAC appointment. Other services we offer include repairing and installing heating and cooling equipment, duct cleaning, indoor air quality services, and commercial HVAC services. We also provide plumbing services such as pipe repair, removal of clogs, video inspections, drain cleaning, water heater service, and much more.
Contact BELOMAN in Belleville, IL, to schedule an appointment with our knowledgeable team today.
