Health Benefits of a Whole House Humidifier

January 6, 2019

Have you ever noticed how certain people seem to get sick more often than others? Or how colds and the flu seem to run rampant during the winter months? Low humidity in the home could be to blame. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer these negative effects of dry winter air. Installing a whole house humidifier offers many health benefits.

What is a Whole House Humidifier?

You’re probably familiar with portable humidifiers, which add water vapor to the air to increase humidity in a small area. A whole house humidifier does the same thing, but it’s connected to your heating and cooling system so the water vapor is distributed through your entire home. It includes a monitor similar to your thermostat that makes sure the humidity is controlled year-round.

What is the Ideal Humidity Level for a House?

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends maintaining humidity of 25-40% in the winter.

What are the Health Benefits of a whole house humidifier?

Reduced Allergy and Cold Symptoms
Low humidity in the air can irritate your sinuses and throat, so you could develop symptoms of a cold or allergies. If antihistamines aren’t working, correcting the humidity level in your home could help.

Better Defense against Illness
Our respiratory tracts have a mucus membrane that acts as a natural defense against germs. Dry air can dry out these membranes and increase our risk for illness. Add to all that the fact that some viruses live longer in lower humidity, and you’ve got a perfect environment for illnesses to breed. Maintaining optimal humidity in your home can help your body fight off typical winter time maladies.

Less Time off from Work and School
Getting sick means missing work and school. Adding humidity to your house means you and your family will be less likely to miss work and school to recover from an illness.

Relief from Dry Skin
Itchy, cracked skin on your hands, body, and feet can be more than a painful annoyance. If the skin becomes cracked or broken from scratching, an infection can develop. Low humidity can also irritate your eyes, and cause your lips to crack and peel. Sure, you could continue to pile on lotion and lip balm. Or, you could install a whole-house humidifier and be comfortable in your own skin, all winter long.

Feel Warmer in Your Home
Dry air feels colder, so when your air at home is more humid you’ll feel warmer. This gives you a bonus benefit of being able to turn your thermostat down and lower your heating bill!

Reddi HVAC Can Help

Make your house a healthier, more comfortable place to live. Call Reddi HVAC today at 316-462-2572 to schedule your whole-house humidifier installation.