The arrival of fall is beautiful but it brings with it dryer air.
Why does indoor air get dryer in the winter? The most common answer you hear is that forced air furnaces dry out the air. This answer might be a small part of the reason, but it is mostly wrong. It has more to do with the cold temperatures outside. The main reason the air in your home gets dry in winter is that the cold outside air leaks into your home.
Let’s say the temperature outside is 10° F with 70 percent humidity. Meanwhile, indoors, your thermostat is set to 72° F. When the cold air creeps into your home, your furnace heats it to 72° F, and the air expands. Because the moisture in the air remains the same, the relative humidity is significantly reduced. This means that the cold air from outside with 70 percent humidity has an indoor relative humidity of less than 10 percent.
If you are experiencing a lot of static electricity, dry eyes, sore throats, cracked skin, chapped lips, nasal congestion and even frequent bloody noses, it’s likely the air in your home is too dry. In addition, when humidity levels drop too low in your home, wood can begin to dry out, crack, or warp. This can lead to permanent damage to your floors, furniture, doors, and even musical instruments like pianos or guitars. Using a humidifier in your home can help combat these dry air problems.
The recommended comfort zone is 40 to 50 percent relative humidity in the summer. In the winter, you might need to keep the relative humidity closer to 30% percent to avoid condensation buildup on the windows inside your home. At this level, the air is still moist enough to be comfortable during the cooler winter months.
Energy efficiency is another benefit to a humidifier. Humid air holds heat better than dry air, this means you can set your thermostat lower and still feel warm. This can result in lower heating costs during the colder months.
To increase the humidity in your home the least expensive route is to use one or several portable humidifiers. A portable humidifier is exactly that. It’s a smaller humidifier that you can move from room to room where you need it. Portable humidifiers require constant refilling, monitoring, and only benefit one area at a time.
A better option is the installation of a whole-home humidifier. It attaches to your furnace and the fan blows moisture throughout your entire home via the existing ductwork.
Whole home humidifier pros
• You can control the humidity of your entire home with one unit. In order to match the effectiveness of a whole home humidifier with portable units you would likely need to buy several portable units and frequently move them from room to room.
• Whole home humidifiers require very little maintenance. Since it’s attached to your existing plumbing system, there is no need to add water every day like you have to with a portable unit. Portable units also require regular cleaning, which only needs to be done with a whole home unit about once a year.
• Whole home systems are quiet and out of sight. Portable humidifiers can be noisy and are always on display, which is an eyesore for many homeowners.
Whole home humidifier cons
• Whole home humidifiers come with a higher sticker price than portable units.
• Portable humidifiers can be used out-of-the-box, whereas whole home models must be installed by a professional. Once the unit is installed, however, it will require much less attention and maintenance than a portable model.
When selecting a whole house humidifier, you will find that there are two main types to choose from. Below we’ll compare steam vs. evaporative whole house humidifiers to help you determine which is best for you.
Steam
Using electric probes, steam humidifiers boil water and then inject the steam into the air stream. This type of whole house humidifier is great for larger homes or those that have lots of real wood in the home.
However, steam units generally cost the most to install and run. They also require annual maintenance.
Evaporative
Also known as an evaporative pad humidifier, these work by blowing warm air over an evaporative pad that has water trickling down it. From there, the water evaporates and the moisture is absorbed into the air. An evaporative pad humidifier is the most commonly used whole house humidifier.
These units are generally easy to install and maintain and are less costly than a steam unit.
The most common, whole house humidifier we install is the Aprilaire 700. It will work great for keeping the relative humidity between 30% and 40% in a home of up to 4200 square feet. It is an evaporative humidifier with dual sensors to monitor and respond to both outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity, delivering optimum humidity 24/7. We can install one in your home for between $1200 and $1300.
If your home is larger or you need to have the humidity higher, we could install the Aprilaire 800. It is a steam humidifier. It allows you to choose from 6 levels of output adding 11.5 to 34.6 gallons of moisture into the air per day based on voltage and installation. This unit will normally cost between $1500 and $2000 including installation. It could be more depending upon your current electrical system.
Installing a whole home humidifier can help you combat dryer winter air. With more moisture in the air, family members will be less susceptible to infections like colds, the flu, and other respiratory conditions. Those who snore or who have trouble sleeping may find they have a more restful night. And when it comes to your home, hardwood floors, door frames, window frames, and other wood items will be less affected by the damage that dry air can cause.
If you would like more information, please call us. We would be happy to discuss adding a humidifier to your heating and cooling system to help you combat dryer winter air.
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