How can humidifiers in your home make a difference?
Winter is here in Western New York and that typically means dry skin and airways. How can humidifiers in your home make a difference? Humidifiers add moisture to the air to prevent dryness that can cause irritation in many parts of the body. Humidifiers can be particularly effective for treating dryness of the skin, nose, throat, and lips. They can also ease some of the symptoms caused by the flu or common cold (Healthline).
Benefits of a Humidifier:
Preventing Influenza:
Authors of one study noted that humidifiers might reduce the risk of catching the flu. After adding the influenza virus to the air with a simulated cough, researchers found that humidity levels above 40 percent rapidly deactivated virus particles, making them much less likely to be infectious.
Making a Cough More Beneficial:
Dry air can cause a person to have a dry, unproductive cough. Adding humidity to the air can lead to more moisture into the airways, which can make a cough more productive. A beneficial cough releases trapped or sticky phlegm. This can allow you to recover faster.
Reducing Snoring:
Increasing the amount of moisture in the air can reduce snoring. If the air is dry, a person’s airways are less likely to be sufficiently lubricated, which can make snoring worse. Adding humidity to the air by running a humidifier at night may help to relieve the snoring.
Keeping the Skin and Hair Moist:
For many people, their skin, lips, and hair become dry and brittle in the colder months. Many types of heating units pump hot, dry air through the house or office, which can make the skin dry, itchy, or flaky. Cold air outside can also dry out the skin. Using a humidifier to add moisture to the indoor air may help to reduce the occurrence of dry, cracked skin (Medical News Today).
Home Benefits:
Moisture from a humidifier can also be helpful for your Buffalo, New York home. Houseplants may become more vibrant, and wood floors or furniture may last longer. Humidity can also help to prevent wallpaper from cracking and static electricity from building up. Humid air can also feel warmer than dry air, which could help a person to save money on energy bills in colder months in New York.
The most comfortable relative humidity level inside a home is between 30 and 60 percent. When the indoor humidity level is below 30 percent, the air is too dry, which can harm both a home’s structural integrity and the homeowners’ health. Conversely, when the level is above 60 percent, the air is too wet, which is also harmful to both the home and the homeowners. Excess humidity is a breeding ground for mold, pests and rot in homes and is more likely to cause heatstroke, heat exhaustion, headaches and dehydration than a less humid atmosphere (HGTV).
Humidifiers in your home can make a difference. At Reimer Home Services we are here to help you ensure that your Western New York home is at the ideal humidity level. Our team of local HVAC and plumbing experts are all a “Wizard of Comfort” and are here to get the job done for you.
Throughout the Buffalo area, we’re known for our friendly, courteous service. We won’t let you down. Contact us today.
