Learn More About Whole House Humidifiers
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Why is maintaining proper humidity level important?
If the relative humidity is below 30% (like in the winter), the air passages in your nose and lower airways in the lungs can become dry and irritated. In people prone to asthma, this can cause an asthma attack. Also, your skin can become dry and cracked, especially if you wash your hands a lot.
Low humidity can damage wooden objects like furniture, hardwood floors, musical instruments, as the dry air sucks out the moisture contained within them.
One of the most annoying effects of dry indoor air is static shock. As you walk across a carpet or slide off upholstered furniture, a static charge builds up in your body and results in a sudden, uncomfortable "zap" of electricity when you touch a piece of metal or other conductor.
How do whole house humidifiers work?
Whole house humidifiers, as opposed to portable ones which can humidify a room or two, connect directly to your furnace and work with your heating and cooling system to distribute moisture throughout your entire home. They either inject steam into the air or circulate it through a humidifying pad.
What are the different kinds of whole house humidifiers?
- Bypass flow-through humidifiers connect to a bypass off a supply or return air flow in order to create pressure that drives the air through the humidifying pad
- Powered flow-through humidifiers have a built-in fan that draws the air into the humidifier and across the pad. They are easier to install than bypass flow-through humidifiers since they require no bypass ductwork.
- Steam humidifiers evaporate the water and inject the resulting steam into the air. Their main advantage is that they are able to operate independently from your furnace - so that you do not need to turn the furnace on to add some moisture into your air.
What are the benefits of maintaining proper humidity?
Warm, humid summer air feels hotter than it actually is because of the moisture it contains. That same principle applies to your home in the winter. By keeping the relative humidity inside your home at an ideal level, you can turn your thermostat down a few degrees and still feel comfortable.
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Whole House Humidifiers
See also:
Thermostats Informational Page
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