Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

humidity

My Home Too Dry

Running an air conditioner removes moisture from the air in your home. That is just a byproduct of the cooling process. It’s not enough to dehumidify air with high humidity levels, but it does have some dehumidifying effect. Contrary to popular belief, running your heater does not really dry out your air the way that your AC does. However, keep in mind that you are starting out with much drier air in the winter than you are in the summer.

As you seal up your home to keep heat in, and recirculate air throughout your home over and over, low humidity and indoor air quality can become serious problems. While there are portable humidifiers that you may use to inject some humidity into the air in your home, they are not ideal for whole-house humidification. A whole-house humidifier in Loveland, CO, is just what you’re looking for. So ask yourself this—is the air in your home sufficiently humidified?

Why Is Low Humidity Such a Problem?
Low humidity may not sound like as serious a problem as, say, sweltering temperatures permeating throughout your home. In truth, however, it can cause a whole lot of problems. These problems can negatively affect your comfort, your health, and even the overall condition of your home. Is it starting to sound like a problem yet?

Okay, How About Some Examples?
Sure! There are plenty to choose from, and none of them are good. Very dry air can …

Dry out your mucous membranes, causing them to tear. That allows viruses and bacteria direct access to your bloodstream, a major contributor to increased cases of illness in the winter season.
Dry out wooden floorboards, fixtures, and furniture throughout your home. That can lead to splitting, damaging your property and putting you at risk of impalement via splinter! (Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but nobody likes splinters.)
Cause paint to chip and wallpaper to crack.
Dry out your skin, leading to persistent itching and even cracks.
Increase instances of static shocks. These are only mildly painful, but very annoying, and potentially damaging to sensitive electronics in your home.
Why Can’t I Just Use a Cheap Portable Unit?
We understand you want to save a few bucks, but you’re only hurting yourself in the long run if you try to get by with portable humidifier units. Why? Because portable humidifiers are …

Inconvenient. You have to keep filling them with water, and you either need multiple units in different areas of the house, or you’re going to be moving them all over. With a whole-house humidifier, you have a centralized system with a designated water line that does its job without much input on your end.
Inefficient. Yes, they may be cheaper to purchase and they don’t require professional installation, but portable humidifiers are also not very efficient. It’s amazing how much power these little things can suck up if you have them running regularly!
Ineffective. Sure, you can put one in each room, but portable units don’t have the same reach as whole-house humidifiers. Plus, they are not as well-controlled in terms of humidity output. With a good whole-house system and an accurate humidistat, you don’t have to worry about over-saturating the air.
Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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