January 21, 2021

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems can be found in almost every American home. Humidifiers, on the other hand, can only be found in roughly 15% of U.S. households. Most people don’t know much about humidity and how it affects your in-home comfort and overall wellness. This article will explain several benefits of humidity and help you experiment with ways to improve your residence’s relative humidity.

Here’s Why You Should Care About Humidity

Although things like oxygen and sunlight are vital for life on Earth, you might not actively think about either of them. Considering they’re both available in abundance, they’ll be here whether you think about them or not.

Admittedly, water vapor will always exist on planet Earth. However, humidity can have a major effect on your health. While you breathe oxygen around the clock and get sunlight every day, humidity levels can vary wildly.

Humidity drops during winter. Throughout this time of year, the cold, dry air takes more water from your body. When combined with harsh winds, it’s easy to end up with cracked lips, ashy skin, and irritated eyes.

Numerous studies across the past few decades have proven that influenza viruses love low humidity levels. Although humidity isn’t the only relevant factor, these viruses have a greater potential to infect people during winter because of cold, dry air.

Have you ever noticed that your hair seems to suffer during winter? Low-humidity environments routinely make hair brittle, dry, and damaged. They can also give you a dry scalp, which can cause dandruff.

Yes, Humidity Really Is That Important!

By now, it’s clear that humidity has wide-ranging effects on your everyday life. The aforementioned factors aren’t the only downsides of low humidity, however. Among other things, raising your home’s relative humidity can help you recover from colds faster and improve snoring.

Without further ado, here are several ideas for increasing home humidity levels.

First Off, Get a Hygrometer

Hygrometers, which measure relative humidity, have been used for thousands of years. You should use one because too much humidity can cause problems. In general, air quality experts recommend not exceeding 55% to 60% relative humidity indoors.

Use Your Stove to Make Coffee

Some two-thirds of Americans drink coffee on a daily basis. Most of these coffee drinkers prepare their own coffee with automatic drip-brew coffeemakers.

Although they’re fast, efficient, and convenient, they don’t release much water vapor. For optimal humidity benefits, start brewing your coffee on your stovetop. While using a saucepan or pot will release the most steam, feel free to use a Moka pot instead.

Have a Dishwasher? Try This Trick

Nearly 70% of American homes have dishwashers. Many modern dishwashers have drying cycles, in which they bake dishes in light heat after rinsing them.

Rather than using this convenient drying option, open your dishwasher after it finishes its rinse cycle. The combination of heat and leftover water will release water vapor into the air. It can also save energy.

Two Tips for Showering

Most bathrooms have exhaust fans. These fans serve several purposes, including removing lingering malodors and whisking away water and water vapor after showers. From now on, don’t use your bathroom’s exhaust fan after showering. To avoid potential water damage, you should always hang up wet clothes, towels, and mats after showering.

Upon exiting the bathroom, leave the door open. Instead of going outdoors through the exhaust fan, the water vapor will spread throughout your home.

An Important Bathing Tip

After bathing, let your bathwater linger for a little while. Warm bath water will readily evaporate, which increases relative humidity levels. If it’s already ice-cold, drain the bathwater.

Start Hanging Up Your Clothes

In addition to saving electricity, hanging up your clothes will humidify your home. Consider buying or making a small drying station with short stretches of clothesline to hang clothes on.

Or, You Could Detach Your Dryer Vent

Dryers use heat and air to dry clothes. The water in wet clothes leaves dryers in the form of water vapor. You could detach your dryer vent from its exhaust to humidify your home. If you try this, make sure to firmly attach a filter to the dryer vent to catch any lint.

Never try this with a gas-powered dryer. Unlike gas dryers, electric dryers’ exhaust vents don’t release combustible fumes.

Here’s Another Tip — Get Some Help From Us

We’re Heatwave Heating & Cooling, a family-owned, full-service HVAC company in Amherst, New York. We sell state-of-the-art humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Unlike the widely available models, our humidifiers are permanent, industrial-quality appliances that we install in your home. We repair, install, and maintain heating and air conditioning systems. At Heatwave Heating & Cooling, we can also help you manage your home’s air purity. If you’d like help with any of these products or services, call us today!

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