July 10, 2018
Controlling the humidity level in your home is crucial for protecting your possessions and maintaining indoor comfort. Ideally, indoor humidity levels should fall between 30% and 60%. We find that the most comfortable indoor humidity is around 45%.
While high humidity can cause property damage and health problems, so too can low humidity. If you are experiencing high humidity, learn 5 natural ways to reduce high humidity. On the other hand, if your home is too dry, you’ll want to invest in a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
Learn about the different types of humidifiers available to relieve dry air and low humidity problems, such as chapped lips, flu symptoms, cracking wood, and allergy and asthma flare-ups.
Central or whole-home humidification systems are installed directly into the existing HVAC system to humidify your home evenly.
A single unit that adds moisture to the room it is placed in. Think about how a boiling pot of water evaporates and adds moisture to the air. That’s basically how an evaporator humidifier works. They are small and relatively inexpensive—they are only meant for a small area.
Also known as a “cool mist humidifier,” they use a rotating disc that emits water through a diffuser, which breaks up larger droplets into a fine mist. A child-friendly option, they require minimal energy and cover a larger area; however, they can be noisy and bacteria can gather around the filter.
These portable units can be easily purchased at your local drugstore, but they can cause burns, so you need to be careful if you have small children.
A single unit that adds moisture to the air using high-frequency sound vibrations to produce an extra fine water mist.
If you don’t have a big humidity problem and you only need to humidify or dehumidify one or two areas in your home, you’re probably better off with a portable unit. In this case, you can easily move it around as needed.
Many portable de/humidifiers have a built-in humidistat/hygrometer so you can accurately achieve the humidity level you want.
If a small, portable de/humidifier isn’t doing it for you, you may need a larger unit. While these larger units are technically portable, you basically set it up in the room you need and leave it there. They are large and cumbersome to move.
If, however, you are ignoring the source of your humidity problem and try to fix it with a machine without addressing the source, you’re making things a whole a lot worse.
The third option, which is the ideal choice for those wanting consistent building-wide humidity, is a whole-house humidifier. These systems are installed directly to your existing HVAC system and humidify or dehumidify the entire home (as long as there are no open doors or windows).
They are able to add or remove moisture as needed in order to reach the desired humidity level. Excess moisture is removed via a drain pipe so you never have to worry about emptying a tub of water.
The type of air humidifier you choose will depend on your budget, size of your house, and your preference. Every type comes with a downside, so consult an HVAC professional to ensure that you end up with an ideal solution.
For more information on achieving ideal humidity levels in the home, don’t hesitate to contact the Champions.