As the days get cooler, the humidity outside starts to drop. During the summer months, your air conditioning system pulls humidity out of the air and helps to make your home feel cooler. During the winter, your furnace cannot provide the necessary humidity in your home. The humidity level is low enough in your home to cause some issues that can be easily fixed by installing a humidifier.

Issues With Low Humidity During Winter

Health issues

Health issues are typically the first things that start homeowners thinking about adding additional moisture to the air. Dry skin is common in the winter and is caused at least in part by the reduced humidity of the winter months. Waking up with a sore and dry throat is another common complaint during the winter. Both of these issues can be helped or fixed completely with more moisture in your home.

Allergies

They tend to be worse during the winter months thanks to lower humidity and drier sinuses and nasal passages. Coughs and asthma can also be worse in dry air, especially if you are allergic to dust. Dust travels far easier in dry air compared to moist air.

Static

Low moisture also leads to static. While this might not be as major of a concern as health issues, static can be annoying. Excessive static can cause minor shocks, unruly hair, and clothing that sticks to you rather than falls naturally.

Wood damage

Wood damage can also occur when the humidity falls too low in your home. Wooden furniture and wood floors need moisture to remain healthy and in good condition. When your home has very low moisture, the wood can get dry and brittle, leading to cracking and even warping.

How To Add Moisture To Your Home During Winter

Now that you have read about the potential issues related to low humidity, you might find that some or all of the problems apply to your home. The good news is that you have options to combat dry air and add humidity effectively.

A small room humidifier can help a small area or a single room that has exceptionally low humidity. These small units will typically have a water storage tank that will need to be filled and then turned on to start adding moisture. Some units even have a filter that can be washed or changed when dirty.

If your issue is larger and adding humidity to a single room is not enough, it might be time to start looking into a whole house humidifier. These humidifiers are convenient and almost maintenance-free. Whole house humidifiers attach to your furnace and will add moisture before the heat is dispersed throughout your home. There are no tanks to fill and the humidifier will turn on and off with your heating system.

If you experience whole-home dryness winter after winter, it is time to reach out to us to discover your options. With a little bit of planning, your next winter can be healthier and more comfortable thanks to the increased humidity present in your home.Gery Heating and Cooling can look at your needs and help you solve your winter humidity problems in a way that is easy for you.