In Chicago, evidence of fall’s presence is obvious as the leaves on trees begin to turn over, but many will notice fall from the sudden drop in humidity. We can all agree fall brings cooler weather and dry brittle air. Cooler air simply can’t hold as much moisture as warm air, which results in the dry air you experience. While it can make for crisp mornings for walking, the lack of moisture in the air can also take its toll on you, your home, and comfort. That’s why we at Chris Heating & Cooling, West Chicago, IL, we recommend a humidifier for your home, to help manage the cooler months.
Protecting Yourself
The ideal humidity level for a home is between 30 to 50 percent. For reference, the driest place on Earth, the Sahara Desert, averages 20% humidity the whole year. Chicago on the other hand, experiences humidity levels far below 20% during fall and winter months. When your home’s humidity drops below 30 percent, you’ll begin to notice issues in your home and with your body. To give you the best idea of how crucial humidity is in your home or office we listed the 5 benefits of reducing low humidity.
- Disease Prevention
The first and arguably the most important benefit of maintaining 30-50% humidity is the reduction and prevention of viruses and bacteria. Viruses and bacteria don’t travel as well in moist air, so a humidifier could be the difference between suffering from the flu this fall or staying healthy.
- Healthier Skin
It’s no secret, every time the colder months roll around that you find yourself applying and reapplying lotion all day. Cold dry air saps all the moisture from your skin causing dryness, dullness, and flaking. A humidifier can help you avoid your overconsumption of lotion and keep your skin vibrant all fall.
- No Sinus Aggravation
Do you ever get sick of that dry uncomfortable feeling you have in your nose every fall and winter? Most of the time this happens even without a cold (a cold makes it worse). Constant exposure to low humidity levels dries out your nose, lowering your body’s ability to fight off viruses and bacteria. The addition of a humidifier can help you avoid waking up with an uncomfortable nose.
- Protect Your Home’s Wood
Wood floors and your wood furniture need a certain level of moisture to maintain their beauty and proper function. With drier air, wood furniture and floors will dry out and crack. Also, you may notice your home’s woodwork and trim cracking or separating from your walls, ceilings, or floors, this is usually due to the extremely low humidity in your home.
- Lower Your Gas & Electric Bill
Were you aware air with higher humidity feels warmer than air with low humidity? Well, it’s true, just think back to this summer when it was 80 degrees, but it felt like it was 100 degrees. Adding a humidifier could have the same effect in your home, reducing the need to keep your thermostat at 74 in the colder months.
Maintaining your home’s humidity is important for many reasons. While it increases your home’s comfort, it has more far-reaching advantages––protecting both you and your home. If you don’t currently have a humidifier in your home, or if you do and are still noticing any of the issues described above, call (630) 283-8009 and speak with one of our technicians today. We want to help you make your home the best it can be.
