At Autumn Air Home Services, we want you to have comfort in every corner of your home. Together, your household and our team put a lot of effort into making your home comfortable for your family and any guests. Our Autumn Air experts in Bessemer, AL can handle your furnace repairs all day long, but here’s the thing- while heating and cooling are the main components, there’s another one…humidity levels. If you want to achieve total comfort you need to take into account all aspects of your indoor air.
Humidity plays an important role in your indoor air quality. For your ultimate comfort, and more importantly for your health, it’s important to make sure your humidity levels are properly controlled. You’re probably wondering why on earth we’re talking about humidity in the dead of winter…well, lack of humidity is just as important to talk about! In the colder months when you are running your furnace or heat pump, air tends to be less humid and sometimes straight up dry.
Low humidity levels:
- Dry skin, dry mouth, sinus irritation, and dry eyes
- Viruses, bacteria, and other airborne pollutants thrive in excessively dry conditions
- Can warp or delaminate furniture and flooring
High humidity levels:
- Sweaty and sticky
- Musty
- Allergens that are more irritating
- Increase of microbial and fungal growth on shower curtains, textiles and upholstery
- Can cause wood to warp and paint to peel
Humidity and your HVAC unit
Another important advantage to having balanced humidity levels is that it keeps your air conditioner and furnace functioning properly, preventing your air conditioner or furnace from working overtime. That means you save money up front on energy costs, and save money since your unit may even “live” longer.
What is the Right Humidity Level Then?
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends keeping your home’s humidity between 30-60 percent. This range is optimal for preventing pests, damage to your home, and health issues that can be caused from air that’s too dry or too moist. If you’re unsure of the humidity percentage in your home, you can find and buy a
What’s the Solution?
You can minimize damage and extend the life of your home by addressing the moisture levels with humidifiers, whether in specific rooms or whole-home equipment. Whole-home options control humidity year-round and will probably give you better results than a portable unit, but smaller, room specific ones can and will still help to some extent. There are other methods for adding humidity to your space, but turning on a machine is an easier one to do and to keep up with.
Controlling your indoor humidity is more important than you might think. IHaving humidity that is too low could result in something as mild as dry skin to something as major as an increased risk of illnesses. Low humidity levels can also cause wood floors and furniture to become damaged. If you feel that you might need an adjustment in your humidity levels or need some advice on how to make your indoor climate more comfortable, contact us!
If you notice excessive dryness in your home this winter, a room humidifier or a whole home model can help alleviate your problems. If you notice heating issues this winter or the heat goes out completely, you need to contact Autumn Air for all your furnace repairs in Bessemer, AL.