One very uncomfortable reality is how dry homes in the Texas Panhandle gets once fall sets in. And then to make matters worse our homes get even dryer once cold weather sets in. Low humidity is a problem in that it’s unhealthy for humans and it’s detrimental to the structural aspect of your home. The ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is somewhere between 30-50% humidity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Proper humidity levels can be easily accomplished and I’d love to tell you how.
A Whole House Humidifier is the Answer
Whole house humidifiers are installed on your forced air heating and cooling system. In the non-cooling the humidifier delivers vapor into the air stream using the blower of the furnace. Using this method the entire house will have humidity delivered to the whole house through the duct system. This is one of the major advantages over room humidifiers.
The whole house humidifier is automatically controlled, which means all you have to do is dial in the desired humidity level & the equipment will automatically maintain your comfort level throughout the heating season.
Health benefits of Proper Humidification
The first point to bring up is your nasal passages. In dry conditions your nasal passages get dry. Discomfort is the least of problems and some of the worst are when you nasal passages get so dry they crack and bleed. These two realities make your body have great difficulty fighting germs, bacteria and viruses.
Sleeping with properly hydrated nasal passages is great for easier breathing and greatly improved rest. In the winter it’s very common to wake up from struggling to breathe. And we all know the absence of rest will lead to other medical problems as well, such as weakened immunities and reduced ability to concentrate at work or school.
Another benefit of proper humidity is how much better your skin looks and feels. I’m not going to promise you will look younger but I know from my own experience your skin won’t be as dry and flaky.
Respiratory doctors will also advise you to use a humidifier if you or children in your home have asthma or allergies. Increased humidity may ease breathing in children and adults who have asthma or allergies, especially during a respiratory infection such as a cold. Mayo Clinic
Your House Needs Proper Humidification
When humidity levels are too low, your home can suffer extensive damage from cracking and shrinking around door frames and molding. Anything that's made from wood will begin to warp and bend as the dried wood shrinks in size. Wooden floors often creak more and may even separate. This also includes your wooden furniture that you would prefer to last in first-class condition for many years!
Your Humidifier Needs Profession Servicing
The way a whole house humidifier operates is by distributing water to the top of the water panel and gravity causes the water to run down the panel. The blower moves air through the panel moving the humidity into the air stream to be introduced into the home.
Minerals in the water will build up on the water panel. This buildup interferes with the air picking up the vapor. It also causes the water to not properly drain, which can lead to damaging water leaks. Another problem is when the mineral buildup gets large it will break off and cause the drain to stop up, again a potential for water damage.
Some additional parts that need to be replaced annually are the strainer, the orifice and the feed tube. All this can be done for a couple hundred dollars, which is a great value considering how much money a whole house humidifier can potentially save on doctors’ visits, furniture lasting longer and reduced repairs on your house.
Plus, how much value do you place on your comfort?
As always feel free to call us anytime at 373-2537 with questions or you can read more at www.garys.com
