Winter weather is notorious for sapping your skin of its much-needed moisture. Harsh winds, sub-zero temperatures, and dry air can really do a number on your skin over the span of our snowy months here in Wisconsin. And while slathering yourself in lotion multiple times a day might be a quick fix, what your skin (and nasal passages, lips, and eyes) really need is more moisture in the air. How can you achieve that? With a permanent humidifier inside your home! The professionals at Steve’s Plumbing & Heating explain what humidity control is and how it can benefit you and your family.
What is a Permanent Humidifier? How Does it Work?
A permanent humidifier is a device that works to add moisture to your home’s air via the furnace system. Unlike a portable humidifier, a whole-home device installs directly into your duct system and also attaches to your home’s water supply. Depending on the type of humidifier, it may contain a steaming system, humidifier pad, or a rotating drum, which work to distribute moisture into the air that passes through the humidifier.
Whenever your furnace is running, a portion of the air that passes through your ductwork passes through the humidifier. As the warm air passes through, water from the humidifier evaporates into it, raising its moisture levels. After passing through the humidifier, the humid air combines with the remainder of the air in your ducts. The air then travels out through your heating vents, effectively increasing ambient moisture levels in every room.
Why is Humidity Important?
During winter, we tend to use our heating systems non-stop, which can quickly suck most of the moisture from the air within our homes. Experts recommend indoor humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent; however, many homes fall below this recommendation during the winter season.
Humidity levels lower than 30 percent can cause dry, itchy skin, respiratory complications, dry eyes, nosebleeds, and can even make you more susceptible to the common cold, allergy symptoms, and the flu. If your skin is very sensitive to dry air, you may even notice persistent new blemishes as your skin creates excess oil in an attempt to combat dryness. Because the human body is nearly 60 percent water, it is imperative that you maintain appropriate indoor humidity levels for optimal skin and respiratory health.
How Does a Humidifier Help Your Skin?
When you install a permanent humidifier, you improve your skin and respiratory health just by being in your home. The concentration of moisture within the air determines how much water will evaporate from your skin. If the air is dry, your skin will lose more water through evaporation. But when humidity is at a comfortable level, it prevents moisture from escaping your skin.
Similarly, each time you exhale, your nasal passages, throat, and lungs add moisture to the air as it passes through your respiratory system. This moisture helps your body maintain the critical mucosal lining that protects your airways. Each day, you can count on losing between 300 and 500 milliliters of water through respiration alone! A permanent humidifier works to add critical moisture to the air around you, helping you maintain appropriate moisture levels throughout your respiratory tract.
Whole-Home Humidity Control from Steve’s Plumbing & Heating
Don’t let your skin and respiratory health suffer this winter season. Instead, give us a call at Steve’s Plumbing & Heating, so we can help your family experience healthy, happy skin all year long. Our certified technicians can install a permanent humidifier into your home’s existing ductwork, and that annoying dry, cracked skin will be a thing of the past. To schedule your service or for any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our team. Or, you can get started right away by requesting your free estimate!