In winter, we keep the windows and doors shut, run the furnace all the time, use our fireplaces and create really dry air inside our homes. That warm and toasty home feels good when it’s cold outside. But here are some signs and good ways to tell if the air in your home is too dry:
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Getting Zapped
Static electricity is a sign of over-dryness. What does that look like in real life? Do you ever get zapped when you touch someone or something? That transfer of static electricity could be an indication your home is too dry.
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Breathing Trouble
When it’s dry in our homes, those who live there are much more likely to wake up feeling dry air cold symptoms. If you’re waking up in the mornings with a dry throat and nose, or if the dry air is causing difficulty breathing on regular occasions, it’s likely your home is too dry.
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Dry Skin and Lips
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It’s not just the morning time when you can notice signs your home is too dry. If you feel like your skin and lips are overly dry, those could be indications your home is lacking the appropriate amount of moisture.
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Warping Wood, Cracking Paint
If your home is overly dry, you’ll start to notice that your hardwood floors are contracting and perhaps warping. You may also notice cracking paint. A natural and normal level of moisture is required to maintain the health of home items like hardwood and paint, and these signs are small warnings that something needs to be done.
What Are The Side Effects of Dry Air & Low Moisture Levels?
What causes dry air in a house? Dry air inside your home is often caused by central heating and poor insulation isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It can lead to mild to serious health effects you want to avoid for yourself and for your family. Below are common dry air symptoms you may experience:
- Reduce Effectiveness of Your Mucous Membranes: Dry air can wear down your mucous membrane, which serves as a natural barrier against inflammation of the respiratory tract. The result? You’re more likely to get infections, colds and even the flu. Some studies show that dry air in a room helps the flu last even longer than it would otherwise. Given that you’re more likely to experience dry air in wintertime (also flu season), this threat shouldn’t go unnoticed.
- Dry, Itchy Skin: You may also experience what’s called “winter itch” if your home is lacking in moisture. Winter itch is simply the impact of overly dry skin that is nearly depleted of moisture. Pathogens can also enter and infect your body through cracked skin, which means that dry air can further increase the chances of infection.
- Increased Nosebleeds: Dry air is also one of the leading causes of nosebleeds. Make sure you’re preventing you and your family from experiencing any of these symptoms by keeping your home’s moisture at appropriate levels.
How to Bring Moisture to a Dry Room and Test Your Moisture Levels
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If you’re suspicious about your home’s moisture level, there are a few simple ways to test it out. First try a hygrometer, which is like a thermometer, except it measures moisture levels rather than temperature. Your home should sit somewhere between 30 and 50 percent humidity. If it’s measuring below 30 percent, you may need to invest in a humidifier to remedy the dry air symptoms. If it’s over 50 percent, you may need to invest in a dehumidifier — excess moisture in your home can promote hazardous and uncomfortable mold and bacteria growth. You’re much more likely to need a humidifier in the winter and a dehumidifier in summer.
How to Moisturize a Dry Room with Dry Air
If you’re not ready to spring for a humidifier, try a do-it-yourself solution to put moisture back in the air. Consider placing open containers — like plastic bowls — filled with water in rooms around your house. Fill them up each day. If you notice that the water is quickly evaporating in the dry winter months, you may need to take the extra step of investing in a humidifier in order to have humidity control of your whole house. What to do for dry air in a home and reducing dry air symptoms:
- Purchasing houseplants and placing them in a dry room, spraying them at least once every day with water.
- Keep water boiling on your stove top to release excess moisture into your home.
- Leave your bathroom door open while showering.
- Let damp clothes dry out in rooms with dry air.
- Place wet sponges in rooms and let them dry out.
Make sure your home and the people who live in it are fully protected from dry air when you address your moisture levels.
Contact the experts at Summers & Zim’s today to schedule a home performance test or to ask about possible solutions to the dry air in your home.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY
