The humidity levels in your home play a big role in how comfortable you feel and how healthy you stay during the winter months. To help you understand why that’s true, today we’re going to talk about what happens to your home’s humidity levels during winter and how you can best maintain them!
What happens to home humidity levels during winter?
As outdoor temperatures drop during winter in the St. Louis area, humidity levels drop as well. The reason for this is that cold air has less of a capacity to hold moisture than warm air does, and a lack of moisture in the air is what creates low humidity levels.
Lower outdoor humidity levels translate to lower indoor humidity levels during winter in your home. This can create several issues that affect everything from your health to your home’s comfort levels.
What are the best home humidity levels during winter?
The problems associated with low humidity in your house are most prevalent when humidity levels dip below 30 percent. At these low levels, flu viruses can survive longer and transmit easier between people, and problems like dry skin, cracked lips, nosebleeds, and aggravated symptoms of asthma and allergies are much more widespread.
By maintaining a home humidity level at around 40-45 percent, your home will feel more comfortable and you can minimize the health issues that are commonly linked to low humidity during winter.
How does a whole house humidifier adjust home humidity levels during winter?
Installing a whole-house humidifier is the best way to control your home’s humidity levels during winter. The humidifier will add moisture to your home’s air to compensate for the air’s natural dryness during winter. This is a much better solution than using portable humidifiers in your home because those will only address low humidity levels in a single room (not to mention their inefficient operation and extra required maintenance).
If you have any questions about a home’s humidity levels during winter, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Charles furnace, and air conditioner contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Weldon Spring, Wentzville, and Winghaven.
photo credit: dvdbramhall via photopin cc
