At home, dry air can cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritations. Perhaps you already know what we mean! As such, because high humidity is undesirable, a balance must be struck.a
Today, we discovered that there are various easy methods for increasing the relative humidity inside. After all, as you naturally invite and maintain heat and moisture into your home, you may also save on heating energy bills. Read on to learn more.
Magic: 8 Ways to Increase the Humidity Level in Your Home
Increasing the humidity and maintaining the level of 30 to 50% is simple and beneficial to one’s health. It is also very easy once you know the best practices.
-
Use a Humidifier
A humidifier is an excellent tool for increasing the relative humidity of indoor air. Humidifiers are simply containers filled with water. It can emit a cool or warm mist as well as minute particles that can be inhaled.
Humidifiers are moderately affordable and accessible, with humidifiers of all sizes designed for usage in a single room. They must be regularly used and, consequently, regularly cleaned to avoid the growth of mold and other impurities.
-
Dry the Wet Clothes Indoors
If your skin becomes dry and flaky in the winter, avoid drying freshly washed items outside. Instead, bring them indoors and let the water naturally evaporate. This will generate humidity in the surrounding air.
This technique is not difficult or expensive. In fact, drying racks conserve energy by eliminating the need for a dryer.
-
Get Houseplants and Fresh Blooms
Having plants in the house helps to purify the air as well as increase humidity. Plants, like spider plants and aloe vera, absorb moisture from the earth via their roots, which transport it to the leaves. As a result, the air is filtered and more moisture is present in the air.
Furthermore, flowers add beauty as well as moisture to the environment in which they are placed. Place flower vases on window sills to allow the light to warm the water within. Because the room is heated and humidified, the moisture will eventually evaporate.
-
Skip the Lid
When food is prepared and cooked on a stovetop range, moisture is released, notably in the form of steam when water is boiling. Cooking pans that are covered with a lid keep the steam that would otherwise escape into the air inside. By keeping the fire low and skipping the lid, you can increase airflow and produce just the right amount of humidity.
-
Fill Up a Warm Tub
If you take baths frequently, you should fill the bathtub completely. Wait for the water to cool before emptying it. Because water evaporates when it cools, the humidity in the room rises.
However, make sure you don’t let a dirty tub spread germs in your bathroom. Legionella bacteria can spread in the bathtub after taking a bath. The spread of legionella through the air is caused by droplet evaporation. As a result, Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever can be contracted.
You can do this for your kitchen, too! If you wash the dishes by hand, you should let the water cool naturally. When the temperature drops, moisture evaporates like water in a bathtub.
-
Spread the Steam
Take note of the amount of steam produced by your shower and how it travels across the area. To keep your home moist, keep the shower door open as you use it. The heated steam from the bathroom will make the environment more humid.
-
Run the Dishwasher
During a dishwasher’s drying cycle, a lot of energy is consumed. Humidifiers can help you save energy.
Before beginning the final drying cycle, air dry the dishes by hand. When the door is opened, heated steam escapes, causing the air to become more humid.
-
Get an Indoor Waterfall or Fountain
Having a fountain in your house can help relieve stress in a variety of ways. Indoor fountains are available in a variety of configurations and dimensions, allowing you to select the one that is best suited to your needs.
A fountain will raise the humidity in a room. When exposed to direct sunlight or heat, it performs better. Some of the water will be lost to evaporation as it flows.
The Impact of HVAC Systems on Humidity Levels
The humidity affects how comfortable we are. It feels considerably hotter when it is both hot and humid. It is both cumbersome and sticky. If the weather is cold and dry, your lips may become chapped, your skin may become dry, and your throat may become uncomfortable. When there is a high level of humidity, it affects both individuals and HVAC systems.
For example, the air conditioner eliminates humidity while also cooling the air. Because of the excessive humidity, your air conditioner may struggle to keep up. This could result in higher energy bills as well as a warmer and stuffier home.
Meanwhile, your heater does not remove humidity from the air in the same way that your air conditioner does while it is working to cool it down. If the humidity level in your home is too low, it will not heat up properly, causing your heating system to run more frequently.
Going High or Going Low
It’s possible that your home’s moisture problem isn’t caused by your air conditioner at all. If you have condensation on your windows, mold or mildew, a musty odor, wet spots on your ceilings or walls, or a damp basement, you most likely have a water vapor or seepage problem. Mold or mildew are also symptoms. A dehumidifier may be able to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner, saving you money on repairs or replacements. Inspect the plumbing for any leaks or breaches that could let moisture into the space, and ensure that there is adequate ventilation.
On the other hand, if your heating isn’t working properly, your skin is chapped and itchy, you have a sore throat, and there’s a lot of static electricity, the air in your home is probably too dry. You can help yourself by purchasing a humidifier/vaporizer or a humidifier designed for the entire house.
Conclusion
As seasons go and temperatures change, so do the humidity levels in our home. To keep ourselves and our family feel safe and cozy, it might be time to maintain a higher humidity level while also saving energy use. As you know more about these tips and advice, you’ll never worry about a low-humidity home again.
Are you looking for a professional heating company? HVAC Swami is a team that offers decades of HVAC expertise straight to you. Visit our website today!
