Humidity levels affect your indoor comfort. During warm days, your air conditioner is likely set to your preferred low temperature, which can lead to excessively dry air. This is because your AC reduces humidity levels when the moisture condenses on the evaporator coils and settles in the condensate drain as water. Due to this, the humidity levels in your home may fall below 40 to 60%, which is the ideal range for indoor comfort. You may need a whole-home humidifier connected to the supply ducts in these cases. As the air flows through a whole-home humidifier, it collects moisture and moves it inside the house. Here are five benefits of using whole-home humidifiers with an air conditioner.
1. Improved Comfort
In a dry environment, like one contributed to by an AC system, the moisture in your body evaporates fast and can lead to discomfort. Your eyes may become dry and irritated as the skin gets flaky and itchy. Areas with tender skin, including lips, can develop cracks and start bleeding. Moreover, sleeping can become uncomfortable due to the stuffy feeling produced by irritated sinuses. Having irritated sinuses can also lead to loud snoring, disrupting your sleep cycle and that of other family members. Humidifiers add moisture to the air and prevent your body from losing water to the environment. This reduces the discomfort by making the air more hospitable to your body.
2. Better Health
Bacteria and viruses have a longer lifespan in moderately low humidity, which increases the risk of contracting airborne viruses and diseases. These conditions cause infective aerosol particles to vaporize and disperse into the air. If one person in your home has the flu and sneezes or coughs, they release droplets that dry fast, leaving the pathogen behind. Due to the reduced weight of the moisture that evaporates, the pathogen can move more freely.
This means that proper humidity levels are essential for respiratory health. As the mucous membrane dries, the respiratory tract may become inflamed. In these conditions, the membrane releases more mucus, which can lead to nasal congestion, sinus pressure, and headaches. By adding moisture to the air with a whole-home humidifier, you can help create conditions that are not favorable for the movement of virus and bacteria droplets. Plus, humidified air can ease congestion, reduce coughing, and soothe irritated nasal passages.
3. Preservation of Property
Dry air can damage wood furniture, flooring, and musical instruments in the long term. When the air lacks moisture, wood can shrink, crack, and warp because the environment absorbs the moisture from it. Music instruments can fall out of tune in an arid environment. Leather has pores where moisture leaks into the material so it retains its supple texture. Without the proper moisture levels, it cracks and loses its aesthetic appearance.
Under the best indoor humidity levels, these properties can last longer and keep a better appearance. This is especially important for delicate items like antique furniture and acoustic guitars.
4. Prevent Static Electricity
Static electricity occurs when there is an imbalance between an object’s positive and negative charges. Sometimes, these charges can build up on the object’s surface until they connect with one another, creating a circuit for discharge. In dry air, static electricity accumulates easily. If it leaps on a conductor or electronic appliance, it can lead to a short out, which can cause memory corruption or complete system failure.
Adding a whole-home humidifier prevents the buildup of static energy. This is because air moisture is an electric conductor and can receive energy and transfer it to the ground. The energy is grounded when the indoor humidity levels are at about 40%. With humidity levels over 55%, static electricity cannot be produced.
5. Preserves Houseplants
Many houseplants thrive in humid environments, as they originate from tropical or subtropical regions. Dry air can cause them to wilt and dry out and become more susceptible to pests and diseases. A humidifier will add moisture to help them maintain their vitality, growth, and overall appearance.
Since the average person spends about 90% of their time indoors, it is vital to have good indoor air quality. A whole-home humidifier is an ideal solution when you want to regulate indoor humidity as the air conditioner runs. You do not have to use multiple portable devices that require regular refilling and cleaning. For the installation of properly working whole-home humidifiers, contact our professionals at Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC. We have HVAC technicians who are dedicated to providing heating, cooling, and air quality services throughout Billings, MT. Contact Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC today for all your HVAC needs.
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