Minnesota winters are beautiful and majestic, but they are also brutal. To compensate for the frigid temperatures in the winter, you must crank up the heat. Turning on the heat feels great, but shortly after turning it on, you may develop dry nasal passages, dry itchy skin, dry eyes, and other symptoms of dehydration.
This happens because heat evaporates any existing moisture in the hair. This can wreak havoc on your level of comfort in the winter and make you feel colder, which causes you to use more heat and lose more moisture. That is why a whole-home humidifier is necessary if you wish to stay comfortable during the long, frosty winter months here in Aitkin, MN.
What a Whole-Home Humidifier Is
Whole-home humidifiers are a part of your heating and cooling system. When humidity levels drop below healthy levels, they add moisture back into the air. This compensates for the moisture that is lost because of using your heating system.
Sensors, also called hygrometers, are used to measure moisture levels in the air and communicate with the HVAC system, which turns a humidifier on and off as necessary to maintain a set level of humidity. Hygrometers rely on the percentage of moisture in the air. Healthy humidity levels fall between 40% and 60%, with most rooms in your home needing humidity within a 40-50% range. Anything below 40% can affect your comfort and health.
The Impact of Low Humidity
In addition to dry air affecting your comfort and health, it can also cause damage to your home and your possessions. Let’s take a look at how.
Health Consequences
Our bodies are 70% water. When you are dehydrated, it has negative impacts on your health. This can result in dry skin, irritated sinuses, respiratory problems, and a higher risk of contracting viral respiratory infections.
Additionally, being dehydrated may reduce your blood volume, causing your heart to work harder to pump oxygen through your body. This can lead to fatigue and exacerbate other long-term health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, and circulatory issues.
Dry nasal passages and mucous membranes are another issue that can occur due to low moisture levels. When they dry out, they cause discomfort but also increase your chances of contracting viral infections and make breathing more difficult, affecting your sleep and overall health.
Effects on Your Home
When the air is dry and cold, many materials, including wood, contract as the moisture is pulled out. Hardwood floors may become loose, or the wood can pop and even crack, depending on how it was installed. Wooden furniture may also crack, and its joints could loosen, making it less stable and prone to damage.
In addition, shrinking wood around windows and doors and their frames allows even more frigid air, and seals around doors and windows can also become more brittle in the cold and dry conditions. This creates a vicious cycle where you lose heat and compensate by using more of it to stay warm.
If you have wallpaper in your home, you may notice it beginning to peel, warp, and even shrink in some areas due to low humidity levels. Look for leaves on your houseplants starting to dry, turn brown, or curl as well.
Types of Whole-Home Humidifiers
There are many types of whole-home humidifiers, but they all have one thing in common: They use a water source to reintroduce moisture into the air as the HVAC system circulates it through your home. Below, we explore a few different types of humidifiers.
Evaporative Humidifiers
Evaporative humidifiers are the most common type of whole-home humidifier. They are a cost-effective and energy-efficient option that is reliable and easy to maintain. These work by using a water panel or water-soaked filter. As heated air passes over the pad or panel, the water evaporates and is carried by fans throughout your home.
These humidifiers don’t take up much space. Water can be added manually or via a water line automatically, depending on the model you choose. The water panel or filter purifies the impurities in the water before it is evaporated and carried into your home.
Maintenance is minimal with these systems. Filters must be changed out as required by the system, and sediment buildup should be wiped out after removing the old filter or panel and before replacing it with a new one.
Steam Humidifiers
Steam humidifiers are highly effective at controlling the humidity in your home. They can operate separately from your furnace and be used year-round if needed, making them versatile.
Steam humidifiers have a heating component that boils water and produces steam, which is then distributed throughout the ductwork in your home. This is an effective option that gives you greater control and greater moisture output. Steam humidifiers work best in large homes and homes that have complicated floor plans.
Although consistent and effective, these systems require their own electrical hookup and water connections. They are also more expensive than other humidifiers. This adds up to a higher up-front cost and the potential for increased utility costs due to the electricity required to heat the water.
Bypass Humidifiers
Bypass humidifiers are a type of evaporative humidifier that doesn’t use a fan and takes up less space. They’re ideal for smaller homes with limited space around the furnace. Bypass humidifiers are also an economical option for homes with straightforward HVAC systems. However, they do require a bypass duct to work.
These systems use hot air from the furnace to evaporate water in the bypass duct that is then carried back out into the HVAC system. Since this humidifier system uses heated air to evaporate the water, some water can be lost due to the heat that is used to evaporate it. This means it’s not the most efficient option.
Although their performance is limited, bypass humidifiers are effective in smaller homes that do not have complex ductwork, as the moisture can’t travel far. They are inexpensive and don’t require additional electricity to operate.
Which Humidifier Is Right for You?
Here are a few questions to answer when you are deciding on the type of whole-home humidifier that will work best for you:
- How large is your home?
- Do you need humidification year-round?
- How much space do you have for a humidifier?
- How complicated is your HVAC system?
- What is your budget?
There are benefits and disadvantages to each whole-home humification system. Ultimately, you should choose the one that best meets your needs and falls within your budget.
Bypass humidifiers work best in small spaces, fan-powered evaporative humidifiers work best in small to medium homes, and steam systems require more space but are the most effective for large spaces or homes with complex HVAC systems.
Feel More Comfortable in Winter
A whole-home humidifier is a necessity in the cold dry air of Minnesota. It will keep you more comfortable and healthier in the winter and protect your home and possessions from damage caused by low humidity.
At Northern Air Plumbing & Heating in Aitkin, we specialize in heating, cooling, and plumbing and offer other services like testing indoor air quality, geothermal services, boilers, and ventilation systems.
We can help you choose the right whole-home humidifier for your needs and install it professionally. Give us a call today to set up your consultation!
Tags: humidity, Indoor Air Quality