Dry Air in Your Home and What to Do About It

Do you find yourself constantly sneezing even though you don’t suffer from seasonal allergies? Do you wake up with dry eyes or a sore throat every morning? You might be suffering from dry air in your home that’s caused by a humidity imbalance. Find out why it’s happening and what you can do about it.

How Dry Air Is Created

Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. So in the winter time, the cold air inside your home causes the humidity level to decrease naturally. This effect leads to a humidity imbalance inside your home that causes dry air.

Why Dry Air Is Bad For You

Your throat and nose are lined with tiny membranes that work to capture dust, bacteria and even viruses to prevent them from reaching your lungs. When the air inside your home becomes dry, the membranes work to capture these harmful particles properly, which can be difficult since air particles are minuscule. However, once they enter your respiratory tract, they can cause all types of health problems, from nasal irritation to flaking skin to even respiratory illness. As you can imagine, dry air can make life quite uncomfortable, which is why it’s important to install an HVAC system that can properly balance humidity levels in your home.

Dry Air Can Even Damage Your Home

Your health is not the only thing that can be negatively impacted by dry air. It can also pull moisture out of the structure of your home, especially from wood surfaces. This can cause walls and doors to jamb, floors to crack, and gaps to form between ceilings and walls. Your furnishings can also become damaged over time.

How To Fix Dry Air

There are several ways to fix this problem within your home.  Here are a few options that can quickly improve your comfort and humidity levels:

Properly Fitted Heat Pump

Majority of the time, your HVAC system is struggling to stabilize the humidity in your home because it’s too small. A properly sized heat pump can provide the right level of humidity so that you’re more comfortable. Also, heat pumps blow less hot air than a gas furnace, so you won’t have to deal with ultra-dry air as often.

Smart Thermostat

Purchasing a smart thermostat can ensure that the humidity levels stay consistent year-round. This can not only improve your comfort levels but also save you money in energy bills.

Bypass Humidifiers

Another way to reduce dry air in your home is to install a whole-house humidifier. The most common type, known as a bypass humidifier, can be installed directly on your furnace. Its purpose is to improve the relative humidity by adding more moisture throughout your home. The only catch is that it only operates when the fan is running on your furnace.

Power Humidifiers

A power humidifier can also be used to blow humidified air back into the ductwork and improve the air quality. Unlike a bypass humidifier, it has its own fan, so it can operate even when the heat is not turned on in your home.

Take control of the humidity levels in your home to prevent dry air from damaging your belongings and affecting your health. At Atmosphere Climate Control Specialists, we’ll provide you with the best heating and cooling products on the market. We can ensure that your heat pump is not only the right size but also is set to produce adequate moisture levels without drying the air out. Contact us today, and our team will help correct your humidity problem and even help you manage your thermostat to save even more money each month.