How does a humidifier work?
Almost all whole-home humidifiers are installed directly onto your furnace. Humidifiers use your home’s existing vents to distribute the air. As heated air travels through the ducts, water continuously flows over an internal evaporative pad. The moving air collects moisture and distributes it throughout your home. A humidistat acts as a thermostat for moisture, measuring indoor air levels and controlling when your humidifier turns on.
Why is it important to manage humidity during the winter months?
Proper humidity plays a critical role in the overall comfort of your home. In winter, the air has very low moisture. As well, heating cold air inside makes the air even drier.
When the humidity is at a proper level it makes your home feel warmer at the same set temperature. Moisture in the air locks in heat. It works the opposite way on the air-conditioner unit which removes moisture from the air then cools it. While the humidifier on your furnace adds moisture to the air so it can warm it.
Humidity dictates how warm your home actually feels. With properly controlled humidity, your home feels warmer and homeowners also find they can set the thermostat lower. This can potentially save you money, and will make your home more comfortable during the cold winter months.
Now that it is fall you may have already noticed that the humidity in the air is already dropping. Signs of low humidity are dry skin, dry eyes, and/or irritated sinuses. Adding humidity in your home helps it feel more comfortable, and humidity also protects hardwood floors and wood furniture from cracking or warping.
How is humidity especially important to Red Deer homeowners?
Winters in Red Deer are notorious for being dry. Did you know that cold air outside doesn't contain very much moisture? The lack of moisture in the outdoors causes our homes' inside air to lose moisture due to ventilation, exhaust fans and normal air leaks.
When the air in our homes is too dry, it takes a toll on your body and your home causing dry skin, chapped lips, nosebleeds, separating of wood floors, shrinking furniture, and more buildups of dust. Humidity control is essential to our overall comfort and warmth.
Did you know that humidity needs to change throughout the year?
When winter temperatures fall, outdoor humidity decreases, directly triggering a drop in your indoor humidity level. During mild winter weather, your home is able to maintain a high humidity level.
During times when the temperature drops, all the windows and exterior walls are much colder and therefore, the humidistat should be set lower to prevent condensation and moisture damage to your home. Humidistats that are automatic are able to adjust automatically for you, while manual humidistats require the homeowner to make these adjustments.
Recommended Indoor Humidity by Season and Outdoor Temperature