Dry winter air can cause a variety of issues, ranging from mildly irritating to downright damaging. Static electricity typically falls into the former category, although it can cause more serious problems in extreme cases. In any event, if you’d like to eliminate static and reduce all the issues associated with dry air, a humidifier is the way to go.
Static Electricity in Your Home
You’ve probably noticed static electricity from the many forms it takes: frizzy hair, clingy clothing, and those telltale sparks when you touch a doorknob or other object. Occasionally, static can also build up to levels that can be damaging to sensitive electronics, so it’s important not to let it get too out of hand.
How a Humidifier Helps Reduce Static
Static electricity tends to be much more of an issue in winter because the air tends to be driest during the season. Moisture in the air prevents static electricity from building up, and that’s where humidifiers come in. Maintaining an optimum humidity level around 30% or 40% can significantly reduce static electricity.
Other Benefits of Humidifiers
A humidifier can ease all of the many issues caused by dry air, such as chapped lips, dry eyes, and itchy skin. Avoiding dry air can also help you recover from colds more quickly, and it makes breathing easier, especially for sufferers of asthma or other respiratory conditions. Humidification also protects wooden floors, furniture, and fixtures in your home from drying, separating, and cracking.
Humidifier Options for Your Charlotte Home
When you consider humidifiers, you basically have two options. The first is one or more portable humidifiers, which can each effectively eliminate dry air in a single room. The second is a whole-house humidifier, which works with your HVAC system to humidify the air throughout your home. Although portable models are less expensive, they require more work, such as regular deep cleanings and constant refills. Whole-house humidifiers are more efficient, do not require constantly having to be refilled with water, require little maintenance, and are usually installed out of sight and away from your living space.
For more information on the benefits of humidification, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’ve been locally owned and operated since 1972 and provide expert HVAC service throughout the Charlotte area.