Need

The drying effects of home heating are constantly at work in the winter. For the sake of comfort and health, an indoor humidity level between 30 to 50 percent is recommended.

As outdoor temperatures drop, humidity levels indoors should be lowered. The humidity is right for you when the room feels "comfortable." Signs of low humidity are static electricity, a physically uncomfortable dry feeling, plants that wither and die, and a cold feeling even though the room temperature is relatively high.

Humidifiers are handy appliances to have in a home, and like any other appliance, they require regular cleaning. If your humidifier is being used on a daily basis, then it should be cleaned at least once a week to maintain optimum performance.

Maintaining the proper humidity levels in your home is important. When the temperature drops, the air is not able to hold as much water vapor and the humidity level drops. Low humidity levels can cause physical discomforts like dry nose, throat, lips, and skin. Since bacteria and virus thrive in drier air, people are more likely to catch a cold in a drier environment. Indoor humidity levels should be between 30 to 50 percent, with about 45 percent being the ideal level.

If you frequently smell musty odors or feel damp spots on the floors or walls of your basement, laundry room, or storage area during warm, humid weather, you need a dehumidifier.

The recommended humidity level inside your home during the summer is around 40 to 50 percent, and very humid conditions over an extended period can leave you uncomfortable and adversely affect your home. Musty smells, peeling wallpaper, warped wood, rusting tools, blistered paint and moisture dripping from pipes are signs of excessive humidity. These conditions are most common during spring and summer.

Q. I have an Aprilaire Humidifier. The humidifier works only when I turn it all the way to the maximum setting on the humidistat. Does this mean the humidistat is blown?

A. Usually the humidistat is just a switch that closes on call for humidity; most are low voltage connections. It should be easy to find a replacement.

• Uses high-frequency energy to break the water up into tiny droplets, which are then dispersed into the air by a small fan.
   
• Quiet and use little energy.
• Has the potential of leaving a sticky white dust around the house if used with hard tap water.
• Can pose health risks if the unit raises the level of airborne particles in the air.
• For best results and to prevent pollutants in the air, use distilled water with this type of humidifier.

   

   

  Evaporative Humidifier