The average person breathes around 23,000 times a day. What is the quality of the air you’re breathing? As we move through colder weather and into the start of spring, it’s an ideal chance to reevaluate your home’s indoor air quality. There are plenty of opportunities for cold weather and the cooler air contains less moisture. While drier air may decrease your comfort levels, it can impact your health and your home.
Low Humidity Increases the Likelihood of Getting Sick
Ending up with a cold doesn’t normally happen simply because it’s cold outside. The risk of catching a cold might rise because cold air is less humid than warm air. Lower humidity dries out the mucus membranes that line the nasal and sinus cavities. Those membranes are doing the important job of monitoring for bacteria and debris and when they dry out they open up and increase your chance of getting the flu or a cold.
Dry Air Affects Your Skin
Our skin is our largest organ, so it makes sense that we should pay close attention to it. If you are feeling extra itchy, the absence of humidity might be the culprit. Before you start purchasing lotion in large quantities, think about adding a whole-home humidifier instead.
Damages to Your Home
If your air lacks moisture it will try to pull moisture from the items in your indoor space. This could result in the wood in your home becoming damaged and produce cracks in the walls and floors.
Checking for Dry Air
Other than itchy skin and a neverending cold there are some other ways to check for dry air in your home, such as:
- An uptick in static electricity
- Cracks in your flooring
- Gaps in trim and molding
- Wallpaper that is coming down
Any of these things could mean it’s smart to think about a humidifier and better your indoor air quality.
Our team wants to ensure those 23,000 breaths you take each day are as good as they can be. Your health and home should be your top priority. You can contact us at 717-220-4502 and talk with one of our indoor air pros to help you identify the best balance of humidity and comfort in your home.