Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within a home and how it correlates to the health and comfort of you and your loved ones. At Troy Furnace & Air Conditioning, we’d like to take a beat to tell you more about governing the humidity levels in your home, so you can be better equipped for the various weather/temperatures we encounter here in Ohio! It’s truly mind-blowing how much your indoor air quality can impact your comfort, health, and household!
What’s the Difference Between Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers?
Foremost, let’s address this question by clarifying what humidifiers and dehumidifiers are; then, we will differ when to utilize these devices. Humidifiers insert moisture into your home’s air when it is too dry. Generally, we use humidifiers in the wintertime to combat the dryness that coexists with winter air. Dehumidifiers draw moisture from the air when the humidity is heavy in your home. Dehumidifiers are commonly used in the spring and summer to destroy the muggy and stuffy feeling a house can have with high humidity levels.
The ideal humidity level in a home is between 30% and 50%. Therefore, a dehumidifier is necessary if your home is above 50% humidity. Likewise, a humidifier is essential if humidity levels are beneath 30%. Excellent information to know, but how do we pinpoint the humidity levels in our home? Some people are keen on their surroundings and can perceive where these levels currently live. However, if you are like me and are uncertain where your home’s humidity lies, our experts at Troy Furnace & Air Conditioning will happily help you determine that!
What Are the Household Benefits of a Humidifier?
We utilize humidifiers to improve our indoor air quality by neutralizing the unfavorable effects of dry air. Humidity can help stop your home’s wallpaper from cracking, can cease static electricity build-up, and is excellent for conserving wood floors and furniture in your home. Not to mention, your water-loving houseplants will thank you! Additionally, a humidifier in your home can help reduce your monthly utility bills in the winter because when there is moisture in the atmosphere, your home will feel warmer. We can all benefit from cheaper utility bills!
What Are the Health Benefits of a Humidifier?
Not only are there benefits for using a humidifier in respect to our home, but for our health as well! Dry air can cause moisture to exit our skin and cause uncomfortable respiratory symptoms. Humidifiers aid those who suffer from dry skin, eye irritation, dry throat/airways, allergies, chronic coughing, nosebleeds, sinus headaches, and chapped/cracked lips. In addition, studies have proven a high likelihood for more immediate eradication of virus particles in the air when a humidifier is in one’s household; what hopeful information for us as we persist in navigating this pandemic!
What Are the Household Benefits of a Dehumidifier?
If moisture is productive in your home, it is at risk for mold and mildew exposure, which can spread at an alarming rate. Nobody wants fungus thriving in their safe space! Many of us have experienced flooding and water leaks in our homes. I wish someone would have advised me to use a dehumidifier to help clean up excess water. This approach effectively hurries up the drying process, thus stopping mold and mildew growth! A damp environment can also make your home smell stale. A dehumidifier will prevent these odors, creating a more inviting home atmosphere for yourself and others. Termites and other pests prosper in moist environments, so if your home has elevated humidity levels, your home is the ideal place for insects to hunker down in, which is far from ideal for you and your home!
What Are the Health Benefits of a Dehumidifier?
Apart from the fact that mold and mildew are smelly, unsightly, and bug-attracting, it’s also a problem for your health! The health issues related to exposure include congestion, wheezing, irritation, and lots more! It can also prove challenging to free your home of mold and mildew once it begins growing. Therefore it is crucial to reduce excess moisture in your home. By removing the extra water from the air, dehumidifiers can help discourage mold and mildew growth and enhance your home’s indoor air quality. Mold and mildew can also cause allergy symptoms, including sneezing, stuffy/runny nose, nose/throat irritation, dryness, watery/itchy eyes, and congestion. As if dealing with seasonal allergies isn’t already an inconvenience, too much wetness in the air can make it difficult for us to breathe. Lessening the humidity indoors with a dehumidifier creates a more breathable environment, especially if you or your loved ones have asthma!
If your air conditioner isn’t helping to control humidity levels as well as it used to, it would be in your best interest to contact our team at Troy Furnace & Air Conditioning. Our qualified staff is eager to hear from you! As the temperature gets increasingly warmer, you’ll be happy to have a properly performing air conditioner to help you defeat the heat and humidity. But, don’t wait for mildew, mold, and bugs to take over your home. Instead, contact our experts at Troy Furnace & Air Conditioning today at (937) 230-5521, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here! Now, let’s improve your home’s indoor air quality!
