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Beat the Cold, Dry Winter Weather With a Whole-House Humidifier

Posted on December 12, 2023 by

The Benefits of Installing a Humidifier for the Winter Months

Louisiana is known for being a humid place, but as winter rolls in, even such a muggy climate can become incredibly dry. As temperatures drop, humidity levels drop since colder air simply can’t hold as much water vapor as warmer air. Then, as the home’s HVAC system heats the already-dry air, the relative humidity is driven even lower inside the home. 

Just as excessively high humidity can cause all kinds of air quality issues in the summer, excessively low humidity can cause its share of problems in the winter, including dry, itchy skin, respiratory issues, and wilted houseplants. But with the help of a humidifier, homeowners can get their home’s humidity back to a healthier, more comfortable level. Read on to discover the benefits of a whole-home humidifier on every aspect of a household during the cold winter months!

Respiratory Health Benefits

One of the biggest benefits of a humidifier is that it can help maintain good respiratory health. Breathing dry air over long periods can dry out the throat, nose, lungs, and sinus passages. This is why many people get nosebleeds, sinus infections, or sore throats during the winter. Those with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions often experience worsened symptoms for the same reasons. 

To make matters worse, the body relies on mucus to trap airborne pathogens before they can enter the lungs, so when the mucous membranes are dried out, the body’s immune defenses aren’t as effective. This is part of why cold, flu, and other respiratory illnesses are more prevalent in winter.

A humidifier, which adds moisture to the air by rapidly evaporating water, can keep the respiratory system from becoming parched, combat dehydration, and help the body’s immune system function normally to fight germs and viruses.

Benefits for Hair and Skin Health

skin careOne consequence of cold, dry air that almost everyone is familiar with is dry skin and hair. With so little humidity, the skin’s natural barriers tend to break down, and much of the body’s moisture is lost to evaporation. This can leave skin dry, itchy, and flaky, even if it may crack and bleed – particularly for those with dry skin. Of course, dry skin means a dry scalp, which can leave hair deprived of vital moisture and nutrients. This is why many people struggle with dry, brittle hair or an itchy, flaky scalp during the winter.

Applying moisturizers can help, but it can only go so far if the air in the home remains overly dry. By keeping the indoor humidity levels in a healthier range with a whole-house humidifier, homeowners can help their skin and hair retain more moisture so they can enjoy healthy, smooth, comfortable, and good-looking skin and hair all winter long.

Protects and Nourishes Houseplants

plants Just as dry air can have all sorts of negative consequences for the human body, it can also wreak havoc on plants and vegetation. Some houseplants are more resilient than others, but all plants require moisture and sunlight to produce the glucose they need to survive and grow. If the home’s air is very dry, indoor plants will lose much moisture, stunting their growth, causing them to wilt, and eventually killing them.

With a home humidifier keeping the humidity levels up, the houseplants will be able to draw moisture from the air to be used in photosynthesis to continue thriving. And since houseplants can provide a much-needed splash of color and mood boost during the gray winter months, this alone can be reason enough to look into humidifier installation.

While portable humidifiers are effective at raising the humidity level in a single room, the best humidifier benefits come from whole-home models. These are typically installed downstream of the HVAC system’s air return to distribute water vapor through the home’s air ducts. This allows homeowners to keep every room in the house at an ideal humidity level (30-50% relative humidity) for a healthier, more comfortable home!

About Albritton Service Co

Since its founding in 1982, the family-owned and operated Albritton Service Co has consistently been one of Ruston's most highly-rated HVAC companies. Their commitment to outstanding workmanship and customer satisfaction has earned them numerous awards, including the prestigious Carrier President’s Award and the “Reader’s Choice” award from the Ruston Daily Leader. They are proud to offer competitive up-front pricing, flexible financing, 24/7 emergency service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every job – so call them today for whole-house humidifier installation in Ruston, LA!

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