Reliable Heating and Air Conditioning Co.

Adding moisture to the air inside your home improves the quality of the air that you breathe. In addition to the comfort issues, dry air can be the ideal atmosphere for the growth of bacteria and viruses. Viral infections such as a cold or flu are easier to contract or pass to others under low humidity conditions. These problems can be controlled through proper humidification with a whole-home humidifier. Keeping your home properly humidified can also help minimize the dust mite population and the growth of mold.

Wintertime relative humidity inside the average home versus average humidity in the Sahara Desert:

Relative humidity is the percentage of moisture in the air compared to its maximum capability to hold moisture under the same conditions. 70 degree air can hold more than 12 times as much moisture as 10 degree air. Outside air at 10 degrees and 70 percent relative humidity drops to 7 percent relative humidity when heated to normal room temperature without other internal sources of moisture, such as cooking, laundry, showers, etc.,

That's only a fraction of the humidity recommended for the average heated home, and it's this 'desert dryness' that makes you feel uncomfortable and takes moisture from your home, furnishings—even you and your family. The recommended indoor relative humidity is 35% and up to 45T in warmer climates or where special construction prevails—and not all humidifiers have the capacity to reach these levels.

Doctors often times have mentioned dry air as one of the causes for nose, throat, and other physical aggravations. Heated air dries out and shrinks wood framing around doors and window frames. Gaps occur, permitting cold outside air infiltration. Heat loss and higher heating costs are often the results. Heated, parched air causes separation of wood in floors, trim and furniture...excessive wear of fabrics and carpets?loss of piano tone quality...wall and ceiling cracks...plant damage and annoying static shocks ar also a by-product of dry air.