Experts say that the relative humidity of the air in your home should be no lower than 30 percent or higher than 50 percent. If the humidity drops under that bottom level, you will likely experience discomfort and may experience a variety of respiratory problems.  Wooden household items — such as furniture or musical instruments — can also experience cracking, warping or other damage if the air in your home is too dry.  Low indoor humidity is common in the winter, when cold, dry air is further dehumidified by a central forced-air heating system. One potential solution is a whole-house humidification system.
Why a Whole-House Humidifier?
Once a system is installed, little maintenance is required to keep it running, and it will provide a proper amount of humidity throughout the house.
Benefits
The most obvious benefit of a humidification system is the increased comfort and reassurance you get in the safety of your home, not to mention the superior convenience over portable units. The system is connected to your central HVAC system and plumbing lines. As air flows through your forced-air system, it passes through the whole-house humidifier’s water panel, which adds water vapor to the air before it’s distributed through your home.
Drawbacks
There is one drawback in particular that should be addressed before installation. Since the system ties into your water line, if your water supply is contaminated with minerals, they can build up in the whole-house humidification system. This isn’t an issue in every area, so check with an HVAC professional to see if it’s an issue for your home. In any event, make sure that you clean the humidifier once a year to remove any buildup or minerals and other substances.
Portable or Whole-house?
Portable humidifiers are not a great option if your whole home lacks humidity, but if it’s just a certain room or level, the portable model can be a more cost-effective option. Another benefit is that you can take it on trips or to the office if you need to, whereas a whole-house humidification system is set in place.
Evaluate the conditions of your home and your lifestyle. If you need a temporary solution, whether in time or location, a portable model will probably be best. Otherwise, a whole-house humidifier is a good option.
For more information about installing a whole-house humidification system in your Greenville or Edwardsville home, please contact Ernst Heating & Cooling.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, and Troy, Illinois and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Â