All too often, we hear and talk about humidity as a negative thing. The old line “at least it’s a dry heat” comes to mind as an expression of how lower humidity is preferable to higher humidity. It’s no surprise, really. Areas with high humidity promote mold growth, as well as making it harder to breathe. Add to that the fact that humid days are just all-around wet, sticky, and uncomfortable. However, humidity that is too low is just as bad for your health as humidity that is too high.
Let’s take a look at why a balance of humidity in your home is best, and how a humidifier can help you reach that balance.
The Consequences of Low Humidity
Humidity is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air, as you probably already know. The human body is mostly made of liquids, which you probably also know. The issue with low humidity is that it actually deprives your body of moisture that it needs to help protect you. Extremely dry air can cause the mucus membranes in your sinuses to dry out, severely limiting their ability to keep germs from entering your body. Those membranes also tend to crack and bleed in very dry weather. This is why some people get nose bleeds on planes, where the air has very low humidity. It also contributes to more illnesses during winter, when people run their heaters more often, which dries out their indoor air.
Humidifiers
Humidifiers correct this balance by releasing water vapor into the air. There are a number of different types of humidifiers, such as vaporizers that use electricity to generate steam, or simple misters that just spray small amounts of water. The general concept is the same, however. Making use of a humidifier can achieve the right balance of humidity in your indoor air, helping to keep your body healthy and improving the quality of your indoor air.
If you’d like to know more about humidifiers, call Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration. We provide humidifiers throughout the Taos area.
