What if you already have a humidifier? Your cares are over, right? Not necessarily. If your humidifier is old, poorly maintained, or too small for your home, then you might as well be living without this important appliance. Read on for 3 reasons you should add a humidifier to your home as soon as possible, or upgrade your current one.
Yours May Be in Decline
The minute you add a humidifier to your home, you can begin to feel the health benefits. Hopefully, it will continue to work hard for your wellness for a long time, adding healthy levels of clean moisture to your air. This requires a bit of maintenance and cleaning on your part. The consequences of neglecting your humidifier are not only deterioration or breakdown, but negative health effects as well.
The EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission assert that keeping a humidifier clean and running smoothly is about as important a task as installing one to begin with. When you clean your humidifier according to an HVAC expert’s instructions, you:
- Reduce the development of microorganisms in the machine
- Keep the water clean, which makes for clean humidity
- Prevent bad odors from developing
- Prevent buildup of minerals
- Extend the life of your machine
If you have not cared for your humidifier properly, you may be running an inefficient or even dangerous machine. And even if you have been caring for yours, they do not last forever. If you have owned your humidifier for over 5 years, you may want to ask an HVAC expert if you should consider upgrading.
Humidifiers Keep You Healthy
A new, well-maintained humidifier has numerous health benefits for adults and especially children. Here are just some of the many health conditions a top-of-the-line humidifier can stave off:
- Skin dryness, scaliness, or flaking–highly important for those with eczema and other skin conditions
- A dry, sore throat
- Nosebleeds
- Cracked lips
- Sinus irritation and discomfort
A humidifier can also decrease your chances of developing the following conditions:
- The common cold
- The flu
- Sinus infections
- Respiratory infections
- Allergy flare-ups
- Asthma attacks
The Nation Institutes of Health has found that increased humidity in your home can also help your body fight the above conditions should you become ill. This is especially important for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has even come forward and touted the importance of humidifiers for young children, who are especially at risk for developing all of the above health conditions.
It may seem shocking that a little humidity can have such positive effects on you and your family, but our bodies crave moisture—we are made of mostly water, after all. A little extra moisture goes a long way toward keeping us healthy overall.
You May Have the Wrong Humidifier
Choosing the right humidifier is about as important as owning the machine to begin with. You may very well know the importance of purchasing the right air conditioner and heater. The size, dimensions, and climate of your home should drastically affect your choices when shopping.
In addition, there are also different types of humidifiers, including:
- Cool mist
- Warm mist
- Ultrasonic
- Room units
- Whole-house units
Different humidifiers can also include a variety of additional features, like:
- Humidistats to measure your home’s moisture levels
- Different humidification speeds to adjust to your needs
- Germ-reducing UV light
Certain types of humidifiers are also safer and more beneficial for young children. For example, cool mist and germ reduction make for healthier, happier children. They will certainly thank you for adding this important feature to your home. If you are concerned about whether you have the right humidifier for your home or need help shopping for the best fit for your needs, budget, and family, we recommend that you speak with professionals in HVAC in Minneapolis as soon as possible.