A whole-house humidifier is a considerable investment.
Unlike a portable alternative, this type of humidifier is installed into the heating and cooling system. It requires more time, effort and expense to incorporate and operate. These humidifiers, however, impact the entire house and provide a balanced, healthy and recommended relative humidity level. When the air is overly dry, people tend to suffer from more health problems and it takes longer to recover. Insufficient humidity can be blamed for chapped lips, dry skin, sinus infections, aggravated symptoms of allergies, and problems with asthma. Properly moisturized air helps you to sleep better and can even lessen snoring. Adding moisture to the air makes it feel warmer, allowing lower thermostat settings. Because the furnace doesn’t need to run as long or work as hard, it uses less energy. This means lower utility bills. Indoor humidity levels should be maintained above thirty percent at all times. Most whole-house options allow customized settings and operate whether or not the air conditioner is running. Because humidifiers normally attach to the home’s air ducts, it’s a good idea to let a licensed professional handle the installation. They can help you choose between bypass, fan-powered and steam humidifiers. There are different pros and cons to each type, depending on the size of the home. Bypass humidifiers use a furnace to introduce moisture into the air of the home. They suck air from the ducts, pass it through a water panel and then disperse it back into the home. Fan-powered options are similar but include a fan. The fan encourages greater amounts of moisture. Steam humidifiers heat up water until it boils and the steam is delivered through the home’s HVAC vents.