The average person breathes approximately 23,000 times a day. What is the quality of the air you’re breathing? As we get through winter and into the start of spring, it’s a perfect opportunity to look at your home’s indoor air quality. There are plenty of cool days on the horizon and the cooler air contains less moisture. While drier air may decrease your comfort levels, it can impact your health and your home.
Low Humidity Increases the Odds of Getting Sick
Catching a cold doesn’t typically happen colder out. Your chance of ending up with a cold might grow because cold air is less humid than warm air. The lack of humidity causes the mucus membranes in your sinus and nasal cavities to dry out. Those membranes are doing the important job of filtering out bacteria and debris and when they dry out they open up and grow your chance of ending up with the flu or a cold.
Dry Air Affects Your Skin
Our skin is our largest organ, so it makes sense that we should pay close attention to it. If you are feeling very itchy, reduced of humidity may be the culprit. Before you start buying lotion in large quantities, consider investing in a whole-home humidifier as a more long-term alternative.
Damages to Your Home
When the air in the home doesn’t have enough moisture it will try to pull moisture from the things in your home. This may cause damage to the wood around your home and make cracks in the walls and floors.
Checking for Dry Air
Other than itchy skin and an everlasting cold there are a few ways to assess how much moisture is in your home, including:
- A boost in static electricity
- Cracks in your flooring
- Slits in trim and molding
- Wallpaper that is coming down
Any of these problems could mean it’s wise to think about a humidifier and improve your indoor air quality.
Our team wants to be sure those 23,000 breaths you take each day are the best possible. Your health and home are our top priority. Call us at 863-216-2923 and talk with one of our indoor air professionals to help you strike the best humidity level for your indoor space.