Whole-Home Humidifier FAQ – Learn How One Can Work for Your Home
Have you been fighting a cough or stuffy nose since the weather turned colder? Flaky, itchy skin? Sticky doors or squeaky floors? The reason is likely low humidity in your home, and the best way to address this uncomfortable, dry situation is a whole-home humidifier.
Most people are familiar with the small, portable humidifiers designed to cover a room or small area of a home. Whole-home humidifiers are part of the HVAC system and take things to the next level by covering up to 5,000 square feet. At A/C Masters, when our team talks with our clients about how they can benefit from installing one of these units, we hear many of the same questions. Read our FAQ to learn more about how a whole-home humidifier can make your home more comfortable.
A whole-home humidifier is an HVAC add-on that A/C Masters’ technicians can seamlessly install to increase your home’s humidity level. The humidifier generates moist air and circulates it through your home via the HVAC system. They come in many different shapes and sizes, so it’s important to do some research and speak with one of our professionals to determine what’s best for your home.
Low humidity creates all sorts of issues for your health and your home’s indoor air quality. While dry skin and other health issues are a sign, the best way to tell if humidity levels are too low is by using a hygrometer tool. The optimal home humidity level in the winter is between 30 and 40 percent, and summer levels should be in the 40 to 50 percent range.
Portable room humidifier units only cover a small space and don’t regulate the moisture they add to the air because they pump out a constant flow. Whole-home humidifiers regulate the humidity levels throughout your entire home. They are the best option if you require moisture in several rooms in your home and want to maintain optimal, balanced humidity.
The footprint for whole-home humidifiers is much smaller than you probably think. At A/C Masters, we recommend Aprilaire’s units that range in size from the Model 500 at 13H x 10.25W x 15.625D (inches) to the Model 720 18H x 16.5W x 10.5D (inches). The wall controllers are basically the same size as the HVAC controllers you’re used to seeing in your home, so there’s no real structural or aesthetic impact.
Humidity is essential to the overall health of your home’s air, especially during the winter. Dry air creates a favorable environment for bacteria and viruses to grow, so boosting the moisture in your home can help combat this issue. It can also help you avoid those scratchy throats and noses too. Your skin will also thank you for the moist air during the dry winter season.
While you might think attaching a humidifier system to your HVAC would spike the power bill, low humidity can cause your furnace to run LESS efficiently. Adding humidity to your home’s air makes it feel warmer. This means you don’t need the heat to be turned up as high and you save some money on the energy bill.
Whole-home humidifiers are fantastic for managing the humidity in your home during the winter, maximizing comfort, and helping your furnace run more efficiently. The skilled technicians at A/C Masters can provide expert guidance to find the best model to meet your needs and ensure that installation is seamlessly integrated into your existing HVAC system.
If you are in the Yorktown, Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester, or Williamsburg area, contact us to learn more about the many options we offer and why managing the humidity in your home is an affordable, beneficial way to improve air quality.
