Low Humidity Issues & Poor Iaq Go Together

Would you rather wake up in the middle of the night with chapped lips and a parched throat, blindly grasping for the glass of water you are sure you left on the nightstand or… would you like to repeatedly shock yourself whenever you walked across the living room carpet? This is obviously a lose-lose scenario, but one which plays out every day during the dry winter months when Fort Wayne area homes are closed up tight and climate controlled with warm air. There are some telltale signs your home is lacking proper humidity , which means there is not enough water vapor in the air. This can be not only a nuisance to your comfort, but to your health. Low humidity issues can also damage your home.

Here at Masters Heating & Cooling, which has provided top-notch HVAC and plumbing service to the Fort Wayne and surrounding areas, we want to help our customers address low humidity issues . So, let’s take a look at the top 5 signs your home suffers from it:

1. Dehydration. The nighttime misery we talked about above is a fairly obvious indication of low humidity and can quickly lead to dehydration, which slowly drains your body of precious fluids and can lead to overall health concerns.
2. Dry Skin & Eyes. Overly-dry air can dry out your skin, leading to itching and flaking. It can also dry out the tear ducts in your eyes, causing them to be irritated.
3. Nose Bleeds. Just like your eyes, low humidity can lead to the mucus membrane in your nasal passages to dry out and even crack. When this happens, they can bleed and also lead to infection.
4. Electrostatic Discharge. Yes, we have all walked across the carpet, touched a doorknob (or another human being) and received an unexpected shock that ranges from annoying to painful. This is called electrostatic discharge, is a direct result of low humidity and can be harmful to electronic equipment .
5. Damage To All Things Wood . Wood expands and contracts depending on the moisture it is exposed to. Low humidity results in the latter, which can lead to gaps in hardwood floors and damage wood furniture.

These are all indicators your home’s air is not properly humidified and can also contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) . IAQ can be affected by low/high humidity, poor filtration and other factors, which result in your home’s HVAC system circulating bacteria and other airborne contaminants. A great way to handle the humidity and help promote good IAQ is with a whole house humidifier; which will regulate the humidity levels in your home and keep them constant, while also helping to clean the air that is circulating throughout your home. Masters has a great humidifier with the featured AprilAire 700M , so call us today to find out more about getting one installed in your home.

Don’t let the Fort Wayne winter dry out your home. Add a little moisture, promote IAQ and keep your family healthy for the holidays. Call the pros at Masters today and don’t forget to Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter .