That time of year is swiftly approaching – the time where dry skin and frequent static electricity shocks become a part of daily life. There isn’t much humidity in the frigid air outside, and there is probably even less indoors.

You may be about to haul out a fleet of humidifiers but, before you do, have you ever considered a whole home humidifier?

Even if you place an individual humidifier in every room, they simply cannot add enough moisture to the air to maintain an ideal humidity level. Not only that, but with individual humidifiers, you’re constantly refilling the water tank and cleaning them out.

Whole home humidifiers are much easier to maintain. They’re made to integrate seamlessly with your heating and cooling system, and can be controlled through the thermostat. An added bonus is that they only need to be cleaned once or twice a year.

All of this talk of humidifiers has probably left you wondering why you shouldn’t just forego one altogether. Why deal with all of the hassle? Well, there are a few compelling reasons why you should try to maintain your home’s humidity at ideal level, usually between 30-50%.

Your Health

Did you know that dry air can wreak havoc on your health? Aside from general discomfort, dry air can cause the following health concerns:

• Many viruses thrive in low humidity settings, leaving you more likely to fall ill.
• Dry environments leave people more susceptible to infection.
• The conditions can aggravate both asthma and allergy symptoms.
• Dry air can cause sore throats, nosebleeds, and cracked skin.

Home Preservation

When the humidity in your home is low, it can lead to the damage of your wood floors, furniture, artwork, and musical instruments. Because the humidity is so low, the moisture is drawn out of these items.

Energy Savings

Increasing the humidity in your home can lead to increased energy savings. Dry air can often feel colder, meaning you have to turn up the heat. When the air has the correct level of humidity, you will likely be able to turn down the heat a couple degrees. By just turning down the thermostat one degree, you will save an estimated 4% on your entire energy bill.

As you can see, maintaining the proper levels of humidity is important for many reasons. Don’t suffer through the winter with dry, cracked skin – instead, install a whole home humidifier.