Why Winter Air Gets So Dry

Cold air holds very little moisture. When that air leaks into your home and your furnace heats it, the relative humidity indoors drops even lower. Many homes end up well below the 30 to 50 percent range commonly recommended for comfort.

Dry air can show up as:

• Static electricity and dry, itchy skin
• Cracked lips and a dry nose or throat
• Wood floors, trim, and furniture shrinking or developing gaps
• A home that feels colder than the thermostat says it is

If you are not sure where your home sits, a small indoor hygrometer is an easy way to find out. It reads the humidity in a room, and many are inexpensive and found at any hardware store.

How a Portable Humidifier Works

A portable humidifier is a self-contained unit with a water tank. You fill it, plug it in, and it adds moisture to the room it sits in. Most are either cool mist or warm mist.

Where portable units make sense

• You mainly want relief in one room, like a bedroom or nursery
• You rent, or you do not want to modify your heating system
• You want something you can move, store in spring, and replace without a project

What to know before you buy

• A tank only covers so much space. One unit will not keep a whole house comfortable, especially an open floor plan.
• Daily upkeep matters. Tanks need regular refilling and cleaning. Dirty tanks can grow mold and bacteria, and then spread them into the air you breathe.
• Warm mist units get hot. If you have small children or pets, that is worth thinking about.
• Minerals leave residue. Hard tap water can leave white dust around the unit. Many manufacturers recommend distilled water, so check the instructions.

How a Whole-Home Humidifier Works

A whole-home humidifier, sometimes called a furnace humidifier, connects to your heating and cooling system and to a water line. As air moves through your ductwork, the humidifier adds moisture, and that air carries it to every room that has a vent. There is no tank to fill and nothing to carry from room to room.

Common types include:

• Bypass humidifiers, which use warm air from the furnace to evaporate water from a pad
• Fan-powered humidifiers, which add a fan to move more air through the pad
• Steam humidifiers, which make steam and can put out more moisture for larger or drier homes

Where whole-home humidifiers make sense

• You want comfort throughout the house, not just one room
• You do not want to refill or clean a tank every day
• Your home has a forced-air furnace with ductwork
• You are ready to plan ahead and have a technician look at your system

What to know before you decide

• Installation involves your furnace, ductwork, and plumbing. A technician should look at your setup and recommend a unit that fits.
• It still needs maintenance. Most types have a water panel or pad that wears out and needs replacing. A yearly check keeps it working well.
• It works with ductwork. Homes without forced air, such as those heated with baseboards or ductless systems, usually need a different approach.

Whole-Home vs. Portable: A Quick Comparison

How to Decide

Ask yourself a few honest questions:

1. How much of your home feels dry? One bedroom points toward portable. Every room points toward whole-home.
2. How much work are you willing to do? If daily refilling sounds like something that will not happen by February, whole-home is easier to live with.
3. Do you own the home, and is it heated with a forced-air furnace? If so, a furnace humidifier is worth a look.
4. Does anyone in the house have allergies or asthma? Talk to your doctor about the right humidity level, and keep any humidifier clean.

Plenty of homeowners start with a portable unit in the bedroom and move to a whole-home system once they see how much difference it makes.

Don’t Overdo It

More humidity is not always better. Too much moisture can cause window condensation, musty smells, and mold growth. In very cold weather, you may need to turn the humidity setting down to keep windows from fogging. Using a hygrometer helps you avoid guesswork.

What to Expect From a Whole-Home Humidifier Installation

If you decide to go the whole-home route, a technician will typically look at your furnace, your ductwork, and the best spot for the unit. They will go over your options and explain what the project involves before any work begins. Nothing is guesswork, and you can ask questions along the way.

Not sure what fits your home? Earl’s Heating can take a look at your system and help you choose between a portable unit and a furnace humidifier.

Earl’s Heating provides heating service for both residential and commercial customers. Call us today or request service online, and we will help you get the heat back on.

Frequently Asked Questions About Humidifiers

Is a whole-home humidifier better than a portable one?

It depends on your home and your habits. A whole-home humidifier covers every room with ductwork and needs less daily effort, while a portable humidifier works well for one room and does not require installation.

What humidity level should I aim for in winter?

Many sources recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent. In very cold weather, a lower setting can help prevent condensation on windows.

Can a humidifier damage my home?

Too much humidity can cause condensation, musty odors, and mold. A hygrometer can help you keep the level in a comfortable range.

Do whole-home humidifiers need maintenance?

Yes. Most have a water panel or pad that needs regular replacement, and a technician can check the unit during a seasonal furnace visit.

Will a whole-home humidifier work with any heating system?

Whole-home humidifiers are designed for forced-air systems with ductwork. If your home uses another type of heating, a technician can suggest other options.

Earl’s Heating & Air — Northwest Indiana’s Commercial HVAC Specialists. Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, and Jasper Counties.