Whole-House Humidification Can Keep Your Home Safer From The Flu

Perhaps you already know that dry winter air is hard on a home and its occupants. It can cause prized wood floors and furnishings to crack. It promotes static electricity. Your skin and nasal passages become overly dry. And dry air just makes you feel colder. But did you know that dry air can also make it easier for flu and other viruses to spread in your home? That’s why whole-house humidification can be your staunchest ally during flu season. Look into a whole-house humidifier now, and keep your family safer from the flu.

Why dry air promotes the spread of viruses

When a family member who’s sick coughs or sneezes, he sends droplets containing the virus out into the air. The moisture evaporates in the dry air, allowing a virus to stay alive longer than it would if it still had its moist encapsulation. Additionally, when nasal passages are dry, transmission is easier. Keeping your home’s humidity in the optimum 35 to 50 percent range helps to decrease your likelihood of getting an airborne viral illness.

How whole-house humidification works

A whole-house humidifier is installed directly in your HVAC system and is hooked up to a water source. Water flows over a panel containing small holes through which warm air flows before it’s sent through the ductwork and into your rooms. A humidistat allows you to control the humidity level. Unlike portable humidifiers, a whole-house unit doesn’t require daily filling and regular cleaning. Annual maintenance on your humidifier will keep it operating efficiently all season long and can be done in conjunction with your annual furnace tune-up.

Other benefits of whole-house humidification

In addition to helping you avoid wintertime illnesses, whole-house humidification:

• Minimizes static electricity: Static electricity builds up more easily in dry air. It can damage your electronics and cause painful shocks and flyaway hair. Whole-house humidification prevents the buildup of static electricity.
• Increases your comfort: Moist air feels warmer than dry air. Optimum humidity in your home allows you to turn down the thermostat without sacrificing your comfort, which translates to less energy consumed and lower utility bills.

For more expert advice about the benefits of a whole-house humidifier, contact Blanton’s Heating & A/C. We’ve served homeowners in the Fayetteville area since 1951.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Fayetteville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about whole-house humidification and other HVAC topics.