The average person breathes approximately 23,000 times a day. Are you aware of the air you are breathing in? As we get through the colder months and into the days of spring, it’s a great time to look at your home’s indoor air quality. There are a number of opportunities for cold weather and the cooler air holds less moisture. While drier air may decrease your comfort levels, it can impact your health and your home.
Low Humidity Increases the Odds of Getting Sick
Ending up with a cold doesn’t typically happen the time of year when colder weather hits. The risk of catching a cold may increase because cold air is less humid than warm air. Less humidity dries out the mucus membranes that line the nasal and sinus cavities. Those membranes are doing the important job of monitoring for bacteria and debris and when they get drier they open up and increase your chance of getting the flu or a cold.
Dry Air Impacts Your Skin
Taking care of your skin is important, especially since it’s your largest organ. If you are feeling extra itchy, the absence of humidity might be the issue. Before you start busting out lotion in bulk, consider getting a whole-home humidifier as another solution.
Damages to Your Home
If your air lacks moisture it will try to pull moisture from the things in your house. This could mean the wood in your home could experience damage and create cracks in the walls and floors.
Checking for Dry Air
Apart from itchy skin and an everlasting cold there are a handful of ways to check on the moisture levels in your house, like:
- A boost in static electricity
- Cracks in your floors
- Slits in trim and molding
- Wallpaper that is coming down
Any of these things could mean it’s smart to think about a humidifier and boost your indoor air quality.
We want to help ensure those 23,000 breaths you take each day are as good as possible. Your health and home is a highest priority. You can contact us at 631-737-5566 and talk with one of our indoor air professionals to help you find the perfect balance of humidity and comfort in your home.