6 Reasons To Buy a Humidifier

Air in the home can get dry during the chilly winter months or during hot summers when the air conditioner is running. If you frequently suffer from sore throats, dry skin, and allergies, you could benefit from installing an air humidifier to balance your home’s indoor microclimate.

What is a humidifier?

Humidity is how much water vapor is in the air. The ideal humidity falls in the range between 40 and 60 percent, and when humidity levels drop, the dry air can cause or exacerbate breathing, skin, and other health conditions. If you are using a heater, heat pump or air conditioner in your home the air can become extremely dry, so you may benefit from a humidifier.

So, what does a humidifier do? A humidifier is a device that increases air moisture to prevent dryness that can cause irritation in many parts of the body. The device can be a tabletop or floor model with a reservoir that holds cold water. It is then dispensed into a basin where it is absorbed through a filter and dispersed into the air.

Why is low humidity dangerous?

After prolonged contact with low humidity, the mucosal membrane lining your respiratory system can become dry and inflamed, raising your risk of contracting anything from the common cold to more severe illnesses like influenza and other infectious diseases.

Problems caused by dry air:

• Respiratory conditions like bronchitis and asthma can get worse.
• Throat inflammation and associated pain.
• Air conditioning induces eye irritation.
• Rough, dry skin and dermatitis, and aggravated eczema symptoms.
• Dehydration by extended exposure to extremely dry indoor environments.
• High risk of contracting the flu or a cold.
• Weakened capacity to fight off viral infections.

Reasons to buy a humidifier

If you want to boost indoor comfort and apply positive and healthy effects on your family’s health, the humidifier benefits will convince you it is time to get one.

Preventing influenza

Cold and fever symptoms worsen at night and there is a buildup of mucus in the nasal cavity. Using a humidifier at night if you have the flu or a cold can speed up recovery as it clears congestion, eases nasal headaches, and sore throats, and promotes comfortable sleep.

Moisturize your skin

Many unpleasant symptoms are brought on by dry air and dry skin is one of them. A compromised skin barrier is a common feature of skin conditions, and symptoms can be made worse by variable humidity levels. Your skin may become tight, dry, itchy, and flaky when it begins to lose moisture. Applying creams alone may not be sufficient to rehydrate skin if your home has dry air.

Reduces snoring

With snoring, the respiratory airways overcompensate by creating more mucus, which leads to increased tightness and a dry mouth, which can affect the quality of your sleep. Regular snoring may be a sign of an underlying condition like sleep apnea and the associated nasopharyngeal symptoms are improved by using a humidifier.

Ease symptoms of illness

Tiny filters in the nasal cavity purifies the air from particles and allergens before it enters the respiratory system. Low humidity over a prolonged period, dries out and damages these filters and inhibits the body from cleaning the air leaving us susceptible to infection. When you do get ill, a humidifier can ease symptoms by helping to improve breathing and sleeping.

Alleviate allergies

A humidifier can relieve common allergy symptoms such as itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and sinus congestion by making it easier to breathe and heal inflamed nasal and throat passages. The water vapor can help loosen up the blockage in your nose and throat and relieve sinus pressure.

Reduces the amount of dust

A humidifier can help with dust as it dampens dust particles making it difficult for dust particles to float back into the air. Dust particles can trigger other health concerns and allergies. If you are experiencing seasonal allergies outside, dealing with allergy symptoms inside your home can be extremely frustrating.

Protect your furniture

Optimizing the humidity levels in the home can significantly improve the quality of your family’s health. Although humidity affects the body's perception of comfort, wood flooring and furniture benefit too. When wooden items become too dry, they can crack and split - optimal levels of humidity will protect the integrity of wood furnishings.

Protect eyes

Chronic dry eyes may be impacted by environmental variables. Dry eyes cause vision blurriness and red, itchy, and irritated eyes. Tears preserve and safeguard the condition of the eye and to preserve eyesight and when the eyelids blink, tears are released to moisten the cornea. A humidifier can especially help those who spend hours in front of a computer and who wear contact lenses.

If there is a child home

For babies and young children, dry air could cause skin and other health issues. Children who have congested noses and coughing may find it challenging to get a decent night's sleep. Using a humidifier puts moisture back into the air could help your child’s skin stay moisturized and help keep their nasal passages clear. Your child does not need to be sick or have dry skin to benefit from a humidifier.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a humidifier?

There are a range of different types of models, but the purpose of a humidifier is the same regardless of brand or features and that is to increase humidity.

• Choosing a self-regulating humidifier will maintain humidity levels by automatically decreasing mist output as the air’s humidity level increases.
• Because bacteria can thrive in stagnant water, the water tank unit of a humidifier should be easy to remove and clean.
• Some ultrasonic humidifiers come with antibacterial features that kill microorganisms by using ultraviolet radiation.
• Mineral content in the water can be released into the air, so use distilled water or select a humidifier that works with a demineralization cartridge.

Rely on your own budget and preferences, the size of your room, and whether you have children or pets when choosing the right humidifier for you.