4 Signs Your Home Needs a Humidifier

January 05, 2021

A lack of humidity is a problem for many homeowners. However, too many homeowners don't even realize that they have a humidity issue to begin with. By adding some more humidity back into your home, you can improve your quality of life and make your home a more enjoyable place to live. Here are four signs you should watch for that may suggest you have a low humidity problem.

1. Dry Skin

Skin can dry out when there is a lack of moisture in the air. You'll then feel like you have itchy skin or that your lips are chapped. There are other things that can cause dry skin of course, such as not drinking enough water. But if you can rule out the other possible causes, or if you have some of the other issues on this list, then your dry skin is likely coming from low humidity inside the home.

2. Allergies

Another common sign of low humidity is if you experience allergies. Allergies can present themselves in a number of ways, such as itchy eyes, a runny nose, or a persistent cough. It's common for people to experience allergies from things like pet dander or pollen outside. If you do not have a history of allergies with these common sources, and you seem to get the symptoms of allergies when you are inside your home, then the cause could be a lack of moisture in the air.

3. Static Shocks

A static shock is that feeling you get when you touch something metal and experience a shock. It is caused when your body picks up extra electrons doing something like rubbing your feet on a carpet, then touching a conductor that the electrons want to jump to, like a doorknob.

These shocks are much more common in the winter, as the air is typically drier. When there is more moisture in the air, the electrons can more easily move off of your skin so that they don't build up before a big shock. Therefore, if you can add some moisture into the air of your home, you'll reduce the number of static shocks you experience.

4. Gaps in Wood Flooring

Finally, if you have hardwood floors in your home, you should take a closer look at them. If you find larger gaps between the pieces of wood, this is often due to low humidity. When there is more moisture in the air, the wood is able to absorb some of it and expand closer to the other pieces.

In drier areas, however, the pieces of wood contract, leaving larger gaps. While the gaps in your wood flooring may not be a big problem for you, they can still be a sign that you have low humidity within the home.

If you think you have low humidity, you can test your home’s air. To test whether your home has low humidity, you should get yourself a tool called a hygrometer. A hygrometer measures the amount of moisture in the air and displays a percentage. The recommended humidity range for a home is between 30 and 50 percent, so you can test your home and see how it measures up.

If you find that the humidity is low, you'll want to have a humidifier installed in your home. A humidifier will constantly release more moisture into the air, relieving the negative effects of dry air. To learn more about whether you need a humidifier for your home, or to get one professionally installed, please contact the expert team at Service 1 Plumbing, Heating & A/C, Inc., at any th2