Funny thing about home heating systems. You see, no matter how much comfort they bring your way, they’re equally capable of delivering heaping doses of misery, too. How can that be? Well, unless you have some way to add humidity to your home during the heating season, you’re susceptible to all kinds of maladies, including dry skin, itchy eyes, static electrical shock, aggravated symptoms of allergies and asthma – and we’re just warming up.
So what’s a body to do, one who likes it warm and not overly dry? Here are five simple yet effective ways to add humidity to your home.
1. Utilize House Plants
Don’t have a green thumb? Then it’s definitely worth acquiring one to help add valuable moisture to the air this winter. Houseplants do so through a process called “transpiration,” where, once you’ve watered a plant, water travels from the roots to the underside of the leaves, which, in turn, releases it into the air.
2. Water in the Tub
When someone finishes taking a bath, don’t immediately drain the tub. Instead, let it sit for a while because, as it turns cooler, it releases moisture into the air.
3. Keep Water in a Bowl
It may sound or look a little crude, but it works: place a bowl of water by one or more baseboard heating units or floor registers. When the warm air passes over the bowl and interacts with the water, it sets off a continuous flow of humidity for as long as the bowl has water in it and the furnace fan remains on.
4. Hang Your Laundry Indoors
Take at least some of your wash out of the machine and leave it out to dry draped over chairs or hanging from a rack.
5. Get Yourself an Indoor Fountain
Not only is this another source of humidity, but the bubbling sound will help to soothe and relax your senses.
Still, nothing works better than a whole-house humidifier, especially when it’s expertly installed by Burton. We have one for every size and type of home – the right size and type to work hand in hand with your furnace, and you get to set the exact relative humidity you prefer for maximum comfort. For more information and a new system quote, contact Burton today.