Scientists have solved the mystery of why fall and winter are the cold and flu seasons, mainly blaming this on dry indoor air. Besides getting you and your family vaccinated, ensuring adequate home humidification will go a long way toward slowing the spread of these viruses.
Virologists have found that when people cough or sneeze, the moisture that surrounds the viruses evaporates quickly, which makes it much easier for the virus to embed itself in nasal or throat tissues. When those tissues are irritated by dry air, t
he transmission goes faster.
These viruses have another form of protection during the colder months. They have a protective coating that endures when it’s cold. As the virus enters your respiratory tract, the coating melts, causing an infection. When it’s warmer and more humid, the viruses don’t generate this coating.
Humidification minimizes the likelihood of passing viruses back and forth. Your options include portable humidifiers or whole-house humidification systems. Of the two, a whole-house system is the easiest, most convenient and least expensive way to improve the health and comfort of your entire home. They use tap water instead of expensive distilled water and need far less maintenance.
Central humidifiers attach to the blower of the furnace and fill and drain through your home’s plumbing. Most have some kind of absorbent pad that holds the water. When the furnace turns on, the air going through the blower evaporates the water in the pad and blows it through your ductwork. All of your rooms receive the same amount of humidity, something that’s difficult or impossible with portable systems.
Humidity levels between 30 and 55 percent are ideal in the winter. Most central systems are controlled with a humidistat, similar to a thermostat. You can choose the percentage you want, and some humidistats have a sensor that tracks outdoor temperatures, lowering indoor humidity levels when the temperatures are colder. This feature prevents condensation on windows and pipes.
If you would like more information about home humidification and its health benefits for both you and your home, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve provided top-notch HVAC services for the Twin Cities metro area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about humidification and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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