Static electricity is something that few people manage to avoid during our long, cold Twin Cities winter. As heating systems warm the air, the humidity drops, and when it falls to 30 percent or lower, static shocks become more common. Although it’s annoying for everyone, it can be damaging to home electronics that have low-voltage components. The best remedy is to raise the humidity in your home by using these methods:
Use your kitchen and bathroom ventilating fans sparingly. These remove helpful water vapor you create when bathing or cooking. Fans also remove heated air from your home.- Simmer a pan of water on the stove to increase the water vapor in your air. Use a timer to remind you to check the pan at specific intervals to avoid letting it go dry.
- Have plenty of house plants. Not only do they evaporate water, they also release oxygen as a result of photosynthesis. Placing the plants on trays filled with a layer of marbles or small stones and water keeps the roots out of the water but creates more humidity for both the plants and your home.
- Use portable or central humidifiers to reduce static electricity. The electricity can cause your electronics to malfunction or even break.
The last point is probably the best way to stop static shock and it’s also the healthiest for you and your home. Dry air promotes the spread of bacteria and viruses, and when the wooden products in your home get too dry, they may crack or sustain other damage.
Homes that don’t have forced-air heating are limited to humidifying with portable systems. However, if yours uses ductwork and a blower, a whole-house humidification system is the easiest, most effective way to increase the moisture in your air. These humidifiers operate independently, add measured amounts of humidity to your home, and make you feel warmer during the heating season. This allows you to lower the thermostat, which saves energy dollars.
If you’d like to learn more about managing static electricity, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve provided superior HVAC services for the Twin Cities 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 static electricity and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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