Do I need a humidifier?

A humidifier is one of those appliances that some people have, but isn’t a household staple. Unlike a fridge or a washing machine, you won’t find one in every home, which makes it hard to understand when you may need one. A humidifier is a simple device. It acts to keep the atmosphere in a room moist. So, if the room has a lot of dry air, then it will add moisture to the air and counteract any problems there may be from dry air. So, you need a humidifier if you have dry air in your home. But how do you even know you have dry air?

Firstly, the humidity levels in your home should be between 35% and 55%, with the ideal range being between 40% and 50%. You can actually buy a hygrometer, which is cheap and simple to use, to measure the humidity in your home. This is probably the most accurate way to work out if you have dry air or not. However, you can also recognize dry air in your home through a number of signs. Firstly, if you or your family are getting colds and flu often then this is a telltale sign of dry air. Another sign is if someone is getting a lot of nosebleeds in your home. This is a sign of dry air, and both nosebleeds and colds occurring will tend to be more common in the winter months. The final sign is static electricity. If you notice there is a lot in your home, then the air may be too dry. This is a problem, as too much static electricity can damage your appliances. You may also notice damage to wood in your home, as dry air tends to warp wood. These are all signs of dry air, which are all reasons for you to invest in a humidifier.

As well as dry air being a reason for a humidifier, there are other reasons that should also lead you to buy one. For example, if someone in your home has a dry skin condition, then having a humidifier could relieve symptoms of itching or burning and save them from a great deal of discomfort. If you have a furnace in your home, then you are also likely to need a humidifier. Furnaces pump out a lot of hot air into your home which is often dry and hard to breath, so a humidifier is a good idea.

Once you have made the decision to go for a humidifier, then you need to think about what type you may need. Some questions to ask yourself include how much space do you want to humidify, what type do you want (you can find cool mist humidifiers, as well as warm mist humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers all on the market), does it matter if it is noisy, and how much maintenance do you want to do. Once you’ve thought about these aspects, you will find buying the right humidifier easy.