13 Signs That Show You Need A Humidifier

If you're one of the lucky few who won't fight the icy weather, you know the multitude of problems that come with winter. Snow, frigid temperatures, and gloomy days will make anyone want to cover up and crawl away before spring. 

But spending time indoors with a heat blast may have some adverse side effects. The culprit is dry air, which adds to a host of unpleasant signs that you haven't seen coming (including dry skin and nose bleeds, among others). If you note the following circumstances, it is a sign that you need a humidifier.

Morning or Nighttime Congestion

Waking up with congestion is one sign you may need a humidifier. Having congestion because of cold or other diseases is common, but that should not alarm you. And you could benefit from a humidifier if you usually wake up with congestion and have trouble breathing at night or sometimes feeling exhausted all day long.

Dry air from heaters or the outside atmosphere will dry out your nasal passages, which may be the reason behind your blockage. If you feel ill or have health complications, visit a doctor first and inquire if you need a humidifier for your condition. In case of asthma or other breathing complications, dry air will also make the condition worse.

Speak with the doctor if you need a humidifier to improve your situation.

Prolonged Colds

Over the winter, you feel many complications, including:

• A continuous sore, itchy throat
• A runny nose that prompts you to finish up all the boxes of tissue
• Dry eyes, which make you, feel exhausted from the sore throat and rushing nose.
• Low humidity proves to be the reason! Dry air penetration dries the mucous membrane, which lines the breathing tract. This shows that the defensive lining would not prevent cold viruses or other microbes. Consequently, you spend an entire season in your house feeling miserable and never 100% better.

If you realize you need more vitamin C or treatment for a cold, you may still need a humidifier. Having a humidifier will help ease those symptoms.

You'll feel much healthier—and happier—with much better air quality. Remember, humidifiers help with dry air-related symptoms, but if you think it's more than a cold, always check with a medical professional.

If Your Hygrometer Is Saying So

The hygrometer is an instrument used to determine the level of humidity in the atmosphere. That's how you figure out if your home fell within the 35–50 percent mark. This is an excellent first step, and you can purchase an affordable hygrometer at a hardware store.

Asthma or Associated Breathing Disorders

Dry air is the backbone of life for those individuals who have asthma or other respiratory disorders. They become irritated with severe coughing fits and other signs that make you desire to live in a warmer atmosphere than ever before.

A humidifier can be a massive help. With the right humidity level, the air in your home will become much more comfortable to breathe. And won't that be a delightful feeling!

Using Your Furnace Constantly

When it's cold, you put on a furnace. There's no way around that. But are you aware that the drier your atmosphere, the lesser the heat it holds? This implies that you need to use more heat to achieve your ideal winter temperature.

The more you heat your house, the drier your air gets, so the process continues. Break this loop by adding a humidifier to operate with your air conditioning system. The air will carry the heat more effectively, and you will have a lower rate of heating bills.

Wood Floors and Furniture Dry Out

It's not about people who experience the harmful effects of dry air. It will damage your hardwood flooring and furniture too. Cracks in the floor, moldings, furniture, and more result when moisture is leached out of building materials, causing them to crack, shrink, warp, and weaken.

A whole-house humidifier can protect the furnishings and structure of your home, adding essential moisture to the air to keep wood pliable. Dry air will pull any available water it can from wood. This causes cracks and gaps in your flooring and could warp and crack your wooden furniture.

If your home had wooden floors or an enormous amount of wood-based furnishings, a humidifier is an excellent investment towards protecting your home. Most manufacturers of hardwood flooring require you to install a humidifier to qualify for a warranty.

Static Electricity Shocks

Static electricity is a standard indicator of an uncomfortably dry home environment. Plus, low humidity in the air can increase static electricity, which you'll feel in your clothes, hair, furniture, and carpeting. Although static shock could be a mild inconvenience in the winter months, it may be a sign of a severe and more dangerous issue in your house.

Reason that you need a humidifier

You can prevent germs or mold growing by keeping your house moist with a humidifier. While most of us don't own one, the signs that show you need one are much clearer than ever before.

1) Regularly clean out your humidifier.

Even if you are using distilled water and keeping the tank full, germs can still grow in it. The more often you clean out your humidifier, the better insulated it will be against odor-causing bacteria and mold. Be sure to dispose of any remaining water when you are done cleaning yours out to prevent recontamination.

2) Use distilled water in your humidifier.

You should always use distilled/RO or conditioner water (water with no minerals and metals added) when you clean out your humidifier.

3) Keep the tank full.

Unless you are continuously adding water to the tank, you should never let it get empty. Otherwise, bacteria and mold will grow in it and cause a musty odor that will permeate your home.

4) Clean it out once a week.

Just like you would with your kitchen sink, you should clean out your humidifier once a week. On this day, empty the tank and boil it to kill any bacteria or mold that may have accumulated in it during its use. Then fill up the tank with RO or distilled water and let it run for one or two minutes to rinse any remaining germs and residues out of the tank. Let the water drain back into the bathtub or sink as usual.

5) Clean it out once a month.

While you should clean your humidifier once a week, you should also clean it out every month. During this time, you should open up the tank and scrub off any deposits that may have built up inside of it to let fresh air circulate in so that mold and bacteria cannot grow in them again. Then, empty the tank and fill it with RO or distilled water as well as add some household bleach to kill any germs and mold spores that may have grown in there during the month.

6) Treat the water that you put in your humidifier.

Chlorine-based chemicals (and similar chemicals) are added to tap water to prevent bacteria and mold from growing in it. Unfortunately, these chemicals can also kill your helpful bacteria and leave an unpleasant residue behind in your tank. To prevent this from happening, you should use bottled water or conditioner water (water with mild additives to soften the water).

7) Use it regularly.

If you have your humidifier set up in your home, you should regularly use it to prevent mold and bacteria from growing in it. Be sure to use distilled water as well as clean out your humidifier regularly to prevent contaminated water from spreading around.

8) Be sure to change filters regularly.

If you buy a new humidifier, be sure to change your filters regularly. Otherwise, they will grow mold in them and make your home smell musty or mildewed. Changing the filter at least once a month is recommended as well as cleaning out the tank more often.

9) Keep it away from sinks or tubs.

Because the tank is not completely enclosed, it can get wet. As such, you should keep it away from sinks and tubs to prevent water from leaking and mildew or mold from growing in your humidifier.

10) Set it up properly.

You should also set up your humidifier correctly to prevent leaks and other problems. A humidifier should be set up in a cool place so that it does not get damaged by heat. If you put it in direct sunlight, the tank can overheat and crack, which would let mold grow inside of it.

11) Keep lids on your tank tightly sealed when not in use.

Otherwise, leaks can occur when the humidifier is running because water will evaporate and drip down onto your floor or furniture.

12) Know what your filters are made of.

Filters can get damaged or become clogged over time. If you have a new filter, be sure to clean it and replace it regularly so that you do not get an odor.

13) Clean switches and buttons.

Make sure that they are also not corroded or otherwise covered in mold as this can cause them to be sticky and/or affect their functionality. If they do become worn out, be sure to replace them so that the humidifier can continue working properly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, following these simple rules will not only protect your health and the health of those around you, but they will also lower your energy bills and improve your home's air quality. If you are currently experiencing any of the aforementioned problems with your humidifier, follow a few simple steps to fix it.