Shocked at home? Maybe you need a humidifer

Baby it’s cold outside. This is the time of year when cold temps turn to static electricity inside if a humidifier isn’t working correctly. It’s probably fun for the kids to “shock” each other, but for us adults, it means something is not quite right with our indoor air quality. Maybe you’re waking up in the morning with a dry throat and nose. That means it could be time for a humidifier.

I know… I know this sounds like a sales pitch. But here’s the reality, even doctors advise humidifiers for homeowners. The Mayo Clinic website says humidifiers can ease respiratory problems, including cold symptoms (and I won’t say that other C word). It’s actually low humidity in your house that causes dry everything… skin, lips, and noses. High humidity creates the opposite problem: Stuffy noses and condensation on the walls.

A properly set humidifier creates the right indoor air quality for a comfortable, great indoors when winter hits central Indiana. We partner with Honeywell and I’d encourage you to check out their website to learn more. And  here’s that information from the Mayo Clinic.

Here is a short tip-sheet for a home set at a comfortable 70 degrees:

• Outside temperature 20-40 degrees: Indoor humidity level should not exceed 40%.
• Outside temperature 10-20 degrees: Indoor humidity level should not exceed 30%. (Be mindful that a level under 30% can cause discomfort and the usual dryness symptoms. This is when a humidifier can come in handy.)
• Outside temperature 0-10 degrees: Indoor humidity level should remain at 30% or slightly lower.
• Outside temperature between -10 and 0 degrees: Indoor humidity level should not exceed 25%.