Myth Buster: Everyday Activities Will Provide Enough Humidity for a 2,500+ -sq.-ft. Northern Virginia Home
I want to bust a myth … I have read and heard people say that homes “should” maintain normal humidity levels simply though every day activities – such as showering, cooking, washing clothes, etc. In a big house, 2,500 -sq.-ft. or larger, that is not possible.
In our service area of Northern Virginia, the average home size is 2,500 -sq.-ft. or more. There is no way your daily activity can keep your home humidity at appropriate levels during the winter months. If your humidity is below 30 percent, you could actually be causing harm to yourself and your home.
When Northern Virginia Whole-house Humidifier Installation is Most Important
Dry skin, chapped lips, dry nasal passages, and static electricity are just some of the dry-air symptoms that can lead to discomfort. But, installing a whole-house humidifier in your Northern Virginia home is vitally important when you have hardwood flooring, wood furnishings, paintings or artwork, musical instruments, or uncomfortable temperatures and high utility bills in the winter.
Increasing humidity might sound crazy, considering the negative attention mold and other moisture-related problems have been receiving lately. But, in Northern Virginia, we experience very dry conditions during winter because temperatures hover around 40 degrees for a sustained period. Even if outdoor humidity levels are high, forced-air heating systems dry out the air inside our Northern Virginia homes.
Humidifiers introduce moisture into your Northern Virginia home helping you reach the appropriate humidity level – between 30 to 50 percent. Installing a whole-house humidifier will encourage a more comfortable home during winter, reduce heating bills, and prevent damage to your hardwood floors, furniture and artwork.
The best option for adding humidity throughout your home is a central or whole-house humidifier – most will create enough moisture to serve a 4,500-sq.-ft. house. They connect directly to forced-air heating systems, so they take up no living space and create no additional noise. The only maintenance required is the annual or biannual replacement of the filter.
Most of our customers leave the installation and annual maintenance of the humidifier up to us. We typically do the humidifier maintenance when we do the Fall furnace maintenance.
If you are not convinced yet of the importance of a whole-house humidification system, I would suggest a thermal imaging scan of your Northern Virginia home. We partner with the areas most reputable energy auditing firms and would be happy to make a recommendation.
