Adults take around 23,000 breaths each day. Are you sure if the quality of the air your family is breathing is enough? As spring approaches, it’s a perfect time to review your home’s indoor air quality. We still have a lot of cool days ahead of us and colder air absorbs less moisture. This dry air is not only uncomfortable, but it can impact your health and your home.
Low Humidity Heightens Your Chances of Getting Sick
That you catch a cold because of the colder weather outside is an old wives’ tale… but there is something to it. As we said, cold air is drier and dry air can cause you some health issues. The mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses dry out when humidity is decreased, so they are unable to do their job of filtering out germs. This increases the chances of coming down with an illness.
Dry Air Damages Your Skin
In the Des Moines winter, you might find your skin seems dry and itchy. Shortage of humidity is the issue. Lotion can be a solution to treat the symptoms, but investing in a whole-home humidifier could fix the actual culprit.
Damages to Your Home
The lower amounts of moisture in your home’s air can also impact the wood around your home—baseboards, floors, furniture—because the air takes moisture from these items. You might even notice cracks in the walls and floors.
Checking for Dry Air
While itchy skin and a perpetual cold are signs that your indoor air may be dry, there are some other symptoms to keep an eye out for as well:
- A notable increase in static electricity
- Cracks in your flooring
- Spaces in your trim and molding
- Loosening wallpaper
All of these concerns indicate that it’s likely time to review your indoor air quality. We’re happy to help! Reach out to our indoor air professionals at Heartland Heating & Cooling.