Itchy, dry skin can drive you nuts in the winter. No matter how much hand lotion you put on, your skin still cracks and flakes. You’ve heard that a whole-house humidifier could help with your skin issues, but is it worth it? Chesterfield Service has a list of pros and cons of installing a whole-house humidifier, so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth it.
Whole House Humidifier Pros
You may be surprised at the number of ways a whole-house humidifier can make your home more comfortable. However, the advantages of one of these indoor air quality systems don’t stop at comfortability.
Saves on Energy
A whole-house humidifier works by increasing the humidity levels in your home by adding moisture to the air. Just like in the summer, when the more humid it is outside, the hotter the temperature feels. When the inside of your home is more humid, you won’t want to turn the temperature up as high. Turning the temperature down on your thermostat can make a bigger difference than you think.
In fact, homeowners with whole-house humidifiers save about 18% per year. According to the EPA, consumers who have humidifiers save 3.4 terawatts of electricity usage as well throughout the lifetime of the unit.
Adds Value To Your Home
Thinking of selling your home soon? Whole house humidifiers are actually a valuable upgrade to your HVAC system and can make your home more desirable.
Improves Indoor Air Quality
When the air in your home is dry, it can make it easier for airborne contaminants to travel through the air and make it easier for your family to catch each other’s colds. Dry air also causes chapped lips, itchy skin, and aggravated sinuses, making allergy symptoms even worse. With moisture-rich air, your sinuses will be much more comfortable causing you to sneeze and snore less. A house that invests in a whole-house humidifier is often a healthier house.
Protects Home Furnishings
Low humidity levels don’t just cause damage to your skin, but can also damage wood floors and furniture as well. Keeping your humidity levels in check can help maintain the quality of your home’s furnishings.
Low Maintenance
Whole house humidifiers don’t need much maintenance either. It is generally recommended to replace the evaporator panel filter once a year to prevent mold and mildew growth. When you have your annual furnace inspection done by Chesterfield Service, we’ll inspect and clean your whole-house humidifier as part of our service.
Whole House Humidifier Cons
However, there are some downsides to whole house humidifiers that you should be aware of if you’re considering investing in one.
High Upfront Cost
The size of the humidifier that you need to provide moisture to your entire home depends on how big your home is. The larger your home, the bigger the humidifier you’ll need. Whole-house humidifiers cost more than portable humidifiers but are well worth it due to lower maintenance and effectiveness. However, having a whole-house humidifier installed tends to come with high upfront costs.
Needs to be Connected to a Water Line
Along with paying for installation, you will also need to have a water line run to your humidifier. An experienced HVAC system technician will be able to tell you if your furnace is located near the main water line to make this possible. However, a whole-house humidifier does not consume much water. Humidifiers use between 1.5 to 12 gallons of water per day which is not enough to notice a difference in your water bill.
Possible Mold and Mildew
If you do not keep up with your humidifier maintenance, your evaporator panel filter could fill with mold and mildew. Mold and mildew feed on dust and the dust that comes into the furnace can help promote growth faster. Stay on top of maintenance to ensure that your central home humidifier is still providing improved indoor air quality within your home.
Pay Attention to Your Home’s Humidity Levels
It’s not a good idea to leave your whole house humidifier on all year long. Once temperatures begin to rise in the spring, you’ll want to turn off your humidifier to prevent excess moisture from causing damage to your home. Many home thermostats can control the humidifier or they can monitor your home’s humidity levels so you know when to turn it off for the season.
Hides HVAC Air Leaks
Sometimes the low humidity in your home isn’t caused by dry winter air but instead caused by undiscovered leaks air duct leaks. Sometimes a home with a whole-house humidifier is hiding HVAC air leaks to compensate for the indoor humidity issues. If you are interested in buying a home that comes with a whole-house humidifier, make sure to have the air ducts inspected and the insulation in the attic checked as well.
Talk to Chesterfield Service to Have a Whole House Humidifier Installed in Your Home
Bottom line, we recommend whole house humidifiers for our Chesterfield Service customers. They improve the air quality in your home, which comes with many great health benefits, and can help you save money on heating costs. If you’re interested in having a whole-house humidifier installed in your home, contact Chesterfield Service today to schedule an appointment.