We get our fair share of hot, humid months during the monsoon season. But for much of the year, New Mexico residents deal with dry weather that makes it difficult to stay comfortable. Levels of humidity–high or low–have a major effect on how comfortable we feel, no matter how well we set the temperature on the thermostat.
Sometimes, you need a little extra help getting your home to feel comfortable. That’s where our technicians come in. Don’t deal with the impact of low humidity levels on your home and family. Get a whole-house humidifier that may help improve your health and comfort. Learn more in the guide below.
What’s a Comfortable Humidity Level
“Relative humidity” refers to the percentage of moisture the air is holding. On a day when the relative humidity is 40% and temperatures outside are bearable, you can expect to feel fairly comfortable. When the relative humidity is 100%, it’s probably raining, since the air is holding all of the moisture it can.
Anything higher than 50% can be rather uncomfortable, particularly in the summertime when high humidity makes you feel warmer. And anything lower than 30% is just as uncomfortable, but for very different reasons.
Common Problems Associated with Dry Air
Dry air makes you feel a bit colder in the wintertime. People often turn up the heater when the air is dry in the winter, but this isn’t necessarily helpful. It could actually make the problem worse. Dry air causes a number of common problems:
- Chapped Lips and Dry Skin – This is perhaps the most noticeable effect. You buy lots of lotions and lip balms, but nothing seems to resolve the issue permanently.
- Health Issues – When the air is dry, so are your sinuses. And dried mucus membranes make it more difficult for your body to recover from an illness. In addition, certain contaminants thrive in dry conditions.
- Dried Furniture and Flooring – Furniture and flooring may crack slowly over time.
Short-Term Solutions Don’t Always Do the Trick
There are some steps many homeowners take in an attempt to add some humidity to the home. Portable humidifiers may make a small space feel a bit more comfortable, but that doesn’t make the home as relaxing as it should be. We’ve heard of some clever tricks for adding a bit of humidity hear and there:
- Opening up the dishwasher instead of running the dry cycle.
- Hanging wet clothes on a clothes line or rack in the house.
- Opening the door of the bathroom after a shower.
But the best long-term solution is a whole-house humidifier.
Whole-House Humidification Offers Relief
Whole-house humidifiers work with your HVAC equipment to provide a level of comfort you won’t get from the heater alone. As the heater runs, so does the humidifier, adding just enough water vapor to the air to keep it at a comfortable level.
You will need to maintain your humidifier and take some steps to get it started up before you need it. But people with whole-house humidifiers are quite grateful when the dry weather starts to roll around.
Don’t waste your time on the runaround! Call Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. and get the job done right the first time. Contact us to learn more about humidifiers in Aztec, NM.