Most Gurnee, IL, homeowners consider humidity a potential health risk only in the summer when moisture levels are high. But did you know that low relative humidity in the winter can be just as bad for your health? Ideal indoor moisture content should be somewhere between 35 and 60 percent. If moisture levels are too high or too low, you’re likely to have poor indoor air quality.
Symptoms Of An Overly Dry House
For Illinois residents, cold temperatures outside and hot furnaces inside spell dry indoor air. Do you often wake up feeling thirsty or coughing? Studies indicate that dry indoor air can cause itchy, flaky, scaly skin, flyaway hair, bloody noses, respiratory problems, fatigue, muscle cramps, sinus irritation, sinus infections, dry throat, nasal congestion, static shocks, clingy clothing and itchy eyes. Chronic indoor dryness can actually damage your respiratory tract which, in turn, makes you more susceptible to colds and flu. A dry indoor environment can also cause bad hair days. It can even give you wrinkles because, in a dry environment, moisture is continuously being drawn out of your skin.
Quick Fixes For Dry Environments
Fortunately, dry indoor air is an easy fix:
- Get a hygrometer and monitor your indoor moisture levels. You can pick up this handy and inexpensive gadget at any hardware store.
- Consider a humidifier. Humidifiers come in all shapes and sizes. Just be sure to monitor your indoor air for moisture content. Overly-moist air can be just as unhealthy as dry air.
- Have your ductwork checked. Air ducts get dusty over time. When your furnace kicks in, out comes the dust. Having your ductwork cleaned periodically can prevent dust buildup inside the air ducts, thereby reducing dust in your home.
To learn more about how the right humidifier can restore vital moisture to dry indoor air in your Gurnee, IL, home, check out Herchenbach Mechanical Inc.‘s dry indoor air solutions or call (847) 260-9335.
