What you may think of as a well-worn cliché actually has some important truth behind it. Controlling humidity can not only affect how comfortable you feel, it can actually save you money on your monthly energy bills.
Just add water
Our bodies feel heat as a combination of temperature and humidity. In other words, the more humid the air, the warmer it feels. So if you add humidity to dry, heated air in the winter with a Carrier humidifier, you can set your thermostat lower and still be comfortable while you save money on your utility bills.
A humidifier can make you more comfortable in other ways during winter months,
too. Added moisture helps prevent dry, cracked skin and makes it easier to
breathe. It can even make you less susceptible to sore throats and winter
colds.
No more cracking up
Even your home and furnishings benefit from adding moisture. In dry winter air, woodwork and fine wood furniture can splinter and crack and carpet and upholstery are more vulnerable to wear.
The wood in the framing around your doors and windows can also shrink. That can break the weathertight seal in your home and let heated or cooled air out so you have to use more energy just to stay comfortable.
More shocking news
Dry air can also increase the static electricity in your home. Its not only annoying, it can damage computer disks and other equipment that uses magnetic technology. You can eliminate most of the static electricity in your home with proper humidity control.
Summertime blues
Because humidity makes you feel warmer, it turns into the villain during summer months. In fact, humidity can make sweltering summer days downright miserable. So keeping humidity levels down in the summer is as important as keeping them up in the winter. When the humidity in your home is low, youll be able to keep the temperature higher and still feel comfortable.
The solution for summertime blues is simple. A central air conditioner thats sized properly for your home will take care of excess humidity and keep you cool, dry and comfortable.
Heres a tip for even greater comfort: Youll make your air conditioners job easier if you control the amount of humidity you create inside your home. The most common sources are kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms. Use an exhaust system to move moist air from those areas outside.
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