Do you get dry sinuses, bloody noses and cracked lips in winter — these problems are caused by dry indoor air and humidifiers are the best solution for these. A cool-mist humidifier also may help ease symptoms of a cold or other respiratory condition.

If you use a humidifier, make sure to check the humidity levels and keep your humidifier clean. Dirty humidifiers can breed mold or bacteria. If you have allergies or asthma, talk to your doctor before using a humidifier.

What are humidifiers?

Humidifiers are devices that release water vapour or steam to increase moisture levels in the air (humidity). They help in adding moisture in the dry air caused by heating systems like furnaces and heat pumps

Humidifiers can help in healing:

dry skin
sinus congestion
headache
nose irritation
bloody noses
dry cough
cracked lips

There are several types of humidifiers:

Central humidifiers. These are built into home heating and air conditioning systems. They are designed to humidify the whole house.

Ultrasonic humidifiers. These produce a cool mist with ultrasonic vibration.

Impeller humidifiers. These humidifiers produce a cool mist with a rotating disk.

Evaporators. Evaporators use a fan to blow air through a wet wick, filter or belt.

Steam vaporizers. Steam vaporizers use electricity to create steam that cools before leaving the machine. Avoid this type of humidifier if you have children. The hot water inside this type of humidifier may cause burns if spilled.

Ideal humidity levels

Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. Ideally, humidity in your home should be between 30% and 50%. Humidity that’s too low or too high can cause problems.

Low humidity can cause dry skin, irritate your nasal passages and throat, and make your eyes itchy.

High humidity can make your home feel stuffy and can cause condensation on walls, floors and other surfaces. Condensation can trigger the growth of harmful bacteria, dust mites and molds. These allergens can cause respiratory problems and trigger allergy and asthma flare-ups.

Contact Duct cleaning masters to install a humidifier or get more info.