The humidity in the Peoria, IL area can vary from day to day and throughout the year. This can impact your indoor humidity, along with things like cooking and bathing. When humidity levels in your home are too high or too low, this can cause issues like allergies and physical discomfort. Luckily, there are humidifiers and dehumidifiers that can help control indoor humidity.
Indoor Relative Humidity Levels
The relative humidity in your home should always remain between 35% and 50%. If you allow levels to rise, this can promote the growth of mold. High humidity can allow more particulate matter to be held in the air, leading to poor indoor air quality. It can also cause floors to warp. Low levels of humidity can result in irritation to your sinuses. Low humidity can also make your home feel colder than it is, resulting in running your HVAC system more frequently than is necessary.
Whole-House Dehumidifiers
You may be familiar with portable dehumidifiers. These units can be easily moved from one room of your home to another. However, they come with some disadvantages. For example, they have a reservoir tank that must be emptied periodically or the unit will shut down. Also, they don’t address all the air in your home at once. They control humidity in a very small area.
A whole-house dehumidifier can be used to remove moisture from the air that’s passing through your HVAC system. This equipment is installed right onto your ductwork or furnace. As air passes over refrigerated coils, moisture condenses into droplets. This moisture is removed through a drain line. You’ll need to inspect this drain line periodically to ensure it’s not clogged with debris or mineral deposits.
Whole-House Humidifiers
A whole-house humidifier is also installed onto your HVAC system. However, moisture is added back into the air that’s passing through your system and out into your living spaces. There are a few ways that this process occurs. A bypass humidifier uses warm air from your furnace along with a hydrated panel or pad. Air absorbs this moisture and circulates it out through your vents and registers. Some of these units use a fan to draw more air in, improving system efficiency and effectiveness. A steam humidifier boils water to create steam, which passes into the air circulating through your HVAC system and home.
If you often experience static electricity in your home, dry air may be to blame. You can reduce the prevalence of these shocks using a whole-house humidifier.
Maintenance of this equipment is minimal. You can have a professional inspect it during your yearly HVAC maintenance appointment. There may be filters to maintain as well.
Choosing the Right Unit
The first thing you should do is determine what humidity is like in different areas of your home. This can change from day to day, so it’s a good idea to have a way to monitor your relative humidity on an ongoing basis. Many smart thermostats are equipped with a hygrometer, making it easy to monitor indoor humidity wherever you are. A smart thermostat also makes it possible to easily control your humidity-controlling equipment.
Many homeowners choose to invest in both a whole-house humidifier and a whole-house dehumidifier. Because indoor humidity can change so frequently, it’s beneficial to have access to both units. If you can’t afford both, it’s ideal to keep indoor humidity below 50% to prevent mold and mildew, so investing in a whole-house dehumidifier would be a wise investment.
You should pay close attention to how your home feels during different seasons. It’s common for homes to experience dry air in the winter months when heating equipment is running frequently. This is also a time of the year when illnesses are common. Adding humidity to your air can help keep your sinuses and skin comfortable and make your home feel warmer. This minimizes HVAC runtime and protects your equipment. When the humid weather in summertime comes around, a whole-house dehumidifier can help keep your home comfortable and reduce the presence of allergens in your indoor air.
You can work with our HVAC team at Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in Peoria to learn more about whole-home dehumidifiers and humidifiers. We can help you determine what your indoor humidity level is and find ways to control it. Other options for improving indoor air quality are available, such as whole-home air filtration equipment. Contact Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. to schedule an appointment in Peoria today.
