For those who are sensitive to humidity changes as well as those growing older and no longer adapting to temperature changes as well, humidity levels in a home can be a challenge. Natural humidity is a product of the air and temperature outside, how much airflow is allowed inside a home, and what the current HVAC system allows. The use of an air conditioning system cools the home but dries out the moisture, and the heating system can do the same. As a result, people have a comfortable temperature zone but dried-out skin and other symptoms from low humidity. Home air systems like humidifiers and dehumidifiers are used to provide the “ideal” humidity level.
How the Tools Work
A humidifier is designed to inject moisture into the air that is blown into a room. It’s frequently used to balance out the dryness of heating during the winter. Alternatively, a dehumidifier does the opposite and pulls moisture out of the air.
Again, the idea is to achieve a balance with a tool versus replacing the home HVAC system outright. People frequently switch back and forth between one and the other depending on the time of year and extreme parts of the seasons, as well as needing help keeping allergies under control.
Factors Impacting Choice
Obviously, where one lives makes a big difference. Living in Florida, for example, one has excessive humidity, and a dehumidifier can help reduce it considerably.
On the other hand, arid locations like Arizona create a climate where homes can definitely benefit from humidifiers, restoring a more comfortable environment despite the outside literally being a Southwestern desert.
How one keeps their home with HVAC settings will also have an impact. Running the heater or AC all the time produces a constant flow of air void of moisture. That will bring humidity levels to their lowest, and that can be a problem with allergic triggers floating in the air, like pollen, or airborne viruses spreading like the flu or the cold.
While one can open their window, the amount of moisture restored depends on the humidity level outside. Additionally, the home temperature will change to match, causing things to be uncomfortable again.
Either way, the air moisture level affects health. People typically have sinus problems or nasal issues with dry air. Humid air can trigger problems for those with asthma. Again, finding the right balance with home air systems is the goal.
Choosing Between Air Change Tools
A whole house humidifier vs. dehumidifier choice again depends on what a person wants for an environment. Having a whole house system integrates the tool with the existing HVAC, which makes it easier to control the balance of the whole house versus going from room to room.
Alternatively, only using a local tool means that only that immediate room is affected. It also means having to move all the equipment to enjoy the same effect in another part of the home. While portable equipment might be immediately lower in cost, they also can’t perform as well and break quickly.
Dry Air Doesn’t Help Homes Either
Remember, most homes still have quite a bit of organic material in, wood primarily. Dry air pulls the remaining moisture out of these materials, which causes cracking. Even drywall will eventually realize similar effects, which cause cracking along the seams regardless of the tape.
No amount of paint will fill these gaps once they start. Leather furniture will take a toll as well, also losing its ability to flex and stretch. Higher humidity levels offset this effect, and a household humidifier controls the entire environment effectively.
If you regularly need to manage control of your home humidity levels throughout the year, it may very well be time to consider a home-wide system versus relying on small room-only units. It saves a lot of frustration and your entire home will be far more pleasant to live in as a result for years afterward.
