Humidifiers benefit your home and your health

(NC)—Maintaining proper indoor air quality for comfort and well-being is especially important in cold, winter months when we spend a lot of time indoors.

Dry, cold air combined with the furnace running can reduce the amount of moisture in the home. Purchasing a humidifier is one of the best things a homeowner can do to maintain proper moisture levels. Some houses are equipped with humidifiers integrated into their overall HVAC systems, while in other instances a portable unit can be extremely effective.

Here are some of the ways a humidifier can be good for your health and your home, courtesy of Dave Walton, a resident expert at Direct Energy:

• A humidifier can help the body's immune system guard against irritants, keeping your family healthy. Dry air can cause many illnesses and respiratory conditions. This includes dry nasal passages leading to nosebleeds and snoring, chapped and itchy skin, and symptoms of both asthma and allergies.

• Proper moisture levels can combat muscle and joint pain and a lack of concentration, all of which can result from dehydration.

• When the air is dry, static electricity is often the cause of frizzy hair, static cling and the shocks when touching a doorknob. Increasing the home's humidity level will help reduce these nuisances.

• Dry air can also wreak havoc on your home itself. Maintaining proper humidity can prevent your hardwood floors, wood molding and furniture from shrinking and cracking and also prevent the wallpaper from peeling.

• One of the biggest benefits of proper humidification in the home is a financial one. Using a humidifier allows you to turn the thermostat down one or two degrees while still maintaining a comfortable feeling, thus lowering your heating bills. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air and so the home's temperature can be lower, but still feel comfortable.

More information is available online at www.directenergy.com.

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