How to Deal With Dry Air in Your Home During a Colorado Winter

If you’ve ever battled dry, itchy skin, cracked lips, or persistent coughs during a Colorado winter, you’re not alone. Due to its high elevation and semi-arid climate, Colorado ranks as one of the driest states in the U.S. Introduce freezing temperatures, long winter months, and a constantly running furnace, and you’ll only amplify the issue. Unfortunately, even your furnace, while essential for warmth, can make matters worse by stripping even more moisture from the air in your home.

At L&M HVAC, we understand that balancing heating efficiency and indoor comfort can be challenging for homeowners in Westminster and the Metro Denver area. The good news? There’s an easy solution. Installing a whole-house humidifier to your HVAC system can drastically improve indoor air quality, enhance comfort, and relieve dry air discomfort. This blog will explain how a humidifier can transform your home’s atmosphere and help you enjoy a cozier, healthier winter.

Dry Air: Its Impact on Health and Home

• Respiratory Problems
  Cold, dry air pulls moisture from your nose and mouth, drying your nasal passages, throat, and lungs. This can lead to nosebleeds, persistent coughs, and triggering conditions like asthma, allergies, and bronchitis.
• Poor Indoor Air Quality
  Low humidity mixed with Colorado's increasingly polluted environment contributes to dust and allergens circulating more freely, aggravating respiratory issues and allergies.
• Irritated Eyes, Dry Skin and Lips
  Insufficient moisture can dry out your eyes, leading to redness and discomfort. Similarly, dry air depletes skin moisture, causing cracked skin and chapped lips that worsen during the cold months.
• Home Damage
  Excessively dry air can damage furniture, flooring, and wooden doors by causing them to shrink, crack, or warp over time.
• Increased Levels of Static Electricity
  Low humidity levels boost static electricity, which can be annoying and potentially harmful to sensitive electronics.

How to Resolve Dry Air in Your Home

Adding moisture with a whole-house humidifier is the most effective solution for combating dry air. This system integrates seamlessly with your existing HVAC setup and can be installed quickly and efficiently. By maintaining optimal indoor humidity levels (30-50%), a whole-house humidifier enhances comfort, improves air quality, and protects your home from the adverse effects of dry air while reducing the strain on your heating system. This reliable, long-term solution ensures a healthier, more comfortable living environment year-round.

What is a Furnace Humidifier?

A whole-house furnace humidifier is an efficient, whole-home solution designed to add moisture to the air as part of your HVAC system. It connects directly to your furnace or ductwork and uses a water source to humidify the air passing through it. Once moisture is added, the air circulates back into your home as warm, humidified air.

What Are the Benefits of a Humidifier?

There are many benefits whole-house humidifiers present to Colorado homeowners:

1. Improves Health
   Maintains optimal indoor humidity levels, alleviating respiratory issues, preventing dry skin and eyes, and reducing the spread of allergens and irritants.
2. Regulates Humidity Levels
   This system regulates indoor humidity levels throughout your house, creating a more comfortable environment and reducing energy consumption.
3. Reduces Energy Bills
   Because humid air feels warmer, your heating system can operate at a lower temperature, leading to potential energy savings.
4. Requires Little Maintenance
   Unlike portable humidifiers, furnace humidifiers are low-maintenance, highly reliable, and provide consistent whole-home comfort.

How to Choose the Right Whole-House Humidifier for Your Home

Dry, cold air is at the top of our client’s minds, and we always recommend they look into a whole-house humidifier to combat the issue. Though there are many types of humidifiers on the market, there are a few essential things to consider:

• Type of Humidifier
  Various humidifiers are available, including steam, fan-powered, and bypass humidifiers. All serve their purpose, but which best meets your needs?
• Capacity
  Your humidifier should be the right size, matching the square footage of your home.
  
• Additional Features
  Consider other features that can improve your humidifier experience, such as its water vapor output, daily capacity (gallons/day), and the length of the unit’s warranty.
• Installation Requirements
  Determine if your HVAC system is compatible and if any modifications or additional equipment are needed.
• Warranties
  Extended service agreements and warranties can reduce the overall cost of your humidifier over time.
• Cost
  Find the best option for your homeland that is in your budget.
• Ease of Use
  Outside of health and home, humidifiers are meant to be convenient and easy to use.

Whole House Humidifier FAQs

Q: What is the average lifespan of a whole-house humidifier?

A: A quality whole-house humidifier should perform well for 8-15 years, depending on the type, brand, and maintenance record. Single-room humidifier units have a shorter lifespan of 1-5 years.

Q: How humid should my home be?

A: Every home is different, and every homeowner has different indoor air quality needs and preferences. However, the ideal indoor air humidity level is usually between 30% and 50%. Going above this range is not recommended, as it might encourage the spread of dust mites or mold.

Q: Do humidifiers need a lot of maintenance?

A: No. You can keep a humidifier running correctly and efficiently by replacing the water panel or tank once a year. Make sure to perform this maintenance before furnace season begins. If your humidifier malfunctions or stops working altogether, L&M HVAC offers emergency service.

Q: What kind of humidifier should I buy?

A: The most important factors to consider before purchasing a humidifier are the unit size and tank capacity. Make sure these specifications match your home's square footage.

Larger homes require a high-capacity humidifier, and because a steam humidifier can quickly produce a large amount of humidity, it often achieves a better balance. Smaller homes will do just fine with a more modest size and price model.

Q: How do I control a humidifier?

A: Most homes today have auto moisture control options via the primary thermostat. However, if your existing thermostat cannot control a humidifier, we can install one that can.

How L&M HVAC Can Help

The first step is trusting an experienced HVAC technician. At L&M HVAC, we survey your home, explain your options, and answer any questions you have. Though many brands and types of humidifiers are on the market, we exclusively offer Aprilaire humidifiers because Colorado homeowners deserve the best. Regardless of your HVAC system, AprilAire promises a high-quality solution that delivers balanced humidity to your home.

Colorado Homeowners: Stay Comfortable & Healthy This Winter

Whether you're just exploring humidifier options or looking to schedule an installation, it's essential to work with a trusted professional who can guide you through the process, offer realistic options, and, if necessary, install an upgrade tailored to your home's unique requirements. For all your furnace and humidifier needs this winter, contact L&M HVAC.