Adults take around 23,000 breaths everyday. Do you know if the quality of the air you’re breathing is enough? As spring approaches, it’s a great time to assess your home’s indoor air quality. We will still have cool days in the future and colder air absorbs less moisture. This dry air is not only uncomfortable, but it can take a toll on your health and your home.
Low Humidity Ups Your Chances of Getting Sick
That you get a cold because of the colder weather outside is an old wives’ tale… but there is something to it. As we noted, cold air is drier and dry air can produce some health challenges. The mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses dry out when humidity is low, so they can’t do their function of sifting out germs. This enhances the possibility of your family getting a cold, the flu or another infection.
Dry Air Damages Your Skin
In the Magnolia winter, you might see that your skin seems dry and itchy. Absence of humidity is the problem. Lotion can be a solution to treat the symptoms, but an investment in a whole-home humidifier could fix the actual issue.
Damages to Your Home
The lack of moisture in your home’s air can also impact the wood around your home—baseboards, floors, furniture—because the air takes moisture from these items. You might even end up with cracks in the walls and floors.
Checking for Dry Air
Although itchy skin and a perpetual cold are signs that your indoor air may be dry, there are some other symptoms to watch for as well:
- A notable increase in static electricity
- Cracks in the flooring
- Spaces in your home’s trim and molding
- Cracking wallpaper
Each of these issues suggest that it’s possibly time to take a look at your indoor air quality. We can lend a hand! Contact our indoor air professionals at JTech Mechanical.