Proper Humidification Can Help You Avoid the Flu

Dry air in your Orlando home this winter will not only increase static electricity and possibly cause damage to wood floors, furniture and musical instruments, but it can also increase your chances for contracting the flu and other nasty viruses. Humidification in your home this winter is essential to your comfort and good health.

Viruses such as the flu are sent into the air through coughing and sneezing. The viruses are encased in droplets, which quickly evaporate in dry air, leaving the virus suspended in the air for a longer period of time. Because dry air also dries out the nasal passages, causes tiny cracks to develop and reduces the amount of protective mucous that’s produced, the exposed airborne virus has a better chance of entering your system and causing infection.

There are two options for humidifying your home:

• Portable humidifiers will provide humidification to small areas of your home, but they require frequent filling and cleaning. These units are heavy and noisy, and you’ll need several to keep your whole home humidified.
• Whole-house units, by contrast, are installed directly in your HVAC system and humidify your whole house. A humidistat allows you to set the level of humidity you prefer. The optimum range for humidity levels is 30 to 50 percent.

Whole-house humidifiers feature a plate filled with tiny holes. As water runs down the plate, heated air flows through the holes to be humidified before being sent to your rooms through your ductwork.

While whole-house humidifiers don’t require the constant maintenance of portable units, it’s a good idea to check your humidifier each month when you change your air filter to ensure there are no leaks, drips or large amounts of scale built up on your system. Annual maintenance on your humidifier will keep it operating efficiently during the dry season and can be performed at the same time as your yearly furnace tune-up.

For more expert advice about whole-house humidifiers, please feel free to contact us at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions. We’ve been providing comfort solutions and excellent customer service to Orlando area residents since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about Humidification and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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