Adults take about 23,000 breaths each day. Are you sure if the quality of the air you are breathing is enough? As spring approaches, it’s an ideal occasion to assess your home’s indoor air quality. We will still have cool days in the future and colder air holds a decreased amount of moisture. This dry air is not only uncomfortable, but it can affect your health and your home.
Low Humidity Ups Your Chances of Getting Sick
That you attain a cold because cool temps outside is an old wives’ tale… but there is something to it. As we mentioned, cold air is drier and dry air can cause you some health challenges. The mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses dry out when humidity is low, so they’re not doing their task of sifting out germs. This increases your chances of your family getting sick with the flu, cold or a similar illness.
Dry Air Hurts Your Skin
In the Portland winter, you could notice your skin feels dry and itchy. Lack of humidity is the problem. Lotion can help to treat the symptoms, but investing in a whole-home humidifier could provide a remedy the actual culprit.
Damages to Your Home
The lack of moisture in your home’s air can also affect the wood around your home—baseboards, floors, furniture—because the air pulls moisture from these items. You might even see cracks in the walls and floors.
Checking for Dry Air
Although itchy skin and a perpetual cold are indications that your indoor air is too dry, there are some other symptoms to watch for as well:
- A notable increase in static electricity
- Cracks in your home’s flooring
- Gaps in your trim and molding
- Cracking wallpaper
All of these concerns suggest that it’s possibly time to assess your indoor air quality. We can offer our expertise! Reach out to our indoor air professionals at Three Rivers Heating & Cooling.