Avoid seasonal discomfort from air that’s too dry with a humidifier.

Have you noticed dry skin, nosebleeds, or a scratchy throat without any illness? The problem might be overly dry air in your home. To keep indoor air comfortable during the winter, humidity levels should be between 30% and 40%. And when you keep humidity at ideal levels, you may save on your heating bill because air with moisture is perceived as feeling warmer. The way to get extra moisture in the air is by using a humidifier. Here are two primary ways to add humidity to your home.

Room humidifiers: inexpensive and easily moveable

Room humidifiers range from small tabletop models to those that hold a gallon or more of water. Operation is often as simple as filling a tank with water and turning the device on. Once on, the humidifier creates a gentle mist that fills the air with moisture that provides relief from winter dryness. Most turn off automatically when the water runs out.

Room humidifiers are relatively inexpensive with many models available for less than $75. They also provide flexibility. For example, if you work from home, a lightweight humidifier can be easily moved to your work area during the day and to your bedroom at night.

If you choose a room humidifier, be sure to clean the unit regularly. Uncleaned humidifiers can harbor harmful mold and bacteria.

Central humidifiers: treat the whole home and easy to use

Another option is to add a central humidifier to your furnace. The water is supplied directly from a water line, and you never have to fill a tank. However, you’ll need to replace the filter periodically. The frequency of filter changes depends on the mineral content of your water and how much your HVAC runs.

Expect to pay $400-$800 for a central humidifier and installation. The key advantage to these systems are that you get the benefits of moisture in the air throughout the whole house whenever the furnace runs. Some homeowners tap into their home equity line of credit to finance a central humidifier.

 

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