The Problem with Dry Air

April 19, 2016

Adults take about 23,000 breaths a day. Are you sure if the quality of the air your family is breathing is good? As spring gets closer, it’s a perfect situation to evaluate your home’s indoor air quality. We will still have cool days ahead of us and colder air retains a lower amount of moisture. This dry air is not only uncomfortable, but it can take a toll on your health and your house.

Low Humidity Increases 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 said, cold air is drier and dry air can cause you some health problems. The mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses dry out when humidity is lower, so they can’t do their task of sifting out germs. This heightens the possibility of getting an illness.

Dry Air Damages Your Skin

In the Winnipeg winter, you may notice your skin seems dry and itchy. Shortage of humidity is the culprit. Lotion can help you treat the symptoms, but an investment in a whole-home humidifier could fix the actual culprit.

Damages to Your Home

The lower amounts 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 could even notice cracks in the walls and floors.

Checking for Dry Air

Even though itchy skin and a never-ending cold are signs that your indoor air may be dry, there are additional symptoms to watch for as well:

  • A notable increase in static electricity
  • Cracks in the flooring
  • Openings in your home’s trim and molding
  • Peeling wallpaper

Any of these problems indicate that it’s possibly time to take a look at your indoor air quality. We are here to help! Contact our indoor air professionals at Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning.