As the temperature drops, your heating system becomes your best friend. But while that warm air keeps you cozy, it also comes with a hidden downside: it acts like a sponge, soaking up every bit of moisture in your house.
A dry home in the winter isn’t just uncomfortable; it can lead to itchy skin, a nagging cough, and even damage to your furniture.
Here is everything you need to know about why your home feels like a desert and what you can do to fix it.
How Do I Know That My Air is Too Dry in the Winter?
- The “Static Shock”: Getting zapped every time you touch a doorknob.
- Physical Discomfort: Dry, flaky skin, scratchy throats, and tired eyes.
- Home Damage: Gaps appearing in hardwood floors or cracks in wooden furniture.
- Wilting Plants: Even your indoor greenery starts to look parched.
The Ultimate Solution: Whole-Home Humidifiers
While portable humidifiers are great for a single bedroom, they often struggle to keep up with a central heating system. This is where a whole-home humidifier changes the game.
Installed directly into your HVAC system, these units add moisture to the air as it circulates through your ducts.
- Consistent Comfort: You don’t have to carry water tanks from room to room.
- Health Benefits: Moist air keeps nasal passages hydrated, which can help your body naturally ward off winter colds.
- Protection: It keeps your wood floors and musical instruments from warping or cracking.
Pro Tip: If you already have a humidifier, remember to change the water panel (filter) at the start of every season to prevent mold and bacteria buildup!
Natural Ways to Boost Humidity
You don’t always need a gadget to see an improvement. You can supplement your HVAC system with these simple lifestyle tweaks:
- The Power of Plants: Houseplants like Spider Plants, Peace Lilies, and Boston Ferns release moisture through a process called transpiration. They act as natural, living humidifiers!
- Stovetop Simmering: Boiling a pot of water (or a fragrant “simmer pot” with cinnamon and orange peels) adds immediate moisture to the kitchen and living areas.
- Bowls of Water: Placing a ceramic bowl of water near (but not directly on) your floor vents can help boost local humidity through evaporation.
HVAC Tips to Minimize Dryness
How you run your system matters just as much as how you add moisture. To keep your air from becoming “parched,” try these adjustments:
- Lower the Temp: Cranking the heat to 75°F dries the air much faster than keeping it at a steady 68°F. Wear a cozy sweater and let your skin breathe!
- Seal the Leaks: Use weatherstripping to stop dry, cold air from leaking in. The less the furnace has to run, the more moisture stays in your home.
- Check Your Filters: A clogged filter makes your furnace run longer and hotter, which exacerbates dryness. Change your filters every 30–90 days.
Breathe Easier This Winter
Living in a dry home doesn’t have to be your seasonal norm. By combining professional HVAC solutions like a whole-home humidifier with simple habits like keeping indoor plants, you can enjoy a cozy, comfortable, and hydrated home all season long.
Is your home feeling a little too dry lately?
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Team Harding has been Ottawa’s leading home comfort specialist since 1994. We are a family-owned and operated local business and all of our installers and technicians are fully licensed.
