Living in Kansas City is exceptional. The people are friendly, the amenities are rich in culture and events, and the seasons are wonderful: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Plus, The Chiefs! People often talk about the weather in Kansas City; when they talk about it, the word ‘humidity’ is usually part of the conversation. There is either too much humidity (for your taste) in the summer or not enough humidity in the winter. Fall and spring are humidity favorites as it feels as though the moisture is perfectly balanced with the temperature.
There are three ways to restore humidity to your home in winter.
Low-tech Humidity
Leave a water bowl next to your heating element (radiator or other heating system). After washing your clothes and towels, dry them in the house. Although leaving wet items out to dry may not be as effective as other methods, if your home or apartment has smaller square footage, this can be a help. Large houseplants that don’t require a lot of humidity to thrive also help put moisture into the air (make sure you water and mist them regularly). Taking a shower and leaving the door open adds humidity to your house. Keeping your thermostat at a comfortable level (and not too hot) also keeps humidity in the air. Staying away from microwave cooking and using your stove preserves humidity in the air.
Portable Humidifier
Portable humidifiers can be used in any room that needs more humidity. Sizes range from desktop models to models that can humidify 1-2 rooms up to several rooms at a time, depending on your chosen power and size. Moving a humidifier to a bedroom at night or the family room during the day is an advantage of a portable humidifier. Did you know you can purchase a whole-house humidifier for much less than a portable humidifier? This is something to remember if you are serious about humidifying your home. This is probably not the best option for renting an apartment or a house.
Installed Home Humidifier
This is by far the best option between a portable or installed model. An installed humidifier works directly with your furnace systems, utilizing the blower system on your furnace. Check out your options before you buy. Some have features that you may prefer. The best feature about the installed home humidifier is that it requires little to no maintenance and humidifies your home.
EPA concerns about humidifiers
Excessive moisture from cool mist humidifiers can encourage the growth of biological organisms, such as dust mites, in your house. These microscopic animals can cause allergic reactions to dust and molds. These organisms can also live in humidifiers’ water tanks and be forced into the air during operation. Proper care and cleaning of portable humidifiers can help prevent this. If your water has a high mineral content, this can be exasperated.
The EPA has advised that the very young, the very old, and people with lung disease or respiratory allergies may suffer more from these pollutants in the air. Evaporative and steam humidifiers equipped with a tank for standing water tend to produce fewer airborne pollutants than ultrasonic or cool-mist humidifier systems.
Outdoor winter scenes can be beautiful, but due to a lack of humidity, indoor scenes can look a little bleak: dry skin and hands, static electricity in your hair, cracking furniture, wood floors, wall paint, and peeling wallpaper. Investigate your options for installing a home humidifier this winter. At Concrete Raising Systems, we want you to take care of the inside of your home and your concrete driveway, sidewalk, and patios!