HVAC Myth: Low Indoor Humidity Is Not a Problem in Georgia Homes
Comfort Zone • January 4, 2024

January 4, 2024

A dark grey industrial air filtration unit with two circular duct ports on the front panel and small leveling feet.

Most of the year, especially in the summer, North Georgia and Atlanta homes run the risk of indoor humidity that is too high. That’s why it’s so important to have an air conditioning system that is properly sized for your home. An AC system removes excess moisture, helping to achieve a comfortable humidity level.

It’s a different story during the heating season. Lower wintertime humidity coupled with indoor heating can result in indoor humidity that is too low. In other words, your HVAC system, in this case, actually contributes to an uncomfortable humidity level. This is especially true with forced-air heating systems, which are in a majority of homes.

How Overly Dry Indoor Air Affects Your Home and Overall Comfort

Dry, itchy skin is a telltale sign of low indoor humidity, and it can affect not just you and your family, but your pets as well. Additional problems caused by excessively dry air include:

  • Nasal and respiratory irritation, making you more susceptible to nose bleeds, stuffiness, coughing, and respiratory infections. It can also aggravate asthma and allergies in pets and people.
  • Heated air that does not feel as comfortable as it should. When humidity is too low, sweat evaporates faster and cools us down. As a result, many people raise the thermostat setting in an attempt to feel warm. This, however, just makes your home even dryer and more uncomfortable, while increasing your utility bill.
  • Damage to wood furniture and fixtures. Low humidity can cause wood to shrink or crack, loosen furniture joints, and even make pianos go out of tune.
  • Damage to leather goods. Just like wood, leather needs proper humidity to stay supple. Overly dry air makes leather upholstery, shoes, bags, and other articles of clothing prone to cracking and less resilient to normal wear and tear.

A Whole-House Humidifier  Tackles All These Problems

A whole-house humidifier , when installed correctly, integrates with your existing heating system to provide your home with the optimal level of moisture for comfort and health. You set the level of humidity you want on your thermostat’s humidistat, and your whole-house humidifier does the rest. There are different types of humidifiers, and the HVAC pros at Comfort Zone Heating Cooling Plumbing can help you make an informed decision about the best one for your home. Contact us today.

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