Winter humidity levels in Canada are very low. If you’re considering a new high-efficiency furnace, or you already have one, you have the opportunity to pair it with a whole-home humidifier that can restore your home’s humidity levels. This can make you more comfortable, reduce the maintenance you need to do in your home, and even save you money on your utility bills. Find out the benefits of whole-home humidifiers and the types you can choose from below.
Why Use a Humidifier on a High-Efficiency Furnace?
Unlike their smaller counterparts, whole-home humidifiers that work with your furnace will add humidity to your whole home. This has many benefits for your health and comfort, including:
- Feel hydrated: Do you suffer from dry skin, nose, throat, or eyes in the winter? A more humid home environment can relieve your dryness and help you feel more comfortable.
- Reduce symptoms: For those with skin or lung issues winter dryness isn’t just a matter of comfort. Having a more humid house can help alleviate these symptoms and make it easier to manage your condition.
- Feel warmer: Air that has more humidity in it can hold more heat. So, you can feel warmer in a more humid home.
- Reduce utility bills: If your home has more moisture then your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard to heat up your home, and therefore uses less energy.
- Reduce maintenance: Some items in your home, like hardwood flooring and other wood, may be damaged or may require more maintenance if they are in very low humidity. Wood tends to crack and dry out in humidity under 35%.
Which Whole-Home Humidifier Should I Choose?
Now that you’ve decided to get a whole-home humidifier, you have a new decision to make: what type? There are three main types that you can consider:
- Drum humidifiers: These humidifiers have an open tray, or drum, of water that creates humidity when it mixes with the air of the furnace. These require more maintenance thank other humidifier types and can cause mould issues if not well-maintained.
- Flow-through humidifiers: By trickling a stream of water through the warm furnace air, these humidifiers create humidity. These are a middle ground in terms of price and upkeep.
- Steam humidifiers: These humidifiers create humidity with steam or with a cool mist of water. They tend to use the most energy but are often also the most effective.
Which humidifier is right for you? The experts at Link Climate Care can help you decide which humidifier will work best with your furnace and with your specific home. Reach out to us today to discuss your whole-home humidifier options.
