Humidifiers, paired with fluffy blankets and cozy candles, are frequently the first items to be pulled from storage when the weather turns frigid and dry. But do they truly deserve to be seasonal favorites? Humidifiers can be beneficial for certain respiratory and skin issues, but they are not for everyone and must be used with caution.
A humidifier is a device that uses water vapor to increase the humidity levels in a space. Water is poured into the tank, the machine is turned on, and water vapor is allowed to exit the system.
Here’s a rundown of the top benefits of humidifiers, as well as how to choose the right one—and how to tell if you’re faring better without them.
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The optimal range of humidity for homes is 30-50%, which means that your air should contain 30-50% of the moisture that it can hold. A hygrometer, which is inexpensive and widely available, can be used to measure the humidity in your home. You have dry air if your humidity falls below this level.
Dry air is prevalent in the fall and winter when the weather is colder outside. Turning on your heater can further remove moisture from the air if your home is not well insulated. Using a humidifier at home can help restore humidity levels to this ideal range. They can be helpful for a variety of reasons, including:
1. Enhancing Comfort in Sleep for Some
Sleeping with a humidifier can lower your chances of waking up with an irritable throat, particularly if you breathe through your mouth at night. It will, however, may not improve your quality of sleep. According to studies on how humidity affects heavy snoring (1) and sleep apnea (2), higher humidity has no effect on the severity of either condition. Yet, if you wake up with a dry, irritating throat every time the weather changes, putting a humidifier near your bed is worth a try.
2. Improving Respiratory Comfort
If you already have trouble breathing, dry air may aggravate the situation. If you have a history of asthma or wheezing, dry and cold air could exacerbate your respiratory issues (3). According to the American Lung Association, dry air can irritate the airways of people with respiratory ailments such as COPD, causing wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. If you have an existing respiratory condition, you should be careful to keep your home’s humidity level between 30 and 50%; humidifiers can help you with this.
3. Natural Sinus Relief During the Common Cold
Insufficient humidity can dry out the mucus membranes in your nose and throat, which is exactly what you don’t want if you have sinus problems. When you have sinus pressure due to a cold or mild sinus infection, running a humidifier to add moisture to the air can help loosen mucus and unblock your airways (4). Humidifiers, on the other hand, can cause more harm than good if your sinus pressure is caused by allergies. But don’t fret! Keep reading as I make an alternative recommendation for relief.
4. Winter Skin Saviors: Enhancing Hydration Naturally
Skin irritation (5) is another bothersome side effect of dry air. A dry environment can harm the skin’s moisture barrier, causing itching, redness, and a dull appearance. Using a humidifier at home can help you maintain a healthy skin barrier even during the colder seasons.
5. Green Thumb’s Secret: How They Benefit Houseplants
Many popular houseplants, such as ferns and ficus plants, are native to tropical environments that are rarely as dry as our homes. They may prefer to be placed near a humidifier. Giving these plants a little extra humidity can keep their leaves looking vibrant all year.
My Top Picks
Levoit Ultrasonic Top-Fill Cool Mist 2-in-1 Humidifier Diffuser • Levoit • $59.95MistAire XL Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifer • Pure Enrichment • $69.97
Levoit VeSync Classic 300S Ultrasonic Smart Humidifier • Levoit • $79.99
Understanding the Risks and Potential Side Effects
While dry air is annoying, it is not harmful to your health. However, excessively moist air can be. If the humidity in your home rises above 50-60%, it can harbor dust mites and mold. These indoor contaminants can cause potentially dangerous allergic reactions. Humidifiers can aggravate allergies by increasing humidity too much, which encourages dust mites and mold. Mold is a living organism that requires two things to grow: a food source such as dust or organic materials such as insulation and drywall, and water.
If humidifiers are not properly maintained, they can also cause problems. Unfavorably the construction of many humidifiers makes cleaning the inside difficult. Wet humidifiers can become breeding grounds for mold and toxic spores if not properly cleaned. Filling your humidifier with unfiltered water can also release chemicals into your air that you don’t always want.
For these reasons, if you use a humidifier, make sure to fill it with filtered water, clean it regularly, and only use it when the air in your home is truly dry at less than 50% humidity.
More harmful than air that is too dry is air that is too humid. It is crucial to keep an eye on the use of your humidifier and to switch it off as soon as your humidity level returns to normal. It can lead to conditions that are more prone to mold and dust mites if you leave it running for an extended period. Additionally, you should clean your humidifier frequently, use filtered water in it, and only use it in rooms with hardwood floors.
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Who doesn’t need a humidifier?
Humidifiers should be avoided by people who are allergic to dust mites or mold. If this describes you, you may require a dehumidifier instead. If your home has carpeting, you should avoid humidifiers as well, because carpeting can trap humidity and promote dust mite growth.
A portable steam vaporizer could be a better choice if you sometimes get sinus problems or respiratory irritation in the winter but don’t want to spend money on a humidifier. A steam vaporizer’s soothing steam quickly relieves sinus, throat, and nasal congestion. Breathing may feel easier and mucus can be broken up by the targeted moisture.
To stop mold from growing, steam vaporizers still need to be kept dry and clean. You can also boil some water without covering it, take a shower with the door open, or spritz a spray bottle full of water around your house to slightly raise the humidity levels without the use of a machine.
To conclude, humidifiers provide moisture to dry air, which can relieve some respiratory symptoms, revitalize skin, and feed our favorite houseplants. They may, however, also cause indoor air to become overly humid, which can encourage the growth of mold and dust mites. Hope this clarifies your concerns so you can breathe easier using (or not using) a humidifier! If you find this post helpful, be sure to share with your family and friends!
Sources |
4. Indirect health effects of relative humidity in indoor environments. – PMC (nih.gov)
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