| Dr. Kestner: It’s not the heat; it’s the lack of humidity |
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By: BY DR. MARK KESTNER
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I ran into a lady at a hardware store last week looking at humidifiers. I struck up a conversation with her.
“My house is as dry as an old bone!” she complained. “My skin is cracked, I get shocked every time I touch the cat, and my husband snores like a freight train! Even my houseplants have all dried up.”
We talked for a few minutes before she purchased a room humidifier and left. It turns out that she and her husband had recently moved into a new house with forced air heat. Previously she had lived with radiant heat. They were very aggravated by the difference in comfort.
Here in Middle Tennessee we are frustrated by the outdoor humidity in the summer and dryness of heated indoor air in the winter. When air is heated, the relative humidity is lowered. During the winter months it is not uncommon for some homes to have a relative humidity of less than 20 percent. Indoor air is generally considered comfortable between 40-50 percent.
Extremely low humidity in homes and offices can make life very uncomfortable. Skin dries and cracks, throats itch and feel sore, eyes feel scratchy, nasal passages become irritated. Air that is too dry can cause numerous health issues. Infants, children, elderly and people with illnesses are all affected more than healthy individuals.
If heating your home has resulted in dry air to the point that the relative humidity is less than 35 percent, you probably will feel better if you use a humidifier. Testing the relative humidity is very easy, thanks to simple, inexpensive meters that are sold in hardware and some discount stores. Some meters show a combination of time, indoor and outdoor temperature, and relative humidity. Richard Schmidt at Haynes Hardware informed me that his store carries humidity meters and humidifiers.
There are several kinds of room humidifiers and capacities vary between types. The two main types are fan and ultrasonic humidifiers. The fan style uses a fan to blow either cool or warm air over the surface of the water to cause evaporation. The evaporation is what adds moisture to the air. Most high-quality fan types use a relatively quiet fan and some people appreciate the “white noise” created by the fan. Some fans are almost silent on the low setting.
The ultrasonic humidifier uses ultrasonic waves to create a visible vapor that is streamed into the air. Although the vapor looks like steam from boiling water, the mist is cool to the touch. The ultrasonic units are generally noiseless. Because of the hardness of our local water supply, all humidifiers will require the use of filters or chemicals to prevent mineral buildup. Choosing the right capacity humidifier to match the room size is important.
One limitation of using a room humidifier is that the air doesn’t stay in the room. If air is continually circulating through the home, the added humidity may be lost to the rest of the house. A single room humidifier will not have much impact if the humidified air is dispersed throughout the otherwise dry house.
Many area residents are choosing to add humidifiers that connect to the central heating system. These can be more expensive, but produce a much greater benefit by controlling the relative humidity of your entire home automatically. Another benefit is that the central units are connected to your water supply so you will never need to carry water from the sink to the unit. I spoke with Trey Alsup of Prentice Alsup Heating and Air Conditioning and learned that Honeywell is launching an exceptionally advanced unit this month. (You can’t buy the first one shipped; Trey is installing it in his own home!) Vic McCauley at Roscoe Brown Incorporated contacted me to let me know that they can evaluate your home to make a recommendation. Cost depends upon the size of your home.
Next week, I’ll tell you what really causes low back pain and why you may be at greater risk of disabling back problems than ever before. In the meantime start breathing easier by adding moisture to your home.
Dr. Mark Kestner
mkestner@DrKestner.com
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