Is a lack of whole-house humidification causing problems for your household? Low humidity can cause uncomfortable health issues like dry sinuses, allergy flare-ups and itchy skin. Dry air also has a damaging effect on your home's structure and furnishings, causing cracked trim and floorboards, furniture that may fall apart as solvents dry, or cracks that emerge in protective coatings or the wood itself.

If dry air is a problem in your home, as it is for many homeowners here in the Greater Cincinnati area each winter, chances are that portable units don't help much. At most, these high-maintenance units provide temporary one-area relief, obliging you to buy and care for several expensive, energy-guzzling portable devices.

A better, more cost-effective, long-term solution that enhances comfort is to install whole-house humidification to boost indoor air quality. Compare the following facts when choosing a humidification strategy for your home.

Portable unit disadvantages

Tabletop portable or single-room models:

• Only have an effect on the air in a small area.
• Require that you buy separate devices for each room.
• Must be cleaned and maintained frequently. Otherwise, they can present a danger to your health when biological contaminants and mold grow in standing water.
• Are noisy and have an unattractive design that invades your home's living area.
• Use (and waste) more energy than a single, whole-house solution.

Whole-house solution advantages

These systems offer many advantages. They:

• Treat every room of your home as needed.
• Require little cleaning and maintenance; simply replace air filters every six months to two years, depending on the model and how often the system operates.
• Don't use mold-inducing standing water, and no buckets need to be kept clean or emptied out.
• Are located conveniently out of sight, away from living spaces, incorporated directly into your home's heating and cooling system.
• Work automatically when necessary.
• Operate silently.
• Provide maximum energy efficiency.

If you have questions about whole-house humidification in your home or would like more information about your options, talk to the experts at JonLe Heating & Cooling. We're happy to provide professional advice as well as installation services, repairs and maintenance for all of your home comfort needs.  

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