The winters in South Bend, Indiana, are difficult.
Temperatures in the teens require a powerful heat system.
The furnace in my home blasts at maximum capacity just about twenty-four hours a day for approximately eight months. The air becomes especially dry. When there is insufficient humidity, the air tends to feel colder. This leads to higher thermostat settings, a larger demand on the furnace and higher energy bills. Plus, it worsens the problem. The air can become so dry that it causes hardwood floors, doors, moldings and furnishing to crack. The dry air dries out nasal passages, making family members more susceptible to colds, flu and respiratory infection. Coughing, sneezing, headaches, bloody noses, difficulty sleepy and irritated symptoms of asthma, allergies, psoriasis and eczema are some of the consequences. I tried portable humidifiers and noticed no improvement. I finally consulted with a local HVAC contractor from South Bend to get some recommendations. The technician suggested the installation of a whole-home humidifier. I researched and learned that there are three different types of humidifiers. There are steam-style, bypass and fan-style humidifiers that accommodate different sizes of homes and work either in tandem with or independently from the heating system. I decided on a steam-style humidifier because it produces moisture very naturally. It uses electrodes to convert water into steam and introduce it into the heated air. The humidifier runs virtually silently and requires only annual maintenance. It makes an improvement throughout every room in the house, elevating comfort and indoor air quality. Because I’ve been able to lower the thermostat setting a bit, the savings on the energy bills have recovered the cost of the humidifier.