Should I Use a Humidifier in Winter Months?

Plain & Simple: Your Home Needs A Humidifier In Winter Months

You know the feeling. Imagine the dead of winter, when your skin is dry & itchy, it seems like you have an ongoing scratchy throat, and all of your house plants seem to be dying left and right. Believe it or not, it’s no coincidence — it’s the extremely dry air in your home or apartment. Luckily, there’s an extremely effective fix to that dry air in your home: using a humidifier in winter.

So, what does it do exactly… and why should you use a humidifier in winter months? Well, let’s get down to it.

What Does Using A Humidifier In Winter Months Do?

Humidifiers are used to add moisture to the air inside your home during dry winter months. According to the EPA, your home humidity levels should be between 30-50% — with more people leaning towards right around 40% as the most comfortable humidity level. Without a humidifier, levels can drop down to 10% in the winter months as your heater or furnace pumps out extremely dry air.

Helps Moisturize Your Skin And Lips

It’s no secret that dry air wreaks havoc on your skin and lips. When the humidity levels in your home drop down to 20-30%, your skin starts to feel itchy, tight, and may even start to get chapped and flaky. No one wants that. By adding a humidifier in winter months to your home, you can avoid all the gross and uncomfortable problems that come along with dry skin.

Eases The Symptoms Of Illness

When cold & flu season strikes, dry air is one of your worst enemies. Using a humidifier during winter months when you’re feeling under the weather allows you to be more comfortable, help you have a more productive cough, and also allow you to get some much-needed rest. And with all of the above, you might even speed up your overall recovery time.

Using a humidifier in winter will also help with your overall throat & sinus health. Low humidity is notorious for drying out your throat and sinuses. A dry & scratchy throat, nose bleeds, and headaches — no one wants any of that during the winter. Maintaining good levels of humidity in your home might just do the trick and keep all those symptoms at bay.

Helps Assist In Warming Your Home

Straight to the point: the more moisture in the air, the warmer it will feel. Think about the dead of summer when the humidity is through the roof…the air feels so much hotter than the actual temperature outside. Well, your home is no different! If you keep a humidifier running during dry winter months, you can help your home maintain a comfortable temperature level without the additional strain on your heating system.

Helps Your Houseplants!

Humans and pets aren’t the only ones that benefit from comfortable, moist air. You have to think about your houseplants, too! Using a humidifier in winter months (if you have a house or apartment full of plants) is an absolute must. Most houseplants come from the jungle — where they are naturally thriving in humid conditions — so, it’s no good when winter hits. You’ll notice your favorite plants dropping leaves or starting to look unwell if the air is too dry. 

Long Story Short: Using A Humidifier In Winter Months Is Essential

Now, more than ever, we are spending a tremendous amount of time at home, and with the winter months rolling in — you absolutely need a humidifier to keep your home comfortable. As far as what kind of humidifier is right for you — there are many different types of humidifiers. Check out our guide 8 Best Small Humidifiers For Your Home for everything you need to know to make an informed decision on your humidifier purchase.