Humidifier plus Air Purification - The Perfect Match

As an asthma and allergy sufferer, and as a parent, the quality of the air around me was constantly on my mind.I would follow the news reports of pollen counts, local area inversions, and other factors that affect the quality of the air outside.I made sure we stayed indoors when the air was particularly harmful for our health.

Unless I could smell strong odors while indoors, I didn't stop to think about the quality of the air that we were breathing right in our own home.It was only after my father-in-law, a long-time HVAC technician, sat down and gave us a quick "Clean Air 101" lesson that my eyes were opened to just how harmful the air inside our homes can be.He introduced to us the benefits of using a humidifier plus air purification system to restore comfortable, clean air for myself and my family.

A humidifier can be used to add much needed moisture to the air indoors during cold winter months when we are heating the air in our homes.In spite of the humidity level of the air outdoors, when that same air is pulled into a building and heated to a comfortable temperature the moisture that was in that air evaporates, leaving the air indoors dryer than the Sahara Desert.

This dryness can aggravate a number of skin and respiratory conditions: eczema flares up; normally soft skin becomes dry and itchy; lungs become irritated; asthma and allergy symptoms worsen; even sleep becomes less restful.The use of a humidifier, either as a furnace-mount model or a portable unit, can help combat the ill effects of dry air.

When using a humidifier, be certain that you have set the humidity level correctly.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a relative humidity of 30 to 50 percent for ideal indoor air humidity.Too much humidity can actually contribute to mold and mildew problems, which will in turn worsen the very health conditions that you are trying to improve.

Also, it is very important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance of your humidifier.Check filters regularly and change any standing water in the tank frequently.Furnace-mount systems should be thoroughly cleaned before and after each season, and portable units should be cleaned every three to four days.Check your owner's manual for any model-specific cleaning instructions.

Adding humidity to your air can increase the level of comfort in your home, but without using an air purification system as well the air is far from "safe."Recent studies have shown that the air inside our homes and other buildings is often times far worse than the air in the largest, most industrialized cities in the world.Most of this is due to poor air circulation and the large number of pollutant sources found indoors.

Indoor air pollutants come from a variety of sources, including household pets, plant and soil debris, viruses, bacteria, mold, mildew, dust mites and cockroaches.A homeowner can do all in his power to keep his home clean, get rid of pets and other potential allergens, and combat mold and mildew, but he will most likely still suffer from poor indoor air.

A highly-efficient air filter and purification system can eliminate up to 99.9% (depending on the make and model) of airborne contaminants.As with humidifiers, air purifiers can be purchased as stand-alone portable units or as furnace-mounts.The cost and efficiency of the various models on the market varies greatly.When selecting a purification system, first evaluate your home's needs then select a model that has the square-footage capacity to adequately clean the air in your home.Smaller models can be purchased that are less expensive, but to experience the real benefit of purified air you would need to purchase more than one unit.

Using a humidifier and air purification system together in your home will provide you with the greatest health benefits, far greater than using either machine alone.Your family will experience greater breathing comfort, more restful sleep, and a decrease in colds, nosebleeds, headaches, and asthma and allergy symptoms.