Fighting the Flu Virus With Humidity in Cincinnati, OH

02/05/20

When it comes to home comfort, heating and cooling are often the first things that come to homeowners’ minds. But there’s more to your comfort level than maintaining the ideal temperature. You also need to ensure your indoor environment isn’t a breeding ground for harmful airborne contaminants by managing your home’s air quality. That means having complete control over your home’s humidity levels to keep bacteria and viruses at bay.

Higher humidity levels in the home have been shown to reduce the number of airborne toxins responsible for health issues such as the flu, asthma, nausea, and headaches. By selecting the right humidifier for your Cincinnati home, you can steer clear of sickness for a healthier, happier lifestyle for you and your family.

Studies Find Flu Virus Can’t Hack Humidity

While HVAC systems are designed to help maintain an ideal temperature level in your home, they can inadvertently contribute to poorer indoor air quality. During the summer, air conditioners not only remove heat from your home’s air, but also remove humidity, creating a dry indoor environment. The winter months are no better: Since cold air is inherently dryer, your heating unit will only exacerbate the issue by making the cold air even dryer through the heating process. While a dryer climate might be more comfortable, scientists have discovered that lower humidity levels allow the flu virus to grow and thrive.

In 2013, researchers studied how the flu virus interacts with different environments. Using a cough simulator to disperse the flu virus, scientists measured how long the virus could survive at varying humidity levels. When observed in climates with humidity less than 23%, up to 77% of the flu virus was able to survive in the air an hour later. However, when the humidity was raised to be greater than 43%, only 14% of the virus was able to survive after an hour in the air.

The idea that higher humidity kills off the flu virus was further supported after a 2009 study observed the process over a 24-hour period: In the environment with higher humidity, 100% of the flu virus was eliminated while 60% still survived in homes boasting dry conditions. By installing a humidifier in your home and raising your humidity levels above 43%, you can avoid spending the season sick in bed. Not just an excellent way to combat the flu virus, higher humidity levels have been linked to additional health benefits for homeowners as well.

Additional Benefits of Higher Home Humidity in Cincinnati

Getting rid of the flu virus is just one reason homeowners should turn up the humidity in their living space. But there have been many other health benefits linked to higher humidity levels as well, including the following:

• Reduced Asthma: In a 2016 study, researchers found that children in dry classroom environments had a higher prevalence of allergy and asthma symptoms than those in classrooms that had between 30% and 50% humidity.
• Productive Coughing: Dry, unproductive coughing is directly linked to dryer climates; however, homeowners can make coughing productive by raising their humidity to 50%.
• Eliminate Sick Building Syndrome: Higher humidity levels can also eliminate “sick building syndrome” symptoms, which include headaches, nausea, fatigue, ENT irritation, and dizziness.
• Reduced Snoring: Homeowners can breathe easier at night with higher humidity as improved lubrication in the airways reduces one’s tendency to snore.
• Improved Hair & Skin: Especially during the winter, higher humidity levels can help prevent against dry, cracked skin; frizzy hair; and chapped lips to keep you looking and feeling your best.

Higher humidity isn’t just great for you and your family: Your furniture and houseplants will also thank you for the added moisture in the air. Dryer home conditions can cause wood floors and furniture to crack and become dry and brittle. Similarly, houseplants are more likely to wilt and die faster in dry environments. With help from a humidifier, you can ensure your furniture, floors, and plants stay happy and healthy — just like you and your family!

Get HELP With Your Cincinnati Home Humidity

When you need humidifier installation services from a team of knowledgeable indoor air specialists, there’s no better place to turn to than HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Drains. Our team proudly carries the industry’s top-rated brands and products to keep your indoor air quality contaminant-free and comfortable. Don’t let your home’s humidity level play host to harmful viruses and bacteria.

Get the HELP you need by contacting our team to ask about our available humidifier products and services today!

Posted in: Health & Safety Issues, Indoor Air Quality