Sun City, AZ, looks beautiful all year round. Still, during the winter, humidity can become a problem. Dry air might make your skin feel itchy, or it could even cause you to have more nosebleeds. Using a humidifier or a dehumidifier seems like the obvious solution. But, how do you know which one to use?
What’s the Difference?
Humidity is pretty straightforward to understand. It’s a measurement of the air’s water content. Humid air feels wetter, and it conducts heat a lot more efficiently. Dry air can leave you feeling dry. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers both change the air’s humidity. However, they go about things differently.
A humidifier is just what it sounds like. These devices let someone add more moisture to their environment. Most of the time, you’ll find them available in one of two formats. Heated humidifiers evaporate water by warming it up. Cool humidifiers use a fan to disperse water.
Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, lowering its humidity. These devices use a few different methods to achieve this goal. The most common type of dehumidifier is the refrigerative dehumidifier. These suck air in using a fan. Then, the moist air goes through a condensing coil, removing moisture. There are other types of dehumidifiers as well. Ionic, desiccant, and electronic dehumidifiers all do a good job.
When Should You Use One of Them Over the Other?
Humidity tends to be one of those things we forget about until it becomes a problem. Most of the time, we don’t want it to be too high or too low. Either way, you could feel a little uncomfortable. Deciding between a humidifier or dehumidifier depends on your home’s humidity. If it’s too high, a dehumidifier would work. If it’s too low, a humidifier would get the job done.
How can you tell if your home is too humid? High humidity is pretty easy to detect. Does it feel like the air is heavier than usual? Have you been sweating more than usual? These are both signs that your home’s humidity level is too high. If that’s the case, a dehumidifier would be the right move. These will lower your home’s humidity back to a comfortable level.
How can you tell if the humidity level is too low? In Sun City, winter air has a tendency to be a little dry. Low levels of humidity can cause dry skin, along with other common issues. Dry air could be what’s causing your allergies to act up. It can even make nose bleeds a lot more likely.
What Is the Ideal Indoor Humidity Level?
Ideally, humidity levels should remain somewhere between 40% and 50%. You can go outside of that range a little bit, but veering too far could cause problems.
Humidity levels lower than 30% are particularly worrisome. Levels that low could put your HVAC system at risk of damage. Water and frost might accumulate on it.
High humidity levels can encourage the growth of mold and mildew. These can also find their way into your HVAC system. Not to mention, you might sweat a lot more.
What Should You Use During the Winter in Sun City?
The air tends to be pretty dry throughout the year in Sun City, and it gets even drier during the winter. Most of the time, you will want to use a humidifier. Adding a bit of water to the air should make things feel more comfortable.
Still, without knowing your home’s humidity level, it is impossible to know for sure. We suggest using a humidity gauge to figure out where you are at. If humidity rises above 50%, you want to have a dehumidifier. If they drop below 30%, a dehumidifier would be the better option.
Either way, do your best to keep humidity levels in their ideal range. That will prevent any issues.
What Are Some Signs of Low Humidity?
Not everyone has access to a humidity gauge. So, here are a couple of common signs of low humidity. If you detect any of these, it might be time to pick up a humidifier.
- Nosebleeds seem to happen more often
- Dryness of the skin
- Itchiness of the skin
- Lots of static electricity
If you have been dealing with any of these problems, you can reach out to a member of our team to discuss your humidifier options in Sun City.
What Are Some Signs of High Humidity?
How can you tell whether your home’s humidity is too high? If you detect any of the following, it might be time to invest in a humidifier.
- Musty smells and mildew
- Condensation on cups and windows
- Excessive sweatiness
- Difficulty sleeping
Removing moisture from the air should reduce the severity of these symptoms.
What Kind of Humidifier Should You Use During the Winter
Choosing the right type of humidifier isn’t all that difficult. Usually, all of them will get the job done. However, depending on your needs, one of them might be a better fit.
As we mentioned, humidifiers are typically found in two formats. Warm-mist humidifiers use heat to evaporate water. The resulting mist is heated, and it feels great on a sore throat. There’s only one issue with these. The heat from the water could raise your home’s temperature. Most of the time, that’s not too big of an issue during the winter.
However, if you’d rather not heat things up, you could use a cool-mist humidifier. These evaporate water by blowing air on it. These don’t work quite as fast, and they can also be noisier. Still, if you don’t want to warm up the house, they’ll do a better job.
What Size Is Best for Your Home?
Humidifiers can be made to humidify a single room or your whole home. The larger the device, the more it will cost to run.
Whole-home humidifiers tend to be best whenever your whole house is dry. These can even be tied into your HVAC system. That way, you won’t have to worry about adjusting it. They will maintain your home’s humidity level without any assistance.
On the other hand, if you are only worried about a small space, smaller devices might be better. Plus, single-room humidifiers also tend to be portable. That can make traveling with them a lot easier.
Sun City Mechanical Is Ready to Help With All Your HVAC Needs
Sun City Mechanical has been helping Sun City residents for years. Our certified technicians are masters of ductwork. Plus, we can even help you with any plumbing issues. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers are only part of what we do. Have you had any issues with your water heater lately? If so, we can help repair it. Our team is also great at repairing, maintaining, and installing new air conditioners and heating systems. Contact Sun City Mechanical to learn more about how we can help prepare your home for winter. That way, regardless of the weather, you’ll be ready.