4 Benefits of Installing a Humidifier or Dehumidifier in Iowa

Did you know the ideal indoor relative humidity level ranges from 30% to 50%? Relative humidity* measures how much water vapor is in the air. A 30%-50% humidity level keeps households comfortable while also discouraging mold, pests, and dust mites.

In Iowa, relative humidity levels can range from under 10% to above 60% in winter due to using the furnace. In the summer, relative humidity levels rise to around 70% or more.

Investing in a whole-home humidifier and dehumidifier can keep your Iowa home in the ideal range all year round, resulting in benefits like:

Let’s discuss how these four benefits of using a whole-home humidifier and dehumidifier can help you prevent damage to your home, save on energy bills, and keep your household healthy.

*Want to know what your home’s relative humidity level is? You can install a smart thermostat that provides indoor air quality readings.

Keeping your home in the ideal 30-50% indoor relative humidity range helps to prevent structural damage. What happens to your home when humidity levels are too high or low?

Too low humidity levels can dry out any wooden structures, causing them to shrink and crack. Little humidity in the home can separate drywall and cause wallpaper to peel.

In contrast, too much humidity in a home can encourage mold growth. Relative humidity of 60% and above can cause mold spores to grow and multiply.

You can wind up paying thousands of dollars to remediate structural problems; meanwhile, a whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier installation costs $1,000 on average in Iowa.

Do you have expensive solid wooden furniture, electronics, clothing, or delicate musical instruments in your home? If so, you may want to invest in a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep your home safe for your possessions.

There’s a reason why climate control is a huge concern for museums, as most objects do not preserve well amidst inadequate humidity levels. For example, low humidity levels can split and crack wooden furniture and musical instruments. Not enough humidity can also produce enough static electricity to possibly ruin electronics.

On the other hand, high humidity levels can encourage pests and dust mites to congregate and ruin clothing and other possessions.

Installing a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier can help you control your home’s humidity levels, protect your possessions from damage, and avoid costly replacement charges.

A great benefit of installing a humidifier or dehumidifier is that you can adjust your thermostat and save money on energy bills while remaining comfortable. According to Energy.gov, every degree adjustment to your thermostat for 8 hours allows you to save about 1% on your energy bills.

People usually feel warmer when there is more moisture in the air. In winter, adding more moisture to your indoor air allows you to reduce your thermostat temperature while staying cozy.

While in summer, using a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air can help you feel cooler and keep your thermostat at a relatively high temperature. Not to mention, you can stay even cooler by running a ceiling fan with the dehumidifier.

By counterbalancing thermostat adjustments with a humidifier or dehumidifier, you can save money on your heating and cooling bills.

Installing a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier can help your home stay within the ideal humidity zone, alleviating the below health issues if no over-the-counter solution seems to be helping.

Low humidity can suck all the moisture out of your body, causing health issues like:

• Sore throats
• Sinus infections
• Allergy flares
• More vulnerability to getting sick
• Decreased sleep quality
• Dry and cracked skin
• Itchy scalp or dandruff problems
• Chronically brittle hair or chapped lips

Too much humidity can cause:

• Asthma and allergy problems because of mold and mildew growth
• Bodies overheating due to high humidity impeding sweat evaporation