Dehumidifier vs. Humidifier: Which is Better for Your Health?

Both humidifier and dehumidifier are very important home appliances. They both condition the air in your home in relation to how humid or how dry the air feels inside your home. Choosing between humidifier and dehumidifier always seem like a tough choice.  In this article, you will learn which choice is the best for your home. Keep on reading to find out more.

Do I need a Dehumidifier or a Humidifier? Which is better?   

When you are faced with the option of buying humidifier or dehumidifier, there is no straight answer.  Both appliances regulate the quality of the air in your home. Thus, they serve the same purpose, the only difference is on the way they function. To know which one is perfect for your home, there are a number of factors that you need to consider.

According to the Houston Allergy and Asthma Clinic, it is important that you keep the humidity level in your home between 35% and 50%. You will most likely need to buy a dehumidifier if your home is above 50% humidity. Alternatively, purchasing a humidifier will be the ideal option if the humidity level in your home is less than 30%.

Thus, you will certainly need to figure out the humidity level in your home. You can do this by purchasing an inexpensive digital humidity reader known as “hygrometer“ which is available on Amazon. A Hygrometer can give you an accurate percentage of humidity level in your home.

 How Does Humidity Affect My Health?

If you are constantly suffering from a stuffy nose or cold, it could be that you have less than ideal humidity level in your home. You may need a humidifier if you are suffering from a cold which causes nasal passage blockage or sinusitis.

With a humidifier, you can be able to break this up by increasing the water content of the air in your home. On the other hand, too much humid air can lead to asthma. You will need a dehumidifier to treat this condition and feel more comfortable in your home.

 When Do You Need Humidifiers?

In most winter months, it is common to discover that the air around your home is too dry. If no action is taken, this low humidity level can lead to health problems such as headaches, nosebleeds, dry skin, and even allergy flair-ups. 

Moreover, a low level of humidity in the winter months can lead to dry out of your furniture. It is common for furniture and woodworks to dry out and crack when the humidity level is low.

With a good humidifier, you can be able to improve the quality of air by adding more moisture into the air which can help you avoid these problems.

When shopping for humidifiers, there are two types you should look out for:

• Cool Mist Humidifier
• Warm Mist Humidifier

Both of them act as their name implies. Basically, the cool mist humidifier emits a cool vapor into the air in your home while warm mist humidifier releases warm steam. Whichever one you choose, make sure you always keep it clean.

 When Do You Need Dehumidifiers?

A lot of areas in the United States have a very hot and humid climate. If you find yourself in such areas, you will need a dehumidifier to stay healthy and comfortable. A dehumidifier takes moisture out of the air in your home.

This helps keep mildew, dust mites, and mold growth in your home to a minimum. Moreover, you are more likely to experience issues with asthma and other allergies if the quality of the air in your home is too humid.

 When shopping for a dehumidifier, there are several types of dehumidifiers that you need to keep in mind. Some of them include:

• Refrigerative
• Desiccant
• Ionic membrane
• Electronic

Each type of humidifier works in a special way. You should check all of them to know which type is the best for your home and fits perfectly with your lifestyle.

 Final Words

Both humidifier and dehumidifier are very important for your health. Of course, the one you will buy will depend on the condition/quality of the air in your home.

If you have too humid air, go for a dehumidifier, it will help you to avoid allergies and asthma. On the other hand, if the air in your home is too dry, get a humidifier, this will help you to add more moisture to the air and avoid chest pain and nasal blockage.

If you have persistent chest congestion, don’t depend on your humidifier alone, make sure you schedule an appointment with your doctor as this could be a sign of a serious medical condition.

 -Shameka Renee