If your skin cracks, your lips chap, and you wake up with a scratchy throat every winter, Colorado's notoriously dry air is the culprit. At our elevation and in our climate, outdoor humidity in winter is already low, and once that air is heated inside your home, relative humidity can drop into the teens. For comparison, most health experts recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent.
Why dry indoor air matters
Low humidity is more than a comfort issue. Dry air pulls moisture from your skin, eyes, and the mucous membranes in your nose and throat. Those membranes are your first line of defense against airborne viruses, and when they dry out, they work less effectively. That is part of why colds and flu spread more easily in winter.
Dry air also aggravates asthma and allergies, worsens eczema and other skin conditions, and can make snoring and congestion worse. In your home, it causes wood floors and furniture to crack, trim to separate, and static electricity to build up.
How your HVAC system fits in
Your forced-air furnace heats and moves air, but standard systems do not add moisture. In fact, the heating process lowers relative humidity further. This is why many Colorado homeowners add a whole-home humidifier that installs directly onto the HVAC system and adds controlled moisture to the air as it circulates.
A whole-home humidifier is more effective and lower-maintenance than portable units because it treats every room and ties into your existing ductwork. It is worth having a qualified HVAC professional size and install it correctly, because too much humidity creates its own problems, including condensation and mold.
Clean ducts make humidity control work better
Whatever is in your ducts gets circulated along with that conditioned, humidified air. If your ductwork is full of dust, pet dander, and debris, you are distributing those particles through the house every time the system runs. Starting with clean ducts means the moisture you add is carried through a clean system rather than picking up contaminants along the way.
Simple steps to add moisture
Beyond a whole-home humidifier, you can help indoor humidity by keeping houseplants, running the bathroom fan less aggressively after showers so moisture disperses, and using a hygrometer to monitor levels. Aim for 30 to 40 percent in winter to balance comfort against condensation risk on cold windows.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should indoor humidity be in a Colorado home in winter?
Aim for 30 to 40 percent relative humidity in winter. Higher than 50 percent risks condensation and mold on cold surfaces, while below 30 percent causes dry skin, static, cracking wood, and irritated airways. A simple hygrometer lets you monitor your levels.
Will a humidifier on my furnace help with dry air?
Yes. A whole-home humidifier installs onto your HVAC system and adds controlled moisture to the air as it circulates, treating every room. It is more effective and lower-maintenance than portable units. Have it professionally sized so it does not add too much moisture.
Does dry air affect my health?
It can. Dry air dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat that help defend against airborne viruses, and it worsens asthma, allergies, eczema, congestion, and snoring. Keeping humidity in a healthy range helps your body's natural defenses work better.
Ready for cleaner air? Planet Duct is Southern Colorado's NADCA-certified air duct cleaning team. Get a free estimate or call 719-728-5111.