When Should You Use Your Humidifier? 14 Possible Times

Humidifiers are essential equipment for your home, office, or any other indoor space. But knowing when you should use your humidifier is often the question.

The first answer to this question is: when the air is dry. Air is usually dry in winter and places with low humidity. It can also be dehydrated in summer if the air conditioning is on.

14 Time – When Should You Use Your Humidifier?

Apart from dry air, other factors can indicate when to use your humidifier.

A humidifier can help with a lot, and for that reason, many people choose to use them all year round.

Here are all the times when using a humidifier can be helpful:

1. Air Is Dry:

Dry air is the most common reason people use humidifiers. It can be a real issue in winter when there is cold air outside.

And indoor heating makes the air inside your home, office, or other buildings dry.

This can lead to issues like static electricity, dry skin, and cracked lips.

A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and making it more comfortable.

So when the air is dry, that’s usually the time to use your humidifier. But is there any tool to know if the air is dry?

A humidistat can help with that. It’s a device that measures the amount of moisture in the air.

You can use it to see if the air is too dry and then turn on your humidifier to add moisture.

2. You Have Allergies:

Dry air can also make allergies worse. That’s because it dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat.

This can make it harder for your body to filter out allergens like dust, pollen, and pet dander.

A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and making breathing easier.

So allergies are often another time you might want to use your humidifier.

Allergies to pollen, dust, and pet dander can be made worse by dry air.

3. You Have A Cold Or The Flu:

A humidifier can also be helpful if you have a cold or the flu. That’s because it can help relieve some of your symptoms.

For example, a humidifier can help ease a sore throat, nasal congestion, and coughing.

It can also help prevent the flu virus from spreading in the air. So if you’re feeling sick, a humidifier can be a great way to help you feel better.

4. Sinus Infections:

Sometimes, a humidifier can also help with sinus infections. That’s because the moisture can help thin out the mucus and make it easier to drain.

This can help relieve some pressure and pain from a sinus infection.

So if you have a sinus infection, a humidifier can be a great way to help you feel better.

Moreover, to reduce the chances of a sinus infection, you might want to use a humidifier all year round.

5. Dry Skin:

Dru skin is the result of dry air. That’s because it can cause the moisture in your skin to evaporate.

This can leave your skin feeling tight, dry, and itchy. A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and keeping your skin from drying.

So if you have dry skin, using a humidifier can be a great way to help relieve your symptoms.

6. Chapped Lips:

Chapped lips often happen in winter because of the dry air. But they can also occur in summer if you spend a lot of time in air-conditioned spaces.

With the humidity that a humidifier can provide, your lips will have a much easier time staying moisturized.

And when your lips are healthy, they’re less likely to become chapped.

7. Static Electricity:

The lack of moisture makes it easier for electrical charges to build up. This can be a real problem in winter when the air is dry, and you wear many clothes.

The static electricity can build up and then discharge when you touch something. This can be a shock, and it can also damage electronics.

A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and reducing static electricity.

8. Your Home Is New:

The air is likely arid if you’ve just moved into a new home. New homes are often built with dry air to prevent mold and mildew.

But the, dry air can be a problem for your skin, lips, and respiratory system. A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and making it more comfortable.

9. You Live In A Dry Climate:

The air will likely be arid all year round if you live in a dry climate. This can be a problem for your skin, lips, and respiratory system.

Dry climates are often desert climates but found in other parts of the world.

For example, Colorado is a dry climate. So if you live in a dry environment, using a humidifier can be a great way to help you feel more comfortable.

10. You Use A Wood-Burning Stove:

Wood-burning stoves are a great way to keep warm in winter. But they can also dry out the air in your home.

And although we have a lot of experience with wood-burning stoves, they’re a relatively new invention.

So if you use a wood-burning stove, it’s a good idea to use a humidifier to help keep the air in your home from drying out.

11. You Have Houseplants:

Houseplants are a great way to add color and life to your home. But they can also help improve the air quality in your home.

That’s because plants release moisture into the air as they photosynthesize.

So if you have houseplants, they can help keep the air in your home from drying out.

12. When Humidity Levels Are Below 30:

When humidity falls below 30%, it can cause several problems. Your skin can dry out, your lips can chap, and your respiratory system can damage.

So if the humidity levels in your home are below 30%, it’s a good idea to use a humidifier. It can help increase the moisture in the air.

13. When The Temperature Is Below 20:

When the temperature outside is below 20 degrees, the air in your home can become very dry.

Cold air doesn’t hold as much moisture as warm air. So the air in your home can become very dry when it’s cold outside.

A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and making it more comfortable.

14. If You Have Trouble Sleeping:

If you have trouble sleeping, it might be because the air in your home is too dry. While sleeping, our bodies lose a lot of moisture through our breath.

And if the air is too dry, replacing that moisture cannot be easy.

A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air and making it easier for you to sleep.

So here are all the reasons why you should use your humidifier. Do you have a humidifier? When do you use it?

How To Perfectly Use A Humidifier

Now that we know all the reasons to use a humidifier, let’s talk about how to use it ideally.

You should keep some things in mind to get the most out of your humidifier.

1. Buy The Right Size:

The first thing you need to do is buy the right size humidifier. If you buy a too small humidifier, it won’t be able to keep up with the demand.

And if you buy a humidifier that’s too big, it will use too much energy and be a waste of money.

The right size humidifier will depend on the size of your room and the humidity levels you want to achieve.

If your room is less than 500 square feet, you should buy a small humidifier. You should buy a medium humidifier if your room is between 500 and 1000 square feet.

And if your room is more than 1000 square feet, you should buy a large humidifier.

2. Place It In The Right Room:

The next thing you need to do is place your humidifier in the right room. You should put it in the room where you spend the most time.

For example, if you spend most of your time in the living room, that’s where you should place your humidifier.

Or, if you spend most of your time in the bedroom, that’s where you should place your humidifier.

3. Fill It With The Right Water:

You must also ensure you’re using the proper water for your humidifier. You should use distilled water or spring water.

You should never use tap water. Tap water can contain minerals that will build up in your humidifier and clog it.

Distilled water or spring water will prevent this from happening. They have already been filtered, and minerals won’t build up in your humidifier.

4. Set The Right Humidity Level:

The next thing you need to do is set the right humidity level. You should set the humidity level between 30% and 50%.

Anything below 30% is too dry, and anything above 50% is too humid.

You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity levels in your home.

5. Clean It Regularly:

You also need to clean your humidifier regularly. Depending on your humidifier, you’ll need to clean it once a week or once a month.

You should follow the instructions that come with your humidifier.

Cleaning your humidifier is essential. It will prevent mold and mildew from growing in it.

And if mold and mildew build-up, it can cause health problems.

So those are some tips on how to use a humidifier ideally. If you follow these tips, you’ll get the most out of your humidifier, which will last longer.

Final Word:

The right time to use your humidifier is during the winter when the air is dry. But you can also use it year-round if you have trouble sleeping or respiratory problems.

Make sure you buy the right size, place it in the fitting room. Fill it with the proper water, set the right humidity level, and clean it regularly.