Why Dry Air Is More Dangerous Than You Think

Welcome to Colorado, where the air is almost always dry. Even in the heart of the rainy season, we never have an overabundance of humidity. For some, it’s what makes our state great.

But dry air can be more dangerous than you think. Especially in the cold winter months when you’re stuck inside, breathing air that can be problematic.

As the temperatures drop, the outside air won’t hold as much moisture as in the summer. Most consider an ideal relative humidity level to be between 40 and 50 percent. Winter air can drop to 15 percent or even lower. That’s when your troubles begin.

You’ll start to feel the dryness in your nose. A dry nose can become irritated and itchy, turning into nosebleeds over time. As it continues to impact your health, it can cause complications in the respiratory system. Allergies and asthma can be exacerbated by dry living conditions.

The more these conditions are left unchecked, the more they can impact your health. As your system weakens, you can be more susceptible to catching viruses such as colds and flu. Dirt and debris circulate more every time your furnace kicks on, contaminating the air you breathe. As your membranes fill with dirty air, it leaves you more susceptible to a variety of things.

And let’s not forget what it does to you on the outside. Humans are over 70 percent water, with your skin containing more than 50 percent.

Ever notice your skin feels moister in the summer, especially in August when the humidity levels are higher? It’s because it’s made up of water.

As the air dries out, your skin starts to rebel. Your skin will start to feel dry, itchy, even flake as it fights for moisture. It can increase the presence of skin conditions, and even make older people feel the signs of arthritis. Lack of moisture tightens everything up.

And then there’s static electricity. What used to be funny when you were a kid – remember sticking a balloon to the wall after rubbing it on your sweater – isn’t funny when it fries your electronics. It can leave you feeling uncomfortable as you zap everything you touch. And if that happens to be your computer or television, you might have a hefty replacement bill to go along with it. Moisture dissipates static electricity. It’s a great reason to control the humidity levels in your home.

Convinced you should improve the humidity levels in your home? We have a solution for you. Let’s talk.