Last Updated: February 27, 2024
If you suffer from allergies and other respiratory ailments, you might despise the changing weather. Dry winter air causes home to lose moisture and desiccates the throat and nasal mucous membranes responsible for preventing impurities from entering your nose. It also dries out the allergy-causing matters such as pollen and dust mites that are easily transported through the air and into your system.
Dryness in the air can irritate, while dust, pollen, pet dander, and odors can make it difficult to breathe and aggravate existing allergies. People suffering from chronic sinusitis or frequent sinus infections can be affected by irritated nasal membranes and sinus headaches by even spending a short time in a dry climate.
See Also:
- Best Humidifiers For Allergies and Asthma
- Do Humidifiers Help with Colds and Allergies
- Best Humidifiers For Sleep Apnea
- Best Humidifiers For Sinus Problems
- Best Humidifiers For Cough
Dry, impaired skin inside your nose make every breath feel raw and sore, even if you do not have any allergies. The sneezing and sniffling during an allergy attack feel more pronounced in dry conditions. When dry air hits the sinuses, it aggravates your allergic condition and can also lead the body to produce more mucus than required, which can be harmful if you or other people in the house have asthma. Furthermore, dry air can also pose problems for the structure of the house itself. Arid air can cause wallpaper to peel, create static electricity, impact wooden floorings, and damage paintings, plants, instruments, and other possessions.
As per the New Hampshire Public Health Services, a humidity level above 30% can help keep your nose and throat from drying out. Humidified air (and staying hydrated) may help your body maintain its Defense systems in harsh winter conditions. It also allows your body to create a healthy mucus layer in your nose and throat that captures contaminants inhaled while breathing and prevents them from getting into your respiratory system and trigger an allergic reaction or causing colds, sinus infections, and the flu. Studies have found that moderate humidity levels reduce airborne pathogens as moisture tends to condense particles in the air.
How Humidifiers Help Relieve Allergies
Humidifiers suck the dry air and mix it with water vapor from the reservoir, and release the moistened air back into the atmosphere. These electronic appliances act as a natural moisturizing agent that can alleviate medical conditions for allergy sufferers. Humidifiers help reduce sinus inflammation, keep your nasal passages draining, eliminate the underlying cause, and reduce the number of sinus flare-ups.
Humidifiers help in getting relief from cold and flu symptoms. These devices help soothe irritated nasal passages to get relief in sore throats and coughs. In addition to making the house more comfortable, a humidifier also helps keep your heating bill low. Dry air feels colder and requires keeping the heating system on for a long time; with the added moisture from the humidifier provides, the air feels warmer, helping to keep your thermostat to a set temperature and lower the electricity bill.
Types of Humidifier to Fight Allergies
A warm mist humidifier releases moisture into the air in a warm mist by heating water. It reduces allergies, asthma attacks, and the irritation caused by dry skin, rough lips, and itchy skin. Warm mist humidifiers produce minimal noise since the steam comes out of the unit without using a fan. One of the warm mist humidifier’s primary drawbacks is that it consumes more energy than other humidifiers since it uses electricity to boil water draws power. Moreover, warm mist humidifiers are not recommended for use around children since the boiling water, along with the steam the unit emits, may be hazardous if a child gets too close or knocks it over.
An evaporative humidifier uses a fan to distribute moisture-rich air into the room to relieve dry air symptoms. A fan sucks in the air that goes through a moist wick filter at the humidifier’s base, filtering out minerals and other impurities in the process. As the water evaporates into vapor, it pushes out as water mist or sprays into the air, entirely pure, clean, and free of any minerals or impurities. They are considered the safest type of humidifier due to their automated mechanism, eliminating the risk of over-humidification.
Ultrasonic humidifiers use frequency vibrations to produce a fine mist that spreads throughout the room. Ultrasonic humidifiers allow you to choose between cold or warm mist, depending on the season that you are using it in.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Humidifier
Size: It is essential to consider the size of the room before purchasing the humidifier. A compact humidifier would be suitable for rooms up to 300 sq. ft. or smaller, while for a room size between 300 to 600 sq. ft, medium-sized humidifiers should be sufficient. For room areas up to 1000 sq. ft., whole-house humidifiers should be considered.
Water Tank Capacity: Humidifiers are available in varying tank capacities and should be considered based on the area’s frequency of use and size. If a humidifier is required to run all night long, it is advisable to invest in a humidifier with a large tank capacity, necessitating fewer refills. However, the bigger size will entail the use of more space and also impact the budget.
Demineralization Cartridge: If your house gets hard water, we recommend a humidifier with a demineralization cartridge, which collects the minerals rally present in hard water and prevents them from being released into the air as fine white dust nuisance and a respiratory irritant.
Noise: Getting a relatively noiseless humidifier can lead to a peaceful home environment and a good night’s sleep. It is ideal to consider units equipped with ultrasonic technology, given that they operate quietly for better night’s sleep.
Warranty: Before investing in a humidifier, consider the type and duration of the warranty offered with the unit. Different kinds of warranties include parts replacement, unit repair, unit replacement, etc.
Using Humidifiers for Allergy Relief the Right Way
- Incorporating a humidification regimen in your homes during the cold, dry winter months helps ease many of the season’s discomforts; however, it is crucial to take few precautions so that these units don’t do more harm than good.
- Ensure that the humidification levels are maintained within the range of 30%-50% range. Humidity levels above 60% may lead to moisture build-up that can lead to the growth of bacteria, fungi, and dust mites, which thrive in humid environments.
- Extremely high humidification can also lead to damp air or condensed moisture to settle, leading to mold and mildew growth, which releases mold spores and triggers allergic reactions.
- Most advanced humidifiers are equipped with a hydrostat that automatically measures the house’s humidity level and shutdowns the unit if it goes above the pre-set level. You can also measure humidity with an instrument called a hygrometer, available at the local hardware store.
- Running humidifiers with contaminated water can be extremely harmful. Water sitting in the unit’s reservoir may breed bacteria and fungi released into the air and inhaled. They can trigger flu-like symptoms or even lung infections when the contaminated mist or steam is released into the air.
- Replace the water in your humidifier every day and empty the reservoir before refilling. Ensure that the device is unplugged before cleaning.
- If you use chlorine bleach or other cleaning disinfectants, ensure that the tanks are rinsed adequately so that the harmful chemicals in the air and inhaled. You can also use vinegar to remove hard water residues once a week or before storing the device.
- If the humidifier comes with a filter, replace the filter as per the manufacturer’s recommendation. Periodically replace the filters in your central air conditioning and heating system or as recommended by the company.
- Drain and clean humidifiers before storing them.
- If you have a humidifier built into your central heating or cooling unit, follow the instruction manual or consult a heating and cooling specialist for proper maintenance.
- Ultrasonic humidifiers release aerosolized mineral particles that often appear as white dust in the house if used with tap water. Do not use tap water as the higher level of minerals in tap water can increase bacteria growth, resulting in a speck of white dust and additional irritation to your sinuses. Always use distilled or demineralized water to reduce the build-up of scale and dust release.
Conclusion
This winter, experience what life is like without irritated nasal passages, a dry throat, and dry skin. Humidifiers provide allergy relief and keep your home comfortable by restoring proper moisture levels to preventing bouts of colds or the flu, ease breathing in children and adults who have asthma or allergies, and protecting wood flooring and furniture.
Remember, a humidifier cannot replace medicine and requires a few precautions to provide the promised benefits. If you or other people in your house have asthma or indoor allergies, consult an allergist/immunologist to determine if a humidifier can help you and your sinuses survive winter.
Don’t forget to check out our article on Best Humidifiers For Cough.
FAQs
Q. What is a humidifier and how does it help with allergies?
A humidifier is a device that adds moisture to the air by releasing water vapor. It can help to alleviate symptoms of allergies by moisturizing dry nasal passages, making it easier to breathe.
Q. What type of humidifier is best for allergies?
The type of humidifier that is best for allergies is a cool mist humidifier. Cool mist humidifiers release cool water vapor into the air, which can help to alleviate symptoms such as dry nasal passages, congestion, and coughing.
Q. How do I choose the right cool mist humidifier for allergies?
When choosing a cool mist humidifier for allergies, you can consider the following factors:
Room size – Make sure to choose a unit that is appropriately sized for the room where you plan to use it.
Filter – Look for a unit with a HEPA filter, which will help to remove allergens and other pollutants from the air.
Cleaning and maintenance – Choose a humidifier that is easy to clean and maintain.
Noise level – Some humidifiers can be quite loud, so if you plan to use it in a bedroom or other quiet area, look for a unit with a low noise level.
Q. How do I know when to use a humidifier during allergy season?
The ideal humidity level for allergy sufferers is between 40-60%. You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity level in your home, and if the humidity level falls below 40%, it’s time to turn on your humidifier.