Low indoor humidity can lead to issues such as dry and flaky skin and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Although high humidity isn’t optimal either, it’s essential to create a balance.
If you’re wondering how to increase the humidity in your home, there are many ways to do so.
A popular option to increase humidity is by using a humidifier. However, there are many other inexpensive ways to bring some moisture back into the air naturally.
Key Takeaways
- Maintain indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent for optimal health and comfort.
- Use a humidifier, hang laundry indoors, or add houseplants to increase humidity in your home.
- Cooking without lids, leaving the tub full, and placing water bowls near heat sources can also help add moisture to the air.
- Ensure safety by cleaning humidifiers regularly and being cautious with water sources around children and pets.
How to Increase the Humidity in Your Home
Increasing the humidity within your home is easy and can make an immense difference to your health. It’s important to keep the humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. As a result, you can live comfortably without the risk of mold or dampness creeping in on your house (1).
We’ve tested multiple popular ways to increase the humidity in your home, with and without the help of a humidifier.
Humidifier
A humidifier is one of the most effective ways to increase moisture in the home. Humidifiers are simple devices that consist of a tank you fill with water. Depending on the type, it will create a cool or warm mist and emit tiny particles for you to inhale.
Humidifiers range in size but are relatively affordable, averaging around $40. Small humidifiers will be able to cover one room at a time. Larger models, on the other hand, can cover entire floors or houses.
Emptying and cleaning your humidifier regularly is essential as they’re prone to mold and other contaminants.
Hang Your Laundry Indoors
If your skin is feeling a little flaky on a crisp winter morning, don’t put your newly washed clothes in the dryer. Hanging your laundry in the house slowly adds a small amount of moisture to the room as the water evaporates.
A major plus with this method is its affordability. Drying racks are inexpensive and save energy by not using the dryer.
Add Some Houseplants
Houseplants are excellent for increasing humidity levels and potentially purifying your air. Plants are effective natural humidifiers since they absorb moisture through the roots and circulate it through the stems to the leaves. As a result, moisture is released into the air.
Choose your plants carefully if you want to purify and humidify your air. NASA did a lengthy study on various plants that remove contaminants from the air, including VOCs and chlorine.
Spider plants and aloe vera are among some of the most effective air-purifying plants, according to NASA (2).
Cook Without Lids
Cooking creates a significant amount of moisture, especially boiling water which creates steam. As you’re cooking, try to avoid covering the pots if possible; this allows the steam to escape and enter the air. For this to work best, keep fans on a low setting to encourage good air circulation without removing the moisture.
You can also skip the microwave and reheat food on the stove to increase moisture levels.
Leave the Tub Full
If you’re a frequent bather, take advantage of the full tub. Instead of draining the bath immediately afterward, leave the water to cool. As it cools, some water evaporates into the air, humidifying the room.
Warning About Bacteria
You can also do this trick in the kitchen. If you often hand wash your dishes, leave the sink full until the water naturally cools. Similar to the bathtub, some moisture will evaporate into the air as it cools.
Danger
Open Shower
Do you ever notice how the bathroom fills with hot steam while you shower? This shouldn’t go to waste if the rest of your house is low in humidity. Make use of your daily hot shower and leave the door open. The hot steam will escape the bathroom and add moisture to the air.
If you prefer more privacy, leave the door open after your shower. As the steam builds up during your shower, it will escape when you’ve finished.
Water and Heat
A simple way to slowly add moisture to the air is strategically placing water bowls near heat sources. Many homes have HVAC registers on the floor, making it easy to place a metal or ceramic bowl on top. Avoid plastic bowls, though, as they can melt.
As the air gently warms the bowl and water, moisture evaporates into the air, humidifying your home. In addition, the bowls can be left for weeks at a time, depending on how much heat you’re blasting.
Take Note
Add Some Flowers
Flowers add a nice touch to any room, and they can also add some moisture to the air. Place a few vases with flowers on your window sills and let the sun heat them during the day. Like the water bowls, the moisture will evaporate as it heats and humidifies the room.
Open the Dishwasher
Dishwashers use a significant amount of energy in the drying cycle. Luckily, you can save some energy while humidifying your house.
Before the last drying cycle, open the dishwasher door and allow the dishes to air dry. You’ll notice a significant amount of hot steam leaving the appliance as you open the door; this will humidify the air.
Indoor Fountain
If daily life has left you feeling stressed, an indoor fountain can help you in several ways. Indoor fountains come in many designs and sizes, so it’s easy to find one that suits your style.
Place the fountain in a room that needs to be humidified. It will be even more effective if placed near a heat source or sunlight. As the water circulates the fountain, some of it will evaporate into the air.
Legionella Risk
What Is Considered a Low Humidity Level?
Indoor humidity plays an important role in our well-being. Too low moisture results in dry skin and congestion, whereas high humidity can result in mold and allergens. Low humidity is generally measured under 35 percent.
FAQs
What are Three Signs That a Home is Too Dry?
The three signs that your home is too dry include increased static electricity and more instances of allergies, especially lung problems. The final sign that the air is too dry is red and itchy eyes, nasal and throat problems, and dehydration.
What Causes Low Humidity In the House?
Several factors cause low humidity in your house. Heating and cooling systems can dry the air, poor ventilation is also a culprit, and external weather conditions may play a part.
Does Opening Windows Help With Dry Air?
Opening a window will help with dry air, provided the air you let in is wetter than the air inside. You could worsen the problem if you live in a dry environment.
Can You Over Humidify a Room?
You can over-humidify a room, making the air so wet that it causes breathing difficulties and helps spread mold and mildew.
Is Sleeping With a Humidifier Good for You?
Sleeping with a humidifier is good for you, providing you live in an environment with dry air. Getting the air moisture right can hydrate your skin, promote better sleep, and helps with aging.
How Long Does a Humidifier Take to Humidify the Room?
A humidifier starts to humidify a room in 10 to 15 minutes and takes between three and 24 hours to increase humidity to a comfortable level. The timescale taken also depends on the room size, and the air dryness.
Improving the Atmosphere
Low humidity can cause several health issues for you and your family. You might feel congested, experience itchy and red eyes, dry mouth and throat, as well as irritated and itchy skin.
Happily, there are many effective ways to slowly increase the humidity within your home. These tips are sure to make you more comfortable.
The most effective method is using a humidifier. However, these can sometimes do more harm than good. If not cleaned properly, it could spread mold and other contaminants through your air.
Simple changes such as drying clothes indoors and showering with an open door can also humidify your house quickly.
