How to Manage a Dry Home During Cold Winter Months

Winter is coming, and visions of fuzzy blankets, hot chocolate, and crackling fires dance in your head. But all that cozy warmth comes at a cost. When the temps plummet, you crank up the thermostat to keep the home comfortable. And when you do, you may notice your skin is drier, there’s more static in the home, and you may even struggle with wintertime illness. 

It may feel like you have to trade all that comfort for a dry home. While managing a dry home during the winter is a balancing act, it’s one you can easily manage with a few simple tips. 

What causes a dry home? 

Your home doesn’t automatically become dry when the calendar turns to November 1. Several factors play into the humidity levels of your home, and you need to know what they are. 

Cold weather  

Your home becomes dry when the humidity drops below the normal range of 30 to 50%. And you’re more likely to struggle with a dry home in winter rather than summer. The colder the air, the less moisture the air can hold. So the colder the temps, the drier the home.

Fun Fact: Antarctica is the largest (and coldest!) desert on the planet, covering 5.5 million square miles.

Using Heat 

You’ll struggle with a dry home simply by using your home’s heating system. Most systems remove moisture from the air, and because you’re not as likely to open a door or window to circulate air, you have less moisture coming into the home. 

Leaks in home  

Your home may have been sealed well when you bought it, but over time, cracks and gaps will show up as building materials expand and contract over time. And air is sneaky — even small gaps in exterior doors, windows, and places where pipes and wires come into the home are prime places for moisture to exit your home and leave you high and (literally) dry. 

Dry climate

If you live in a desert region, like Arizona or parts of New Mexico, you’re already starting off with a dry climate. Drier climates have less moisture in the air outside, meaning there’s less moisture in your home. So people living in drier climates need to manage the low humidity in their homes year-round rather than seasonally. 

Signs of Dry Air in Your Home 

So how do you know if the air in your home is dry? You can get hygrometers (a humidity meter) to tell you where the humidity levels are in each room of your home. But you can quickly tell if you’ve got a dry room or whole house with a few tell-tale signs: 

• Abundant static electricity 
• Brittle, cracking wood (cabinets, furniture, etc.) 
• Dry skin, lips, and eyes
• Bloody noses 
• Sinus problems  
• Dry cough 
• Sore throat 
• Asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory problems 

If you struggle with one or more of these symptoms, you’ve got a dry home. (Congratulations?) But you don’t have to suffer. A dry home is an easy problem to fix.

How to Fix a Dry Home 

When your home’s humidity levels are low, it needs a “drink” of water. It’s important you act quickly to raise the moisture levels (but not above 50%!) to help keep your family healthy and home free from damage. A few ways to add moisture to your home include: 

Seal cracks and gaps. 

Before cold weather settles in, take a few minutes to inspect the weatherstripping around all exterior doors and windows for damage or missing pieces. Replace damaged weatherstripping with new. While you’re at it, look over the places where wires and pipes enter your home from the outside. Recaulk any damaged, missing, or deteriorated segments. 

Maintain your HVAC system. 

While you’re at it, be sure you have your heating system maintained before you use it this winter. Routine maintenance helps keep your system in good, working order and helps you prevent emergencies and a frozen system on the coldest day of the year.  

Boil water on the stovetop. 

You can boil water (then reduce it to a simmer) on your stovetop to quickly add moisture to the air. Add a couple of cinnamon sticks or fruits and herbs to fragrance your home naturally. However, this is a quick fix and not a long-term solution. If you don’t keep an eye on the pot, you can damage the pot or cause a fire. 

Add plants. 

This is a good one if you have one room in the home that tends to be dry. Add a few potted plants and mist them daily. Plants release moisture in the air which can help raise the humidity levels in the room.

Keep your bathroom door ajar while showering. 

Your steamy shower can add humidity to your home quickly. Just keep the door ajar while showering so the steam can disburse throughout the home. 

Hang dry your clothes. 

Instead of using the dryer, hang your clothes around the home and let them air dry. And if you air dry your clothes, you’ll extend the life of your garments and save money by running the dryer less frequently. 

Invest in a humidifier. 

A humidifier is a good long-term solution to help maintain proper humidity levels in your home. If only one room tends to be the culprit, a small, room-sized humidifier may do the trick. If you struggle with low humidity throughout the home, it’s time to call your HVAC specialist about a whole-home humidifier. 

Replace your thermostat. 

Many smart thermostats help you monitor and manage the humidity levels in your home through an app. Plus, the app gives you quick access to manage the temperature in your home. Keeping your home at a lower temperature, by even a couple of degrees, helps maintain more moisture in the air. 

Managing a Dry Home in Winter Can Be Simple  

You don’t have to suffer with dry, itchy eyes and nose bleeds this winter. With a little know-how, you can spot the signs of a dry home and fix them quickly, protecting your health and the investment you made in your home. HVAC Master is here to help. Whether you need a whole-home humidifier, programmable thermostat, or winter maintenance, let the experienced pros at HVAC Master help protect your home this winter.