Symptoms of too dry air in your home - Klarta
Symptoms of too dry air in your home
Increasingly frequent respiratory infections, fatigue, poor sleep quality, and dry throat in the morning. what connects these ailments? One of the more likely answers is being in a dry environment.
What are the symptoms of too dry air in an apartment? How to check if the air is dry? How to effectively counteract low humidity?
Dry air often not only feels uncomfortable on your skin but is also visible to the naked eye.
Dry, cracking skin, oily and dull hair, and brown, dry leaf tips of houseplants are some of the most common symptoms. We have listed all the major ones below.
10 most common symptoms of dry air in the home
- Dry, flaky skin: dry air affects the skin, which over time becomes dry, itchy, and flaky. Prolonged exposure to dry air can lead to more serious skin problems such as eczema.
- Brittle hair: split ends, hair loss.
- Sore throat, runny nose, hoarseness, and more frequent upper respiratory infections.
- Dry eyes: dry eyes lead to headaches, impaired vision, and more frequent conjunctivitis.
- Chapped lips: lips are covered with very thin skin without a stratum corneum. They also lack sebaceous glands to protect them from moisture loss.
- Headaches: dry nasal passages favor inflammation and irritation of the mucous membranes, leading to sinus headaches.
- More frequent nosebleeds: dry air (especially in winter) can cause the blood vessels in the nose to dry out and crack.
- Increased static electricity: hair, clothes, and various objects can become charged with static electricity.
- Damage to wooden furniture: cracks on the surface of wooden furniture, creaking doors, windows, and floors.
- Brittle, brown stems, brown leaf tips: dry, crispy, gray, or brown curled leaves are a characteristic symptom of dry air.
How can you be sure the air is dry?
The most objective way to check if the air is dry is with a hygrometer. The cheapest hygrometer costs just a few dollars and is available at hardware stores. Professional meters used in industries like food processing can cost hundreds of dollars.
You'll also find hygrometers in many air humidifiers, where they should be one of the most basic elements. This is also the case with the Klarta Humea WiFi and Klarta Humea Grande WiFi humidifiers.
What should the humidity level in the home be?
If you already have a hygrometer or an air humidifier equipped with one (like Klarta air humidifiers), you might wonder what humidity level is optimal for you.
The answer is between 40% and 60%. Some prefer slightly lower values, closer to 45-50%, while others prefer higher values like 55 or 60%.
Why is 40-60% the optimal humidity level?
It is undoubtedly the healthiest level of humidity for both respiratory health and skin condition. Moisturized skin means:
- Less oily skin (regulates sebum production).
- Fewer acne breakouts (moist air strengthens the hydrolipid barrier).
- Reduced skin tension (a slight tension is desirable, but too much can be painful and uncomfortable).
- Slower wrinkle formation (dry skin wrinkles more), moisturizing can slow down the aging process.
- Less dandruff – the scalp is easily prone to dryness.
- Protection against atopic dermatitis.
Humidifying the throat and nose mucous membranes means:
- A better protective barrier against allergens, viruses, and bacteria.
- Less tendency to respiratory infections.
- Easier removal of nasal and throat secretions – relief from runny nose and cough.
- Better sleep quality and higher sleep comfort.
How does temperature relate to air humidity?
Our well-being depends not only on humidity levels but also significantly on temperature.
Temperature affects our thermal comfort (the optimal temperature in winter is 18-22°C, in summer 22-26°C) and conditions the air's ability to hold water. This capacity increases with temperature.
To maintain a relative humidity of 40% at 0°C, about 2 grams of water per cubic meter is sufficient.
When the temperature rises to 20°C, it needs to be 7 grams. This is well explained by the Mollier or Carrier diagram.
How to humidify the air at home?
Evaporative humidifier – the most effective solution
Klarta evaporative humidifiers naturally and safely increase the humidity of the environment by releasing filtered, clean, invisible mist into the air. Air passes through a water-soaked evaporative filter. Evaporated, it is blown into the room.
Thanks to the presence of a hygrometer and humidistat, an electronic air humidifier allows for easy and convenient control of the humidity level.
Offering efficiency of several hundred ml/h, it can increase the relative humidity of a room by 10 percentage points in just a few minutes.
Furthermore, all these actions can be performed remotely. Klarta smart air humidifiers are equipped with a Wi-Fi module and a comprehensive mobile app.
Klarta Humea – user-friendly humidifier for up to 430 ft²
Klarta Humea WiFi is our market bestseller. Available in two colors: white and beige, this compact humidifier offers an efficiency of up to 300 ml/h. It includes:
- Hygrometer and humidistat (humidity range 40-75%)
- 3-liter water tank
- Filter drying function
- 3 levels of display panel backlighting
- Wi-Fi and mobile control
- Numerous automation options and work rules
- Reliable float and a window for accurate water level determination
Klarta Humea Grande – humidifier for up to 860 ft² that rises to the challenge
A small but mighty humidifier. Klarta Humea Grande WiFi is our latest offering, designed for large open spaces and any area where standard humidifiers fall short.
Ideal for homes with mechanical ventilation, air-conditioned offices, or high-ceiling spaces in lofts or old buildings, it can quickly improve the quality of inhaled air. Key features of the Klarta Humea Grande:
- Hygrometer and humidistat (humidity range 40-75%)
- 4-liter water tank
- Large filter
- Filter drying function
- 3 levels of display panel backlighting
- Wi-Fi and mobile control
- Numerous automation options and work rules
- Reliable float and a window for accurate water level determination
Hanging wet laundry
A quite effective home method to increase the surrounding humidity is hanging wet laundry.
A radiator works best, evaporating moisture from clothes and lifting it. However, a traditional drying rack also works well for this purpose. The downside is the short-term effect and lack of control over humidity levels.
Leaving bathroom doors ajar, especially after a bath
The bathroom is always more humid. Leaving the door open allows the moist air to reach drier areas of the apartment. However, the effects of such humidification disappear quickly.
Sources:
1. Author Unknown. "The Surprising Effects of Dry Indoor Air in Winter." 10.11.2023. Boss Mechanical Inc. www.bossmechanical.ca/. Accessed: 22.04.2024.
2. Poslusny, C. "Dry Air: What Is It and What Problems Does It Cause?" Molekule Blog. www.molekule.com/. Accessed: 22.04.2024.