In my town, the long and cold winters are a constant challenge. By the end of October, it’s necessary to start up the furnace. The heating system often runs for half a dozen straight months, and combats temperatures approaching zero. To avoid paying a lot in energy bills, it’s necessary to weatherproof the house and eliminate any leaks. Between the dry, cold air, lack of ventilation and heater blasting warm air, humidity levels inside the home become an issue. The proper relative humidity for a healthy, comfortable home is in the ballpark of between forty and fifty percent. During the winter, to stop condensation on the windows, humidity levels should need to be a bit lower than that. The humidity level in my house dropped below thirty percent, and the dry air took moisture from everything it touched. The result was dry, itchy skin, harm to wood furnishings, and a big risk of catching cold or infection. In addition, as moisture evaporates off the body, it makes us seem colder. We then crank up the thermostat, which creates higher monthly energy bills. To relieve the negative effects of overly dry air, I got a whole-home humidifier which connects directly to my existing heater. The humidifier functions automatically to introduce necessary moisture and maintain ideal levels of humidity. The consequence is, I’ve been able to turn down my thermostat many degrees and still be warm. Because the furnace now works with less of a burden, I can expect it to operate better and last longer. Living in a freezing climate, a whole-home humidifier is as crucial as a dependable heating system.