DRY SKIN CHAPPED LIPS COULD BE THE AIR IN YOUR HOME




Does it seem like your lips are always chapped or that your skin is always dry?

The problem could be that the air in your home is dry—a common problem in the winter.

Why your home’s air is dry in the winter

The colder the air, the drier it is. This is simply because dry air doesn’t “hold” as much water vapor. (For more on humidity, check out this article.)

As cold air is heated, the amount of actual water vapor in it stays the same, but its ability to hold water is increased, thus decreasing the relative humidity. And low relative humidity can be a real problem.

For the best comfort, your home’s relative humidity should be 30% to 50%. Lower than that and you will likely experience:

  • Chapped lips
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Dry, scratchy eyes
  • Difficulty breathing (especially for asthma sufferers)

How to fight dry air

You don’t have to live with the annoying symptoms of dry air.

Try these 2 fixes:

Seal your home’s air leaks.

Most homes have dry air because there are air leaks. The cold, dry air comes into your home from outside. Keep it out of your home by sealing up leaks in your ducts and around windows and doors.

Install a whole-home humidifier.

Even when your home is all sealed up, your air could be drier than you’d like. In those cases, we highly recommend a whole-home humidifier.

A whole-home humidifier attaches to your heating and cooling system, automatically adding moisture to your air.

Tired of lathering on the lotion and chapstick? Contact Ragsdale Heating, Air, Plumbing & Electrical and we’ll help you get rid of your Atlanta area home’s dry, winter air.

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