Humidifier Maintenance – How Often to Change The Water Panel
It’s that time of year again when we shut the windows and turn on the heating system. While the furnace can make the temperature in your home cozy, it may also make the air feel dry. Luckily, a whole-home humidifier can be a great way to maintain proper humidity and ensure complete comfort in your home.
Just like the other components of your heating and cooling system, the humidifier calls for regular maintenance to make sure it is clean, effective, and efficient. One of the most important tasks is replacing the water panel.
What is a Humidifier?
A humidifier is an indoor air-quality machine that adds moisture to the air, helping you maintain a desired humidity level throughout your home. Humidifiers are great for helping manage respiratory problems caused by dry air and can prevent furniture from drying out and cracking due to over-dry conditions.
Why Do You Need a Humidifier?
Humidifiers not only help with respiratory issues but also lower the amount of static electricity in your home and make it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature. They also have many other benefits.
Reduce Snoring
While this may not be the number one reason why you need a humidifier, it’s still pretty cool! A humidifier will help reduce snoring volume and frequency by moisturizing the throat and nasal passage.
Really? Yes. That is because dry air worsens snoring. When your home’s air lacks enough moisture, your nose gets congested and your throat swells. This leads to a decrease in the amount of air going through your nose. You then have to breathe through your mouth, which causes snoring.
Protect Wooden Furniture
Wooden furniture can crack and bend when exposed to dry air for too long. By introducing moisture into the air, you can keep your wooden furniture and even wooden floors in top shape. Your investment in quality furniture will last longer with a little help from your humidifier.
Moisturize Your Lip And Skin
When the air in your home is too dry, you may start to experience signs of dehydration such as dry lips and skin. With a humidifier in place, you can keep your skin hydrated and glowing. Because the skin on your hands has fewer oil glands, it is more prone to drying out. Your lips also require humidity to remain soft and hydrated.
Soothe Your Sinuses
When humidity is low, your sinuses can become dry and inflamed. This often leads to congestion, sore throat, and more. A humidifier helps restore moisture in the air, which can help soothe these symptoms. People who suffer from sinus pressure, nose bleeds, and sinus allergies can also benefit from a humidifier.
Good For Houseplants
Just like humans and animals, plants also require a certain amount of humidity to thrive. If the air in your home is too dry, your houseplants may start to suffer. A humidifier can help keep the air’s moisture level optimal for them.
Keep Your Home Warm
Contrary to what you may think, the more moisture there is in your home’s air, the warmer it will feel. Because warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, humidifying your home will make it feel even warmer and more comfortable.
Stop The Spread of Flu Germs
Research shows that the flu virus thrives when humidity levels are low. When you add more moisture to the air, it actually helps stop the spread of germs, so you and your family can stay healthier all winter long.
You can see that there are many great reasons why you need a humidifier. But in order for it to work properly and efficiently, it is important to remember that the water panel needs to be replaced regularly. How often should this be done? Read on to find out!
What is The Water Panel And How Does it Work?
Also known as an evaporator pad, the water panel is a key part of the humidifier system. The absorbent panel, which looks like a square or rectangle with a honeycomb pattern, holds water that is then picked up by the airflow of the furnace. The moisture is added to the warm air that is distributed to different rooms. This process raises or controls the relative humidity (RH) level. In the winter, the ideal indoor RH level is 40-50%.
Why Does The Water Panel Need to be Replaced, And How Often?
Most humidifier manufacturers recommend that the water panel be replaced at least once a heating season or year. The panel should be replaced for a few different reasons.
- First, the air that is being blown through may carry small particles such as dust that can collect and clog the openings of the water panel.
- Second, depending on the hardness of your water, mineral deposits or scale may develop on the surface of the panel.
- Last, but not least, replacing the panel is important for preventing bacteria, viruses, or fungus growth that may occur in wet, dark areas.
How to Replace The Water Panel
Here’s the good news – replacing the water panel of the humidifier is usually quick and easy to do yourself. In fact, it’s not much more difficult than replacing the air filter of your furnace, which you should do periodically as well.
Every unit is different, but it can be as simple as removing the cover of humidifier, removing the old water panel, placing the new panel in the enclosure, inserting the new panel, and securing everything back up. Be sure to read the instructions that came with your humidifier system, or look them up online on the manufacturer’s website.
Making sure the water panel of your humidifier is fresh and clean is an important step for keeping your home comfortable and healthy all winter long.
The Best Humidifier Service is Just a Call Away
If you think that it may be time to add a humidifier to your home or you need service with an existing unit, call on the experts at Robert B. Payne, Inc. Serving the Fredricksburg area, we are here for all your heating and cooling needs. To schedule an appointment, call us today at 540-373-5876.