Outside Looking In

Humidity check

I rarely get nosebleeds unless something accidentally hits my nose with force. The last few days, however, my nose starting bleeding whenever I blew it.
I happened to have a checkup with my doctor last week and informed him about my nosebleeds.
"Is your house dry?" he asked.
I've always heard that dry air causes your nose to bleed, but my nose has never bled in the winter months before.
My doctor said the dryness affects us more as we age and suggested I purchase a humidifier and try that for a few days to see if it solved the problem. Sure enough, my nose stopped bleeding, and my lips and skin didn't feel as dry.
In the winter months, running your furnace make the dry wintertime air even drier. When the air in your house is too dry, you will have frequent nosebleeds, chapped lips, sinus infections, and sore throats. Anyone with allergies and asthma will also be affected by dry air.
Lack of moisture inside the house during the winter can also cause damage to anything made of wood, such as your doors, window frames, wood floors and furniture by drying out the wood so much that they splinter and crack.
Another way to tell if it's too dry in your house is if you have excess static electricity and get a "shock" when you touch something.
Too much moisture inside your home can cause problems with rotting wood, mold and allergies.
A humidity level around 30-40 percent is ideal indoor humidity in the winter. But the indoor humidity also must be adjusted according to the outdoor temperature.
For instance, when outdoor temperatures are between 20-50 degrees, indoor humidity levels should be less than 40 percent. If outdoor temperatures are between 10-20 degrees, indoor humidity should be less than 35 percent. Outdoor temperatures at 0-10 degrees, humidity inside should be less than 25 percent.
The chart was listed on the humidifier that I purchased. I have a portable weather station that lists temperatures and humidity levels outdoors and indoors. They can be purchased for around $30-$40.

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Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492