How do I make my house humid? It is so darn dry!?

Question

My house is so darn dry in the winter time and I would love some tips on how to make it more humid! I wake up every morning with a dried up mouth and nose! Thanks!

Answer 1

Do you have radiators or heaters in your rooms? The best and cheapest solution is to hang small jars of water over the side (not recommended with open element heaters though) so that the water evaporates in the warmth and is distributed round the room. Or else, get hold of some of those porous pottery type containers (like the ones for holding pot ourri and pot pourri oil) and suspend those once filled with water. The water evaporates through the pottery and keeps the room air a bit more moist.

Answer 2

In addition to all the suggestions about humidifiers - and they ARE a great idea - also add plants. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The soil for many plants will also release moisture (don't kill your plants - keep them watered!) and some plants do really well on a dish of stones that has water at the bottom. Be careful...not all houseplants like soggy roots!
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Another idea is to keep your bathroom door open while taking a shower (or immediately afterward) and let the steam out; hang the damp towels on your radiators (if you have the standing type) or over the shower rod when you're done drying off.

I also use the aluminum containers that fit between the "fins" on my radiators. I know if 2 types - the kind that hangs down on wire hangers from the top...and the skinny kind that fits between the fins sideways and has a "filling" area that all fits at the bottom of the fins and rests on (or next to) the knob.

Beware of buying humidifiers that require filters - after a year or two, the manufacturers sometimes change the models and then you have to search the ends of the earth for "your" type of filter - or end up paying a lot for replacements.

The baby-type of vaporizer is great...usually a cool mist (so no one gets hurt with the hot steam) and no filter and all parts are washable. They last for years!

The big tub with a rotating filter type of humidifier can get moldy, and then you're blowing moldy air into your living space! If you get this type, wash the tank frequently with a mild bleach solution to prevent that.

Drink lots of water and stay hydrated - that will help your internals.

Put moisturizing lotion on right after your shower.

Get a fish tank! The open water will also evaporate into the air, and you can see immediately when to add more water.

Keep your heat set a little lower, especially in your bedroom at night.

If you have a woodstove, get a kettle or humidifier-type (like a pretty enamel-covered cast iron) dish that sits on top and will release the moisture into the air. These run dry frequently, so keep an eye out. Or use it with a cast iron trivet, to keep the bottom off the top of the woodstove and it won't run dry as often. My wood stove can evaporate 2 gallons of water a night.

Hope this was really helpful!

Answer 3

You will need to purchase a humidifier. They usually run for just under $50, but will vary depending upon the size of your house.

If you have a thrift shop nearby, try there. 'Tis the season to be putting those up.

If you buy a new one, make sure that you get a hygrometer with it. This is like a thermometer, but it measures the amount of humidity in the air and will show you a comfort range and where you are compared to that. You don't want the house to be too humid because that leads to other problems.

Answer 4

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RE:
How do I make my house humid? It is so darn dry!?
My house is so darn dry in the winter time and I would love some tips on how to make it more humid! I wake up every morning with a dried up mouth and nose! Thanks!

Answer 5

I lived in Colorado for seven years, and the winters there are terribly dry - indoors, the humidity level would often drop into the single digits. I got several ultrasonic "cool-mist" humidifiers that helped enormously. If you own your house, and can afford it, a whole-house humidifier is another answer. It is attached to your central heating system and puts moisture directly into the warm air. Even with a whole-house system, you may want to put an ultrasonic humidifier into you room at night - waking up with dry skin, eyes, and throat is NOT fun.

Answer 6

House Is Dry

Answer 7

You should come to where i work! Its worse than a desert in July! What to do is, go to Kmart and get a humifier, Not the kind tho that spews steam in the air..Get the kind that has a wick and a fan. The fan blows on the wick and emits the water into the air instead of the steam peeling off your wallpaper! I actually need to get one myself, the one i had, the wick needed changed (change the wick once a year) and i didnt want to bother with it so i left it when i moved. But really, those are the best kind to get..and i think they are only about $30 for that type of humidifier.

Answer 8

I live in a one bedroom apt. that is SOOOOOOO dry.I finally broke down and bought a Slant Fin humidifier; it cost $100 but is the type hospitals use; it has an ultraviolet light that kills all germs/bacteria and thus avoiding that white powder that a regular humidifier would throw out.....yes it's a lot of money but why not get the best? it is easy to take apart and clean, which is a BIG thing for me........look into it!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

Buy a humidifier. They sell them at any department store. Another more involved and expensive way is to take steps to make your house more air tight. Install a vapor retarder behind your drywall or install newer insulation.

Answer 10

You should buy a humidifier for your room and a few smaller ones for the rest of your house. This should help put some moister in the air with out causing any harm.