If you heat with electricity you are likely experiencing very low indoor humidity during this extended cold snap. Low indoor humidity can make your nasal passages dry, skin flaky, lips chapped and you end up shocking everyone or every pet you touch. (The cat is not amused). It can also remove the moisture from your building materials to the point that doors won’t stay closed from shrinkage and even your poor houseplants need extra watering. It can also make your home burn faster in the event of a fire. But extremely low humidity can also make you feel colder.

Crazy isn’t it? We fight high humidity all summer long to feel cooler and now we may need to introduce more humidity to feel warmer, breathe better, stop itchy skin, and make friends with the cat again. That’s why we recommend having a humidity gauge so you know when it is time to introduce more humidity to your indoor environment. How can you do that? With an initial reading of 31% indoor humidity one night last week, our energy auditor knew it was time to pull out the old humidifier to add moisture to their house. The goal is to raise it to a 50% reading. (We’re getting there one refill at a time). Right now we’re also not running the bathroom exhaust fan while showering. The great thing is we are already feeling more warm and cozy without raising the thermostat. So take a moment to learn about your home’s indoor environment this winter. And don’t forget to swap out your HVAC filters this month. Your hardworking HVAC system will appreciate the favor!

Here's a link to the ThermoPro TP50 digital hygrometer our energy auditors like: https://a.co/d/emjuP37

You can also check your local building supply store. Better yet, consider a smart thermostat that displays your indoor humidity reading.