Static electricity in the winter is more than a nuisance. It can damage electronics, and it’s a sign that your home’s air is too dry. In the dry indoor air of winter, you’re more prone to pick up stray electrons, and when you touch something that conducts electricity, including other people, the electrons flow between you and the object. If the voltage is high enough, you’ll feel a shock.
When you touch something that has low voltage components, the static electricity can travel to those parts and harm them. You may not even know that you’ve damaged an internal component until weeks later when the device fails. Opening a computer case and touching one of its boards can cause it to fail, as well.
Static charges occur when the air has less than 30 percent humidity, which is neither healthy for you nor your home. Dry air robs the moisture from your skin and respiratory tract. Dry air depletes the moisture from anything made from wood, which can shrink or crack as a result.
It’s easier to keep your home’s humidity at optimal levels, between 30 and 55 percent, than dealing with the consequences of dry air. Introducing water vapor by simmering water on the stove or decorating with house plants increases humidity, as do portable humidifiers.
All these methods require a fair amount of attention, but the best way to humidify your home is nearly maintenance free and controls the amount of humidity throughout your home. Whole-house systems work with forced-air furnaces to deliver water vapor through your ductwork silently and with high energy efficiency.
These systems attach to your HVAC system and use absorbent pads that water trickles over. A humidistat controls the amount of moisture the humidifier delivers. These systems tap into your home’s plumbing for the water supply and drainage. Unlike portable humidifiers, a whole-house system needs little maintenance. Portable systems may require distilled water and weekly cleaning, which adds to their expense and your time commitment.
If you’d like to learn more about controlling static electricity in your Dayton area home, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services. We’ve provided superior HVAC services for the Dayton area since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Static Electricity and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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