Dry Skin!!! humidifier?

[jlightning]

I run my wood stove part time in the winter and I have noticed that I am getting static shocks and my skin is very dry especially in the cold months. I am thinking about purchasing a humidifier but don't know much about them. I am looking at an Essick 1201 humidifier which seems to be well liked but have also seen the forced air options which look to be very simple to maintain once installed. Any body here use humidifiers?

 

[Swedishchef]

I used to use humidifiers. Now I don't. I just boil a pot of water on my stove every 2 days. I add some potpourri and it makes the house smell nice. LOL. What would happen is simple: I'd buy 1 humidifier per year and got fed up of changing filters, cleaning dried mineral deposits, etc.

BUt yes, I try to humidify my house.

Andrew

 

[Bad LP]

I have a Honeywell Tru Steam 12GPD unit installed in my fan coil unit. With the RO water kit and the cost of the unit itself it's very finicky for a unit that costs so friggin much. The house was at 20% on Thursday night when I got here and it's currently at 28%. Moisture just started forming on the windows so it's off now. That's with an old mule downstairs in the basement plus the 550 insert running but the house is 74 right now. House is 2500 sqft of floor but big volume with 10 foot 1st flr and cathedral ceilings up top. 2007 construction.

I went that route for the ease of interaction with the Honeywell Tstats but I'm second guessing myself. Aprilaire has an ultrasonic unit I'm told that doesn't have all the problems these units do. I manage property well south of here with 6 of these same units installed. It might be worth a look for you.

 

[hamsey]

Just got the 1201 and it puts out a lot of moisture. We also have a humidifier on the furnace. Now that the furnace is running quite a bit I turned off the 1201 worried about to much moisture. It does a good job.

 

[velvetfoot]

Skin lotion!!

 

[jlightning]

I bathed in my wife's skin lotion yesterday. I still smell like flowers!

 

[jlightning]

I also have hard water so I may install a water softener first and if I still have the dry skin issue then purchase a humidifier.

 

[velvetfoot]

I love my water softener. The slippery feel takes a little getting used to, just because it's different. I like it now.

 

[Corey]

Lotion, soft water, hydrating shower wash, etc are likely to help with dry skin better than a humidifier. Even if you keep your house around an 'ideal' 50 % RH, the outside, work, etc are likely to be drier in the winder.

A humidifier will help with the static. Depending on how big your house is, how drafty, how dry/cold the outside air is, how much humidity you 'naturally' generate inside (ie showers, clothes drying, cooking, etc) - you could need anywhere from 'a bit' of extra humidity to 'a whole lot'. For a little bit of humidity a stove top pot can help. Though the small pots don't have much 'water surface' to evaporate, and a lot of it can re-condense on the walls before it ever makes steam out the spout. I use a 9x13 cake pan which has a bigger surface area and any evaporation from the surface goes right into the air.

House plants can also make a contribution to indoor humidity.

 

[velvetfoot]

I realize this might be classified as too much information, but I can personally vouch for this back lotion applicator.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D8ZGAM/ref=pe_385040_127541850_TE_item

 

[jlightning]

I think I'll skip the humidifier and instead install a water softener and get a lotion applicator....lol!

 

[Swedishchef]

LOL. I like the idea!

The basement in my house goes to about 25%. This has cause my house to settle a bit and caused the gyprock upstairs to crack along the seem (middle). Unfortunately the contractor did not install a full sheet across the seems, it's a 9 inch strip. Now I need to tear it down and put up full size sheets or find some nice fancy mouldings to put in the centre of my ceiling

Andrew

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Its a losing battle. my house is 20 % humidity but there is condensation on the windows. I try to keep hydrated with extra beer in the winter.

 

[AroostookDave]

When you get older your skin doesn't supply its own oils as well. Winter air is much drier and each year when my skin gets itchy I start applying moisturizer. No smelly ones, just plain cheap moisturizer such as you can find at Walmart. I have the same applicator for the upper back used by velvetfoot, bought on the internet. Use after every shower, works great.

 

[D8Chumley]

I use my daughters stash of baby oil to hydrate myself (it's cheap ), No-Crack from Duluth Trading Co for the hands ( I work construction, outside a lot ), Cast iron kettle and a small pot with potpourri on the stovetop. It helps but not perfect. I also have a clothes drying rack I hang all my work clothes on in the stove room. I read that here, helps put some moisture back in the air, and saves a little on the electric bill.