A while ago I read an article about residential humidity control... because I work in an environment where not only are articles about residential humidity control sitting around, but I find them interesting. It really is the most overlooked and underestimated aspect of home climate control. Someday I hope to have central whole home humidity control. Until that becomes possible, I went and got myself a humidifier.

When I say humidifier you're probably thinking the same thing Daniel thought when I told him I was bringing one home. Picture the little bowl shaped plastic device with the spout out the top from which obscene amounts of steam billow out until the wall paper peels from the wall. But this is totally different. It's a cool humidifier, meaning it does not use heat to vaporize the water. It uses a honeycomb filter that sucks up water as air blows across it causing the water to evaporate into vapor. It has an adjustable set point for relative humidities between 35% and 55% so it cycles on an off as needed. And, best of all, it looks cool.

The fan has pretty much been running 24/7 since we turned it on. I was trying to figure out how it could possibly be putting at least 3 gallons of water into the air every day and yet never reach set point. But I think I figured it out. The other day the humidity outside was at 20%. That is so low. When it gets cold outside, I like nothing more than a 30 minute long scalding hot shower to warm up. That combined with humidity hovering around nothing dries my skin out so bad. Winter is typically pretty uncomfortable for me.

And now, the point of the story. I haven't had any problems with dry skin this year. And I don't wake up with severe dry mouth either. I think everyone should go out and get themselves a humidifier this winter and you can thank me in the spring.

Is there such thing as a de-humidifier? I would prefer the humidity at 0%, if possible. I hate humidity. I never have dry skin, so maybe that’s why, but I like it as cold and dry as possible. Now that I’m living in the Houston area, I hate the mornings especially because I finish showering and am already on the verge of sweating again because of all of the effing humidity.

There certainly are dehumidifiers, but I think you just think you want 0% humidity because you live in the armpit of Texas where it’s always 90%. A dehumidifier could bring you back down to 40-50% where you’ll be perfectly comfortable.

what would happen if you put a humidifier and a dehumidifier next to each other? armageddon?

Equilibrium.

Perhaps you’re right; I’m speaking out of ignorance when I address comfortable humidity levels. I do know that I’ve never wanted more humidity, including when I lived in arid Tucson, AZ. Houston has most likely skewed my perception of comfortable humidity levels, however. I always thought El Paso was the armpit of Texas (and Uhmurrica), but I guess Houston does make more sense. El Paso is probably more malodorous though.