INTRODUCTION
Who can resist? When the temperatures drop, a crackling fire creates a cosy atmosphere and makes cold winter days that much more bearable.
Fireplaces. They’re not only beautiful to look at but on a cold winter evening, they can warm up your room in minutes. But their practicality doesn’t stop there. Wood-burning fireplaces have a far greater influence on the indoor climate than you might think. Did you know they are also great at dehumidifying the surrounding air? It’s true. And with energy costs going through the roof, it’s nice to find a natural method of heating that has a range of other positive features for your home.
Making sure the balance of ventilation and insulation in your home is the goal of any homeowner. This maintains the optimum levels of energy efficiency. If you have a houseful of people or you live in a smaller home, managing moisture levels can be a problem, especially in the cooler months. Humidity and condensation can build up quite quickly when you have the shower going a few times a day, as well as the daily cooking and washing up that are part and parcel of daily life. People add to the humidity too through breathing and sweating. And it gets even worse if you don’t have a tumble drier and have to dry your laundry inside on a wet day. So if the humidity in your home is a problem, installing a wood-burning stove might be part of the answer.
It’s recommended to keep the humidity between 30 and 50 percent to create a well-balanced environment. However, when the humidity drops below 30, it can cause specific issues like dryness and congestion. One fantastic option for increasing your home’s humidity is a humidifier. These handy devices are great, especially during winter or flu seasons.
Humidifiers add moisture to the air, this helps to prevent dryness that can cause irritation to your body in many different ways. Humidifiers can be particularly effective for alleviating dryness of the skin, nose, throat, and lips. They can also ease some of the symptoms caused by the flu or common cold. So as you can imagine, this little [often forgotten] item can be very useful during the winter months.
PREVENTING FLU & EASING COLDS
Studies have noted that humidifiers can reduce the risk of catching the flu. After adding the flu virus to the air with a simulated cough, researchers found that humidity levels above 40 percent rapidly deactivated the virus, making them much less likely to be infectious.
A lot of people experience a dry cough in the winter too. These kinds of coughs can be very irritating, however, with a humidifier the symptoms of these types of coughs can be lessened with added moisture in the air.
GREAT FOR DRY SKIN & HAIR
During the winter many people notice their skin, lips and hair can become very dry. Many types of heating units pump hot, dry air through the house or office, which can make the skin dry, itchy, or flaky. Cold air outside can also dry out the skin.
Use a humidifier to add moisture to the indoor air, this may help to reduce the occurrence of dry, cracked skin.
BENEFITS FOR THE HOME
If you find your houseplants start to go a bit brown and droopy during the winter months, it could be because they’re drying out. Setting up a humidifier can be a good way of providing your plants with the moisture they need without having to remember to water them as frequently.
Likewise, sometimes wooden furniture can develop cracks in it because central heating has lowered the room humidity. A gentle mist could help to ease this. Just be mindful that too much moisture can also have a negative effect on wooden furniture. Humidity can also help to prevent wallpaper and plaster from cracking.
REDUCE SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA & ALLERGIES
Using a humidifier can also be a good way to reduce allergy and Asthma symptoms. If the air is particularly dry, it can dry out the nasal passages triggering excess mucus production, which leads to congestion.
A humidifier could help ease this. People with dry sinuses or airways who are prone to allergic reactions may find that a humidifier relieves their symptoms.
USEFUL HINTS AND TIPS
KEEP YOUR HUMIDIFIER CLEAN
Humidifiers turn water into breathable vapor in the air. If the humidifier isn’t clean inside, you will be breathing in dirty air. Always clean a humidifier thoroughly, water should not sit in the humidifier for too long.
USING ESSENTIAL OILS
Using essential oils for better health is common these days, but did you know that some people swear by adding essential oils to their humidifier. Simply add hot water to your humidifier and put in a few drops of your favourite essential oil, then place the humidifier on top of your wood-burning fireplace, and the oils will scent the room.
MORSØ CLASSIC HUMIDIFIER
The Morsø Cast Iron Humidifier is designed to mitigate the effects of any dry air caused by a wood burning stove. Simply fill the Morso Humidifier with water and place on top of the stove and the humidity of the surrounding area will be lifted.
Made of enamelled cast iron, the kettles are suitable as humidifiers and as a decoration to sit on top of the fireplace.
This Humidifier is available in 4.5 litres and 2 litres.
Product Code: 61853479 | 61853079
W x H x D
Format: 4.5 litre approx. 24.0 x 30.0 x 30.0 cm
Format: 2.0 litre approx. 17.5 x 24.5 x 22.5 cm
Colour: black
Material: cast-iron
Weight : 4.5 litre approx. 4.8 kg
Weight:: 2.0 litre approx. 2.9 kg
(we reserve the right to make technical changes or modifications to the specifications of this product without notice)
If you opt to use a humidifier t is important that you continue to monitor the humidity level with a hygrometer and shut the unit off when it reaches 45%.
REFERENCES
Sylane Indoor Health Matters 4 Reasons to Use A Humidifier https://www.sylvane.com/blog/4-reasons-to-use-a-humidifier-during-flu-season/
https://www.healthline.com/health/humidifiers-and-health#types
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322228
Everlasting Comfort https://www.everlastingcomfort.net/blogs/comfy-reads/humidifier-for-winter
MedeScan https://medescan.com.au/blogs/medetalk/benefits-of-using-a-humidifier-during-winter-in-australia
WebMD Humidifier House to Use and Maintain Them https://www.webmd.com/lung/humidifier-use-clean
https://morsoe.com/us/product/indoor/accessories/humidifiers/kettle_2_0_us
https://www.castworks.com.au/log-grates-and-ash-pans/
