Is A Humidifier Necessary For Hardwood Floors

A properly functioning humidifier will not damage wood floors.

Is a humidifier necessary for hardwood floors.

When you turn on the heat the hot air generated by your furnace eventually seeps out of your home to the outdoors. Humidifiers emit moist air into a room increasing the room s humidity levels. But keeping humidity at the recommended level is still essential for keeping your hardwood floor looking great as well as for a healthy home environment. Warm air migrates to colder environments.

If there is a significant problem with moisture in the home a dehumidifier cannot help enough to prevent problems with the hardwood floors the root cause of the issue will have to be tackled. A hygrometer will help homeowners keep an eye on the level of moisture throughout their homes so they can make adjustments as necessary. If the levels are too high use a dehumidifier or turn up the air conditioning. If the humidity levels are beyond the 35 55 range then make adjustments.

To keep your floors in shape pun intended you need to maintain a certain amount of humidity in your home not eliminate it. Depending on how much moisture and how long the hardwood floor is exposed to it it can do irreparable damage. It s not a dehumidifier you need for your hardwood floors but a whole home humidifier. Check the humidity levels in the rooms where you have your hardwood floors installed using a humidistat or a hydrometer they re both available in hardware stores or home centers.

When it is moist wood expands. Less or more than these ranges can affect your hardwood floors negatively showing signs like gapping buckling cracking splits checks cupping and crowning. Think about it like this. Here s why humidity matters.

They work by pulling the moisture from a water reservoir either by using an evaporative belt or a rotating drum covered in absorbent padding. Relative humidity levels in the home. Yes manufacturers have developed different types of hardwood floor constructions to improve and control the wood natural reaction to changes in humidity. When the air is dry wood shrinks.

The humidity levels in your home are extremely important for maintaining your wood floors because moisture loss causes wood to shrink and moisture absorption causes wood to swell. Humidifiers are seldom necessary in temperate climates but in cold dry regions they are very helpful in keeping the humidity levels at a comfortable level. You can protect your wood floors with a whole home humidifier most wood flooring manufacturers require the homeowner to keep their floors in a consistent environment because wood responds to temperature and humidity changes. If the area that you live in has less than 30 humidity most of the year then using a humidifier will help keep your wood from drying out.