This content has been reviewed and updated on July 16, 2024.
Humidifiers and winter go together like peppermint mocha lattes and cozy holiday sweaters. The hydration keeps you looking (and feeling) good when exposed to the drying effects of cold air and central heating. Did you know using a humidifier in the summer can also increase your comfort?
Below, find out why air hydration is still necessary during the humid season, the benefits of a humidifier in the summer and which Canopy device is best for your needs.
4 Factors That Impact Comfort & Wellness During the Summer
The body sweats more during summer to cool off. High humidity makes it challenging for sweat to evaporate, leading to that sticky feeling commonly experienced during the sunny season. If humidity is already high, you might wonder why a humidifier is necessary. Warm-weather activities, indoor air quality and climate are contributors that come to mind.
1. Trips to the Pool & Waterpark
Beyond refreshing fun, do you know what swimming pools and rides at waterparks have in common? Chlorine. The chemical keeps pathogens out of the H2O but removes the skin’s natural oils, resulting in dryness, flakiness and sensitivity. It also zaps oils from hair and nails, leaving them dry and brittle.
2. Time in the Sunshine
We often enjoy more time outdoors during summer. Although spending time in the sun boasts numerous benefits, there are a few drawbacks. Soaking up the sun leaves skin thirsty and needing to replenish its natural lubricating oils. Sun exposure can also cause uncomfortable sunburn.
3. Living in a Dry Climate
Although summer humidity is common in various regions, there are still places where water-laden summer air isn’t a concern. In desert climates, the dry air can strip moisture from your skin and other areas (similar to cold winter air in four-season states).
4. Blasting the AC
There’s a reason summer is the best time of year for AC repair and maintenance pros. Many individuals switch on their air conditioners at the beginning of summer and rely on them to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the season.
Of course, the blast of cold air feels exhilarating on a hot summer day, but running the AC also causes indoor humidity levels to drop. The appliance recycles dry air over and over again, providing ample opportunity for it to draw moisture from your skin, throat, and nasal passages.
Why Are Summer Humidifiers So Handy?
Using a humidifier allows you to proactively address summer's comfort and wellness challenges. A humidifier hydrates the air to help your skin retain moisture, combating the drying effects of chlorinated water from trips to the pool and waterpark, running the AC, living in dry conditions and soaking up the sun.
Speaking of the sun, a humidifier can help nurture sunburned skin. Having your humidifier on your bedside table will hydrate your cracked, peeling skin to aid the repair process. There are numerous additional reasons to invest in a humidifier for summer, including:
Better Sleep
Muggy, humid conditions could leave you tossing and turning in bed at night. Running the AC can help customize your comfort, creating ideal conditions to fall asleep. The dry, conditioning air causes your body to produce more mucus, which can cause snoring and discomfort that disrupts your slumber. The mist-free Canopy Bedside Humidifier hydrates up to 500 square feet of space. Using it at night makes snoring less severe by helping thin mucus and easing throat and nasal passage dryness and inflammation.
Increased Comfort While Out of Town
With summer Fridays at the office and the kids on a months-long break from school, summer is the perfect time for many individuals to travel. Staying in a hotel can provide the creature comforts of home, plus restaurants and other amenities to enjoy during your vacation. If the air in your hotel room feels dry, there are two potential reasons.
The hotel might use dehumidifiers to help combat the sticky, energy-zapped feeling in summer’s humid weather. Furthermore, the hotel might keep the AC cranked in guest rooms to beat the heat, contributing to the dryness.
The Canopy Portable Humidifier is the perfect TSA-approved travel companion. It releases a fine, light mist to increase hotel room hydration while keeping the temperature comfortably cool.
Improved Working Conditions
It might be difficult to concentrate during the workday when you’d rather spend time frolicking in summer’s sunshine. Poor indoor air quality at the office can make it even more challenging to focus on the task at hand.
Exposure to dry office air can dry out your nose, throat and eyes or lead to respiratory issues. Put the Canopy Portable Humidifier near your desk to keep the surrounding office air moist (in the 40% to 60% humidity range)—preventing or reducing poor air quality concerns that impact productivity. Our device’s hydration radius (up to 4 feet) is suitable for office environments, helping balance moisture levels but preventing moisture from damaging your computer’s internal components.
Prevention & Relief for Allergies
Pollen and ragweed seasons coincide with summer. Exposure to these common allergens might cause people in your household to feel under the weather. Use a humidifier to hydrate the air, forcing airborne allergens to the ground. Breathing in the moist air also helps ease the symptoms associated with allergy flare-ups.
Cool mist humidifiers are ideal for busy households because they do not pose safety concerns from hot steam. However, we recommend using a no-mist and no-vapor device, such as the Canopy Large Room Humidifier, to preserve your family’s health and comfort. Our device hydrates up to 1,000 square feet and runs until completely dry to prevent mold and mildew growth. Turn on a fan to help move the hydrated air throughout your space.
Babies have dry, delicate skin and developing immune systems, so the Canopy Nursery Humidifier is perfect for your little one’s comfort. The device hydrates up to 500 square feet. The hydrated air moistens babies' skin and reduces airway inflammation from allergies that contribute to wheezing and a dry cough.
How to Seasonally Optimize Indoor Humidity
To optimize comfort, strive to keep your home’s indoor humidity levels in the 40% to 60% range year-round. Using the Canopy family of humidifiers makes this goal easily attainable. A hygrometer is a helpful tool for measuring humidity levels in home air; these devices measure the moisture content of the air and present the humidity level as a percentage.
Once you know your home’s current humidity level, use your Canopy humidifier to make the appropriate adjustments. You might, for instance, want to keep your humidifier running on the highest setting during winter. In the summer, you might keep it on a lower setting (if it is cool outside or the windows are open).
Conversely, different avenues exist to address excessive humidity in your home. A dehumidifier, for instance, removes moisture from the air, while exhaust fans help move the humid air outside.
