MARLBOROUGH, Mass.,
Nov. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- From antique furniture and
photo albums to pianos and even wine, low humidity levels can wreak
havoc on many of our prized possessions. People may be familiar
with the effects of dry air discomforts associated with cold winter
weather like itchy dry skin or scratchy throats, but the impact on
household objects is often overlooked. The designers of
Honeywell Humidifiers and indoor air scientists have
released new research on how everyday household objects suffer
under low humidity conditions and what steps homeowners can take to
combat the effects of dry air.
"Relative humidity levels can drop to as low as ten percent in
the winter months, which is as dry as the Sahara Desert. If
humidity levels are too low, household objects from wood furniture
to artwork can be damaged over time as moisture is pulled from
wood, paper and other porous materials," said Dr. Ted Myatt, ScD., senior scientist with
Environmental Health & Engineering and the University of Rhode Island. "The solution is to
maintain relative humidity levels in the optimal range of 40 to 60
percent by running a humidifier in colder, drier winter months, to
mitigate these effects."
The research conducted found that the following list of 10
household items are most impacted by low relative humidity:
- Wood Furniture: Has your favorite wooden bench seemed a
little shakier? It could be because of low humidity. Wood absorbs
and desorbs water as relative humidity rises and falls, which
causes it to swell and shrink. This results in furniture joints
becoming loose or even pulling apart.
- Musical Instruments: Not sounding quite right? Low
humidity levels may be to blame for your instrument falling out of
tune. Natural wood instruments such as guitars, violins and pianos
can be damaged when the wood contracts resulting in failed glue
joints or cracks.
- Books: Low humidity causes the pages of books to become
more brittle and fragile, and the dimensions of the pages can even
change as the paper absorbs and desorbs water. This leads to
wrinkles in the paper, flaking ink, or warped covers on books.
- Woodwork and Wood Floors: If you've noticed a slight
bend in your wood floors, or gaps between the planks, it could be
because of low humidity. As the wood expands and contracts, mitered
corners can separate and floors can "cup" so that the floor doesn't
remain flat.
- Wine: Does your uncorked bottle of wine not taste right?
Wine corks can dry out, shrink and crack if exposed to low humidity
over time, allowing air to come into contact with the wine and
potentially ruin the bottle.
- Artwork: Maintaining humidity levels is vital for
protecting artwork around the home. Low moisture levels tend to
make paint brittle and prone to cracking, which is especially
detrimental to oil paintings on canvas.
- Stamp Collections: Much like books, repeated absorption
and desorption of water can ruin stamps by making them brittle or
discolored.
- Photograph Collections: Have you noticed your new
photographs looking more like your parents' photo albums? When
photographs curl up at the ends, it's likely due to low humidity
levels. They can also result in the photo emulsion flaking off and
damaging the photograph.
- Walls: Peeling wallpaper and separated drywall seams can
be a sign of low humidity in the home. The porous materials may
crack and separate when exposed to low levels.
- Electronic Equipment: Static electricity brought on by
low humidity levels can damage internal components of computers,
televisions and other electronics – a lot more damaging than
dealing with static in your hair!
Running a Honeywell Humidifier in your home, especially during
the dry winter months, can help maintain relative indoor humidity
levels in the optimal 40 to 60 percent range. Designed for large
areas, the new Honeywell Top Fill Console Humidifier is one option
for protecting items around the home as it releases soothing,
invisible moisture into the room. To confirm when ideal humidity
levels are reached, use a humidity monitor like the Honeywell
Humidity Monitor that displays relative humidity and indoor room
temperature.
For more information on the Honeywell Humidity Monitor and all
Honeywell Humidifiers, please visit
www.HoneywellPluggedIn.com/humidifiers.
About Kaz
A world leader in high quality
healthcare and home environment products, Kaz is a state of the
art, dynamically-managed, global leader in healthcare devices, home
comfort and water filtration products that operates in over 65
countries on six continents. The branded product portfolio
includes PUR® Water Filtration products, Vicks® Thermometers and
Humidifiers, Honeywell® Humidifiers, Heaters, Fans and Air
Cleaners, Braun® Thermometers, SoftHeat® Heating Pads, SmartTemp®
Hot/Cold Packs, Febreze® air purifiers and more. Kaz
USA, Inc. is part of the Helen of
Troy family of companies. For more information about Kaz,
please visit www.kaz.com.
About Helen of Troy Limited
Helen of Troy
Limited (NASDAQ, NM: HELE) is a leading global consumer products
company offering creative solutions for its customers through a
strong portfolio of well-recognized and widely-trusted brands,
including: Housewares: OXO®, Good Grips®, Soft Works®, OXO tot® and
OXO Steel®; Healthcare/Home Environment: Vicks®, Braun®,
Honeywell®, PUR®, Febreze®, Stinger®, Duracraft® and SoftHeat®; and
Beauty: Revlon®, Vidal Sassoon®, Dr. Scholl's®, Pro Beauty Tools®,
Sure®, Pert®, Infusium23®, Brut®, Ammens®, Hot Tools®, Bed Head®,
Karina®, Ogilvie® and Gold 'N Hot®. The Nutritional Supplements
segment was formed with the acquisition of Healthy Directions, a
U.S. market leader in premium doctor-branded vitamins, minerals and
supplements, as well as other health products sold directly to
consumers. The Honeywell® trademark is used under license from
Honeywell International Inc. The Vicks®, Braun®, Febreze® and Vidal
Sassoon® trademarks are used under license from The Procter &
Gamble Company. The Revlon® trademark is used under license from
Revlon Consumer Products Corporation. The Bed Head® trademark is
used under license from Unilever PLC. The Dr. Scholl's® trademark
is used under license from MSD Consumer Care, Inc. For more
information about Helen of Troy Limited, please visit
www.hotus.com.
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SOURCE Kaz