The recommended indoor relative humidity (percentage of moisture in the air) level is 35%.

Many homes can have a relative humidity level as low as 7% in the winter. Pneumococcus, staphylococcus, and streptococcus bacteria die up to 20 times faster at relative humidity between 45% and 55%, than above 70% or below 20%.

One of the most common health issues that plague our society is dehydration. Most of the tissue in the body is composed of water. If it loses the water, the tissue dries up, its elasticity goes, and with it function declines. Besides dry skin, the symptoms of dehydration include chronic joint and muscle pain, raspy throat, sore eyes, and difficulty concentrating. Humidification can protect your investments.

Controlling the amount of moisture in the air is necessary for your family's health. Dry air in your home can make your throat feel dry, and cause or aggravate respiratory ailments. During extremely cold weather, your home loses humidity to the outdoors and may drop to as low as 5% relative humidity. Cold air inside a home heated to 73 degrees can have a relative humidity approaching 6%. By comparison, typical humidity in the Sahara Desert is about 25%. Generally, one does not want to have a home humidity any lower than 30%. Optimal comfort is considered to be achieved at 40-55% humidity. Health institutions recommend that your home's relative humidity should be kept between 30% and 55% during the winter. Lower levels aggravate skin allergies and respiratory infections, and higher levels increase the spread mold, bacteria and viruses. Dust mites spread when the humidity is above 50%.

Inadequate humidification during cold weather is one of the major causes of respiratory infections. The heating season causes many people to experience repeated attacks of winter colds. Winter is blamed for these problems, but the actual cause is dryness, which effects the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Relative humidity also has a significant effect on controlling the occurrence of airborne infections.

A newly released unique Canada Blower compact steam humidifier will improve health and comfort while protecting valuable objects and eliminating static electricity in the home.

This element type electric power steam humidifier has the following features:

• Capacities from 5–12lb/hr (2-5 kg/hr) of steam. • On/off operation, modulating control is optional. • Permanent cleanable stainless steel evaporation chamber. • Self-cleaning elements. • Simple control wiring using pre-assembled cables with standard jacks. • Easy to install, operate and maintain.