During Chicago’s long, dry winters, the air inside your home can become painfully dry. Low humidity leads to cracked lips, itchy skin, static electricity, and even damage to your floors and furniture.
If you’ve been asking yourself how to raise humidity in your home, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are easy, inexpensive ways to increase indoor moisture and more advanced HVAC solutions for lasting comfort.
This guide from Deljo Heating & Cooling covers both. From quick fixes to professional whole-home options, we can help you stay healthy, comfortable, and protected all winter long.
What Is the Ideal Humidity Level in a Home?
Before you can raise humidity, it helps to know your goal. Most homes are most comfortable between 30% and 50% relative humidity (RH). Levels below 30% often cause dryness and discomfort, while going above 60% can lead to mold and condensation issues.
You can track your humidity with an inexpensive hygrometer from any hardware store. Check readings in a few rooms to understand where your home needs help most.
Why Your Home’s Humidity Drops in Winter
Cold outdoor air naturally holds less moisture. When that air is heated indoors, its relative humidity plummets (sometimes below 20%). Combine that with forced-air heating, drafty windows, and long furnace runtimes, and your home becomes a desert.
Dry air not only affects your comfort but can also:
- Make you more susceptible to colds and allergies
- Cause wood floors, doors, and furniture to crack
- Increase static electricity
- Dry out skin and sinuses
Now, let’s look at how to raise humidity in your home effectively.
Quick, Natural Ways to Raise Humidity in Your Home
You don’t need expensive equipment to make your home more comfortable right away. These DIY methods are effective, affordable, and easy to maintain.
Simmer Water on the Stove
Fill a pot with water and let it simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes. Add citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, or herbs for a pleasant aroma. Steam from the pot will quickly add humidity to nearby rooms. Just remember to stay nearby and turn off the stove when you’re done.
Use Steam from Showers and Baths
After a hot shower or bath, leave the bathroom door open and let the steam flow into the surrounding rooms. You can also leave the bathwater to cool before draining it. As it evaporates, it naturally adds moisture to the air.
Place Bowls of Water Near Heat Sources
Set small bowls or vases of water near radiators, heating vents, or sunny windowsills. The heat speeds up evaporation, helping to raise humidity gradually. Decorative indoor fountains work, too, and add a calming visual touch.
Air-Dry Laundry Indoors
Hang damp clothes or towels on a drying rack instead of using the dryer. As they dry, they release moisture into the air. This is a simple way to increase humidity and save energy.
Add Houseplants
Plants naturally release moisture through transpiration, helping to humidify the air around them. Grouping several plants together can make a noticeable difference. Just keep the soil moist (but not soggy) and avoid overwatering.
Try a DIY Humidifier
Place a damp sponge or towel in a shallow pan of water and set it near a warm vent. As the water evaporates, it adds gentle, steady humidity to the room. Replace the water daily to prevent bacterial growth.
Mechanical Solutions: Humidifiers That Actually Work
DIY methods are great for small spaces, but if you want consistent, whole-home comfort, a humidifier is the best long-term solution.
Room or Portable Humidifiers
If you want a simple, effective way to control moisture in specific rooms, a portable humidifier is an excellent option. These units are best for smaller spaces and can provide quick relief from dry indoor air when used correctly.
- Perfect for bedrooms, offices, and nurseries.
- Available in cool mist, warm mist, ultrasonic, or evaporative styles.
- Clean daily or weekly to prevent bacteria and mineral buildup.
- Use distilled water in hard-water areas to prevent white dust.
Because portable humidifiers only affect the rooms they’re placed in, they’re ideal for renters or anyone who needs humidity on a smaller scale. For consistent, whole-home comfort, however, a furnace-mounted humidifier is the better long-term solution.
Whole-Home Humidifiers
For maximum comfort, install a whole-home humidifier directly on your HVAC system. This type of humidifier:
- Automatically regulates humidity across your entire home
- Works quietly and efficiently through your furnace ductwork
- Reduces static, dry skin, and wood damage
- Requires minimal maintenance
Deljo Heating & Cooling installs, maintains, and calibrates whole-home humidifiers for Chicago-area homeowners. Our team can help you find the right model and ensure your humidity levels stay perfectly balanced all year.
Learn more about humidifiers at Deljo.
How to Maintain Humidity Without Overdoing It
Even when you’re learning how to raise humidity in your home, balance is key. Too much humidity can lead to mold, condensation, and musty odors. To keep moisture levels healthy:
- Seal air leaks and drafts to keep conditioned air stable.
- Use ceiling fans on low (reverse) to circulate moisture evenly.
- Don’t block vents or returns — air needs to flow freely.
- Wipe windows and sills if condensation forms.
- Run exhaust fans sparingly in winter; you want to retain some steam from showers and cooking.
Regularly checking your hygrometer ensures your efforts are working and not going too far.
When to Call a Professional
If you’ve tried these tips and your home still feels dry, or if you’re constantly battling static shocks and cracked woodwork, it’s time to call Deljo Heating & Cooling.
We offer:
- Whole-home humidifier installation and service
- Indoor air quality assessments
- Comprehensive HVAC maintenance plans
Our technicians can determine why your humidity levels remain low and provide the most efficient, long-lasting solution for your Chicago home.
Bring Comfort Back with Deljo Heating & Cooling
If you’re tired of guessing how to raise humidity in your home or constantly fighting dry air every winter, Deljo can help. We’ve been keeping Chicago homes comfortable for over 100 years, offering expert HVAC service, humidifier installation, and reliable indoor air quality solutions.
Call Deljo Heating & Cooling today or request your free whole-home humidifier estimate online.
