The Short Answer Is: To reduce static shock in the home during winter, individuals can increase humidity levels by using a humidifier. Moisture in the air helps prevent the buildup of static electricity. Additionally, regularly moisturizing the skin, using anti-static sprays on fabrics, and grounding oneself by touching a metal object before touching electronic devices can further minimize static shock occurrences.
Winter is a time of the year that brings many surprises, some of which are not always pleasant. One of the most unpleasant surprises that you can experience in your home during the winter months is static shock. Static electricity builds up in your body, and when you touch something that conducts electricity, the static electricity flows out of your body, causing the shock. This can range from a mild jolt to a painful and even dangerous shock.
However, there are things that you can do to prevent this from happening in your home this winter. In this blog, we will explore some tips to avoid static electricity shocks in your home this winter, brought to you by Williams Comfort Air, an Indianapolis heating service company.
One of the main causes of static shock is dry air. During the winter months, the air inside your home is often dry due to the heating system and the cold air outside. The dry air causes your skin to become dry and cracked, which can make it easier for static electricity to build up in your body.
One of the ways to prevent static shock is to use moisturizers on your skin. A good quality moisturizer will help keep your skin hydrated and reduce the chances of static charges building up in your body. Applying moisturizer to your hands, arms, and other parts of your body that come in contact with conductive objects can help you avoid static shock during cold weather.
As mentioned previously, dry air is one of the primary causes of static shock. Therefore, to counter this, you can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air inside your home and maintain proper relative humidity levels. Humidifiers work by adding moisture to the air to increase indoor relative humidity.
Proper relative humidity helps to keep your skin hydrated and prevent static electricity shocks and static build up in your body. Additionally, humidifiers can help to improve the overall air quality in your home by reducing the amount of dust and other allergens in the air.
Another effective way of preventing static shock is to use mats with anti static properties inside your home. Anti-static mats work by discharging static charge from your body as soon as you step on them. These mats are usually made of conductive materials that help to dissipate static electricity and reduce the chances of a shock. You can place anti-static mats in areas of your home where you are likely to experience more static shocks, such as the entrance and exit points.
Another way to prevent static shock is to wear shoes with rubber soles. Rubber is an excellent insulator, which means that it does not conduct electricity, unlike leather soled shoes and other materials. Therefore, wearing shoes with rubber soles can help to prevent static shocks and positively charged ions from building up in your body. Additionally, shoes with rubber soles also help to reduce the chances of slipping on wet or icy surfaces during the winter months.
Fabric softeners are another effective way of preventing static shock in your home. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain chemicals that help to reduce static electricity from clothing and other fabrics inside your home. When you use fabric softeners, your clothes become more conductive, which means that electricity can flow through them more easily, and the chances of a shock are reduced.
Wearing natural fibers such as cotton clothing, wool, and silk during the winter season can help in avoiding static shock to a great extent. The reason behind this is the excellent ability of natural fibers to absorb moisture from the air, which, in turn, prevents charges of static electricity buildup. Synthetic fabrics, on the other hand, have an opposite effect as they tend to accumulate electrical charges due to their inability to absorb moisture.
Static shock is an unpleasant experience that can be dangerous in certain situations. However, there are several ways to prevent static shock in your home this winter. If you need assistance with improving the air quality in your home or requesting a free estimate on installing whole house humidifiers, feel free to contact Williams Comfort Air, and our expert technicians will be glad to help you.