While your home's heating system is designed to keep you warm during the cold winter months, it can cause your home to become too dry. Symptoms you experience as a result can range from a dry nose and throat to colds. One of the most effective methods of dealing with "dry-home syndrome" is use of a whole-house humidifier. A central humidifier supplies humidity to a home through the ductwork in a forced-air heating system. Whenever the furnace blower kicks on, the low-voltage electrical circuit that operates the humidifier does so as well. The humidifier operates when a room-mounted moisture-sensing device called a humidistat detects the air in the home is too dry. Homes with no duct work or those heated with hot water or electricity cannot use a central humidifier. In these cases, small localized units are the answer. And that's the On The House tip for today.