Why a Gas Furnace Dries Out Your Residences Air and What to Do About It
There’s a reason why air feels drier during cold weather than when it’s hotter. That’s due to the fact warmer air holds more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your Windsor house. Using your gas furnace makes your home feel warmer but can also dry out the indoor air. Dry air can transport a whole host of ailments, such as dry skin, cracked lips and make you more susceptible to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your home’s air and what you can do to resolve it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are Part of the Issue
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the thing responsible for making your house’s air feel dry. Rather, it’s the combustion process.
There are two different kinds of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can notice light from the burners when it’s on. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is totally sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your house to work. Because the furnace constantly uses air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn lowers your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are ideal for keeping your humidity even. They take all their combustion air from outside, but it stays contained within the sealed furnace. As an additional perk, they keep your residence more warm while requiring less energy. Moving to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace could save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Other than combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your house during cold weather. Lower humidity means the air will steal moisture quickly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.
How to Balance Humidity in Your Home
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort throughout your residence.
These are just a couple humidifier benefits you’ll get when you switch to a whole-home system.
Enhanced Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s common that cooler weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. That’s since you’re more susceptible to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under specific airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level may also hamper the spread of some viruses. Also, it can alleviate year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have consistently dry skin or eczema, you realize just how aggravating those conditions are during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the preferred temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also reduce loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your house that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air pulls moisture from the wood and causes it to fracture. Balancing your residence’s humidity at the right level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Needed
Between regular filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers expect a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be performed along with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the smallest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets moved through your ductwork. Because it’s independently powered, it can run when the furnace isn’t on.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your home’s air feels less than comfortable during cold weather, Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts can help. Call us at 226-773-3357 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert advice on how you can keep your house’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is protected by our famous 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for one year.*
*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.