There’s a reason why air feels drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s because warmer air carries more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Windsor home. Turning on your gas furnace makes your home feel warmer but can also dry out the indoor air. Dry air can carry a whole host of ailments, like dry skin, cracked lips and make you more vulnerable to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your home’s air and what you can do to counter it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are Part of the Issue
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the culprit responsible for making your residence’s air appear dry. Rather, it’s the combustion procedures.
There are two different types of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can see light from the burners when it’s heating. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is entirely sealed.
A standard furnace, also called an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your residence to function. Because the furnace continuously uses air to burn, it will also draw in cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn lowers your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also called a sealed combustion furnace, are better at keeping your humidity even. They take all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays contained inside the sealed furnace. As an extra bonus, they keep your home more comfortable while using less energy. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace might save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
In addition to combustion, cold air also naturally moves into your house during cold weather. Reduced humidity means the air will steal moisture quickly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It’s also to blame for static electricity.
How to Stabilize Humidity in Your House
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room pleasant at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort across your home.
These are just a couple humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you upgrade to a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s typical that cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s since you’re more apt to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under specific airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level may also hamper the spread of some viruses. Also, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you recognize just how irritating those conditions can be during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Keeping your bedroom at the ideal temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also help with loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Guards the Wood in Your Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your home that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to fracture. Keeping your house’s humidity at the right level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between steady filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers rely on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be done at the same time as your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported through your ductwork. Since it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace isn’t on.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Now
If your residence’s air feels less than cozy during colder weather, Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts can help. Call us at 226-773-3357 to schedule a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert suggestions on how you can maintain your house’s humidity at just the right 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.