There’s a reason why air feels drier during colder months than when it’s warmer. That’s because warmer air carries extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your Kansas City home. Turning on 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, including dry skin, cracked lips and make you more likely to get sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your residence’s air and what you can do to fix it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Process is Part of the Issue
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the thing responsible for making your house’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the way it combusts.
There are two different kinds of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can detect light from the burners when it’s on. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is entirely sealed.
A standard furnace, also called an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to work. Because the furnace continuously uses air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also called a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity steady. They take all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays trapped inside the sealed furnace. As another perk, they keep your residence more comfortable while using less energy. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace could save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Besides combustion, cold air also naturally drifts into your residence during cold weather. Reduced humidity means the air will rob moisture quickly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It’s also to blame for static electricity.
How to Balance Humidity in Your House
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will generate that comfort across your home.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you switch to a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s typical that winter is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. That’s since you’re more likely to get sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level might also restrict the spread of some viruses. Also, it can help with year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have consistently dry skin or eczema, you understand just how aggravating those conditions are during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the right 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 Home
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your house that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Having your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between regular filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers depend on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be completed along with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t use a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets moved through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can work when the furnace isn’t on.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Today
If your residence’s air feels less than comfortable during colder weather, Neal Harris Service Experts can help. Call us at 816-787-0500 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert recommendations on how you can maintain your house’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is protected by our legendary 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.