There’s a reason why air seems drier in the winter than when it’s warmer. That’s due to the fact warmer air retains extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your the U.S. home. Using 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, including dry skin, cracked lips and make you more susceptible to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your house’s air and what you can do to fix it.
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the source responsible for making your home’s air feel dry. Rather, it’s the combustion process.
There are two different types of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can notice light from the burners when it’s running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your home to work. Because the furnace constantly depends on air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your home’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity even. They take all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays trapped in the sealed furnace. As an added perk, they keep your home more comfy while consuming 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 drifts into your house during colder weather. Lower humidity means the air will rob moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort around your house.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll get when you switch to a whole-home system.
It’s typical that cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s due to the fact you’re more likely to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level might also hamper the spread of some viruses. In addition, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you know just how irritating those conditions can be during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Preserving your bedroom at the preferred temperature and humidity level will keep you comfortable at night. It can also decrease loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your house that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air draws moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Having your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Between consistent filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers expect a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be performed at the same time as your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the smallest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets distributed through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can run when the furnace isn’t running.
If your residence’s air feels less than pleasant during the winter, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Call us at 866-397-3787 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert suggestions on how you can balance your house’s humidity at just the right level. And, like our other services, our work is supported by our well-known 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.
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There’s no reason to skip your seasonal maintenance that saves energy and helps ensure your air conditioner and heater will work reliably all season long.
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