There’s a reason why air seems drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s since warmer air retains extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your Hillsborough home. Starting 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, such as dry skin, cracked lips and make you more exposed to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your residence’s air and what you can do to combat it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are a Portion of the Trouble
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the thing responsible for making your home’s air feel 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 notice light from the burners when it’s running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is entirely sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to work. Because the furnace continuously uses air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn lowers your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also called a sealed combustion furnace, are ideal for keeping your humidity steady. They take all their combustion air from outside, but it stays locked in the sealed furnace. As an added perk, they keep your residence more cozy while using less energy. Moving to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace may save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
In addition to combustion, cold air also naturally seeps into your residence during colder weather. Lower 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 Even Out Humidity in Your Home
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfortable at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort throughout your home.
These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you upgrade to a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s no surprise cooler weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s because you’re more likely to get sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the right humidity level can also restrict the spread of some viruses. In addition, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have consistent dry skin or eczema, you know just how irritating those conditions make you during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto 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.
Guards the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and basically anything in your house that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is a result of the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to fracture. Balancing your house’s humidity at the right level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between consistent filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers demand a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be done alongside your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets moved through your ductwork. Since it’s independently powered, it can run when the furnace is off.
Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your home’s air feels less than comfy during colder weather, Fras-Air/General Service Experts can help. Call us at 908-448-2154 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert suggestions on how you can balance your residence’s humidity at just the right level. And, like our other services, our work is protected 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.