There’s a reason why air appears drier during cold weather than in the summer. That’s since warmer air carries additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your the U.S. home. Starting your gas furnace makes your residence 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 vulnerable to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your home’s air and what you can do to combat it.
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the culprit responsible for making your residence’s air feel dry. Rather, it’s the way it combusts.
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 running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your home 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 residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity steady. They draw all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays locked in the sealed furnace. As an extra perk, they keep your house more cozy while requiring less energy. Switching to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace could save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
In addition to combustion, cold air also naturally seeps into your home during the winter. Lower humidity means the air will snatch moisture quickly 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 across your house.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you install a whole-home system.
It’s no surprise cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s due to the fact you’re more susceptible to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the right humidity level may also restrict 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. Installing 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 alleviate loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and basically anything in your home that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air moves moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Having your house’s humidity at the correct level will keep your home’s furnishings looking their best.
Between steady filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers rely 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 smallest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require a pad. It holds 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 running.
If your house’s air feels less than comfy during the winter, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Call us at 866-397-3787 to request a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert advice on how you can maintain your home’s humidity at just the proper 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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