There’s a reason why air seems drier during cold weather than when it’s hotter. That’s since warmer air carries additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Longmont house. Starting your gas furnace makes your house 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 likely to get sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your house’s air and what you can do to fix it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are a share the Issue
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the culprit responsible for making your home’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the combustion process.
There are two different kinds 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 entirely sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your home to combust. Because the furnace constantly uses air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your home’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are ideal for keeping your humidity steady. They take all their combustion air from outside, but it stays locked inside the sealed furnace. As an additional advantage, they keep your house more comfortable while requiring 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 moves into your residence during the winter. Reduced humidity means the air will snatch moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.
How to Even Out 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 generate that comfort around your residence.
These are just a couple humidifier benefits you’ll get when you upgrade to a whole-home system.
Enhanced Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s common that cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s because you’re more susceptible to get sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level may also hamper the spread of some viruses. Additionally, it can help with year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you know just how aggravating those conditions can be during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Keeping your bedroom at the preferred temperature and humidity level will keep you comfortable at night. It can also help with loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your Home
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your house that’s wood doesn’t like it when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Keeping your house’s humidity at the right level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Needed
Between regular filter changes and continuous refilling, portable humidifiers depend on 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 lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t use a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported through your ductwork. Because it’s independently powered, it can work when the furnace isn’t on.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Now
If your home’s air feels less than comfortable during colder weather, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 303-647-5749 to request a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert recommendations on how you can keep your house’s humidity at just the right 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.