There’s a reason why air feels drier during cold weather than when it’s hotter. That’s due to the fact warmer air carries additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true for your Sharonville home. Starting your gas furnace makes your home feel warmer but can also dry out the indoor air. Dry air can bring a whole host of ailments, including 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 counter it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are a Portion of the Trouble
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the culprit responsible for making your house’s air seem 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 notice light from the burners when it’s on. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your house to function. Because the furnace constantly relies on air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are better at keeping your humidity even. They draw all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays contained in the sealed furnace. As another advantage, they keep your house more warm while requiring less energy. Switching to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace can save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Other than combustion, cold air also naturally drifts into your home during cold weather. Reduced humidity means the air will rob moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also causes static electricity.
How to Stabilize Humidity in Your Residence
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfortable at a time, a whole-house humidifier will spread that comfort throughout your house.
These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll get when you install a whole-home system.
Enhanced Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s common that cooler weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other ailments. That’s due to the fact you’re more likely to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under specific airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level may also restrict the spread of some viruses. In addition, it can weaken year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have consistent dry skin or eczema, you understand just how irritating those conditions can be during winter. Installing a whole-house humidifier will help your skin retain more moisture.
Better Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the right temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also alleviate loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Defends the Wood in Your Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your residence that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air draws moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Keeping your home’s humidity at the right level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between frequent filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers rely on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be completed at the same time as your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require a pad. It holds water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can work when the furnace isn’t running.
Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Now
If your home’s air feels less than pleasant during colder weather, Knochelmann Service Experts can help. Call us at 859-905-0834 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert suggestions on how you can keep your residence’s humidity at just the proper level. And, like our other services, our work is backed 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.