There’s a reason why air appears drier in the winter than in the summer. That’s since warmer air carries extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your Ravenna residence. 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, including dry skin, cracked lips and make you more likely to get 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 Procedures are a share the Problem
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the source responsible for making your house’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the way it combusts.
There are two different styles of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can detect light from the burners when it’s heating. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is totally sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your home to function. Because the furnace consistently requires air to burn, it will also draw in cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your home’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity steady. They take all their combustion air from outside, but it stays trapped within the sealed furnace. As an extra advantage, they keep your house more comfy while needing less energy. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace may save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Besides combustion, cold air also naturally seeps into your home during colder weather. Reduced humidity means the air will steal moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.
How to Stabilize Humidity in Your Home
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will generate that comfort around your residence.
These are just a couple humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you upgrade to a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
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 likely to get sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level might also hamper the spread of some viruses. In addition, it can help with year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you realize just how uncomfortable those conditions can be during winter. Installing a whole-house humidifier will help your skin retain more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the right temperature and humidity level will keep you cozy at night. It can also help with loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Guards the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and most anything in your residence that’s wood doesn’t like it when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air pulls moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Balancing 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 constant refilling, portable humidifiers require a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be completed alongside your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need 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 be in use when the furnace isn’t running.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your home’s air feels less than comfy during the winter, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 330-236-4793 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert suggestions on how you can keep your home’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.