There’s a reason why air appears drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s due to the fact warmer air carries extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your Girard house. Turning on 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 susceptible 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 Process is a Portion of the Problem
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the source responsible for making your house’s air feel dry. Rather, it’s the combustion procedures.
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 running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your house to combust. Because the furnace continuously relies on air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also called a sealed combustion furnace, are better at keeping your humidity even. They pull all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays contained inside the sealed furnace. As an added bonus, they keep your house more comfy while needing 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 flows into your home during the winter. Decreased humidity means the air will rob moisture fast from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It’s also to blame for static electricity.
How to Stabilize Humidity in Your House
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort around your house.
These are just a couple humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you upgrade to a whole-home system.
Improved Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s common that cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s due to the fact you’re more susceptible to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level might also slow the spread of some viruses. In addition, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you understand just how uncomfortable those conditions are during winter. Installing a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Better Sleep
Preserving your bedroom at the ideal temperature and humidity level will keep you cozy at night. It can also alleviate loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Guards the Wood in Your Home
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your home that’s wood doesn’t like it when humidity is too low. This is a result of the fact dry air pulls moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Having your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Needed
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 performed in tandem with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the smallest 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. Since it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace isn’t on.
Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Today
If your residence’s air feels less than pleasant during the winter, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 330-269-7235 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert recommendations on how you can keep your home’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is supported 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.