There’s a reason why air feels drier in the winter than when it’s warmer. That’s since warmer air carries more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Concord house. Turning on your gas furnace makes your house 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 vulnerable to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your home’s air and what you can do to fix it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are Part of the Problem
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the culprit responsible for making your house’s air feel 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 detect light from the burners when it’s heating. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also called an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to function. Because the furnace continuously requires air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also called a sealed combustion furnace, are best for keeping your humidity even. They draw all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays locked inside the sealed furnace. As an extra perk, they keep your home more comfy while consuming 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®.
Other than combustion, cold air also naturally drifts into your residence during cold weather. 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 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 around your house.
These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll get when you install a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s no surprise winter is the worst time for colds, flu and other ailments. That’s since you’re more apt to get 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. Also, it can weaken year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you know just how aggravating those conditions make you during winter. Installing a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Preserving 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.
Protects the Wood in Your Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your house 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 split. Keeping your house’s humidity at the correct level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between regular filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers depend on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be performed alongside your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require 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 run when the furnace isn’t running.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your residence’s air feels less than pleasant during cold weather, Freschi Service Experts can help. Call us at 925-384-1303 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert advice on how you can keep your residence’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is backed by our famous 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.