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 more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Richmond 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 exposed to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your house’s air and what you can do to resolve it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Process is Part of the Trouble
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the culprit responsible for making your house’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the combustion process.
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 completely sealed.
A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your home to work. Because the furnace continuously depends on air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also called a sealed combustion furnace, are best for keeping your humidity steady. They take all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays locked within the sealed furnace. As another bonus, they keep your residence more warm while requiring less energy. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace might save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
In addition to combustion, cold air also naturally seeps into your home during cold weather. Lower 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 House
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room pleasant at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort around your home.
These are just a couple humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you switch to a whole-home system.
Improved Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s no surprise cooler weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other ailments. That’s since you’re more apt to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under specific airflow conditions, air at the right humidity level can also resist the spread of some viruses. Additionally, it can alleviate year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you recognize just how irritating those conditions can be during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Keeping your bedroom at the preferred temperature and humidity level will keep you comfortable at night. It can also reduce loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your Home
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and basically anything in your house that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is a result of the fact dry air pulls moisture from the wood and causes it to fracture. Balancing your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between steady filter changes and continuous refilling, portable humidifiers expect 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 smallest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t use a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can run when the furnace isn’t on.
Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your house’s air feels less than pleasant during the winter, Eveready Service Experts can help. Call us at 804-548-4480 to schedule a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert recommendations on how you can keep your house’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is backed 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.