Why a Gas Furnace Dries Out Your Residences Air and What to Do About It
There’s a reason why air seems drier during cold weather than in the summer. That’s since warmer air carries more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your the U.S. house. Starting your gas furnace makes your residence 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 vulnerable 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 Steps are Part of the Issue
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the thing responsible for making your home’s air feel 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 see light from the burners when it’s on. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also called an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your residence to function. Because the furnace constantly relies on air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity even. They take all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays trapped inside the sealed furnace. As an extra perk, they keep your house more cozy while needing 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 flows into your residence during the winter. Decreased humidity means the air will steal moisture quickly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also causes static electricity.
How to Stabilize Humidity in Your Home
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room pleasant at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort across your home.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll get when you switch to a whole-home system.
Improved Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s typical that winter is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. 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 right humidity level may also restrict the spread of some viruses. Also, it can alleviate year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you recognize just how irritating those conditions are during winter. Installing 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 cozy at night. It can also decrease loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Defends the Wood in Your Home
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your home 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 fracture. Having your home’s humidity at the correct level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Needed
Between frequent filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers demand a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be completed in tandem with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require 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 work when the furnace isn’t running.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your residence’s air feels less than comfortable during cold weather, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Call us at 866-397-3787 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert recommendations on how you can maintain your residence’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is protected 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.
