There’s a reason why air seems drier in the winter than when it’s hotter. That’s because warmer air retains additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true for your Fort Wayne 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, like dry skin, cracked lips and make you more likely to get sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your house’s air and what you can do to combat it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are a Portion of the Issue
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the thing responsible for making your house’s air appear dry. Rather, it’s the combustion process.
There are two different types of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can notice 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 home to work. Because the furnace continuously relies 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 better at keeping your humidity balanced. They pull all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays trapped in the sealed furnace. As an added 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®.
Besides combustion, cold air also naturally drifts into your residence during colder weather. Lower humidity means the air will snatch moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also causes 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 across your home.
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 typical that winter is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s because you’re more likely to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level may also hamper the spread of some viruses. Also, it can combat year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you recognize just how irritating those conditions are during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin retain more moisture.
Better Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the preferred temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also help with loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Guards the Wood in Your Home
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your home that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Keeping your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your home’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between regular filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers demand a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs maintenance about once a year, which can be done alongside your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the least 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. Because it’s independently powered, it can run when the furnace isn’t on.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your residence’s air feels less than pleasant during cold weather, Rolf Griffin Service Experts can help. Call us at 260-557-1275 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert suggestions on how you can maintain your home’s humidity at just the proper 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.