There’s a reason why air appears drier during cold weather than in the summer. That’s due to the fact warmer air holds additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your Edmonton house. Turning on your gas furnace makes your home 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 exposed to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your residence’s air and what you can do to resolve it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are a Portion of the Problem
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the culprit responsible for making your house’s air appear 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 notice light from the burners when it’s running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is entirely sealed.
A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your house to combust. Because the furnace consistently uses air to burn, it will also draw in cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity balanced. They pull all their combustion air from outside, but it stays trapped in the sealed furnace. As an additional bonus, they keep your home more cozy while consuming less energy. Upgrading 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 moves into your residence during colder weather. Lower humidity means the air will rob moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It’s also to blame for static electricity.
How to Even Out Humidity in Your Home
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will spread that comfort around your residence.
These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll acquire when you install a whole-home system.
Enhanced Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s no surprise cooler weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. That’s because you’re more likely to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under specific airflow conditions, air at the right humidity level may also hamper the spread of some viruses. Additionally, it can help with year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have consistently dry skin or eczema, you recognize just how uncomfortable those conditions make you during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin retain more moisture.
Better Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the ideal 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.
Guards the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your residence that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is a result of the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Keeping your home’s humidity at the right level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between steady filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers expect a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be performed at the same time as your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t use a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets moved through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace isn’t on.
Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Now
If your home’s air feels less than comfortable during cold weather, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 587-404-0790 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert advice on how you can maintain your residence’s humidity at just the right 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.