There’s a reason why air appears drier in the winter than when it’s hotter. That’s because warmer air holds more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Denver 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, such as dry skin, cracked lips and make you more susceptible to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your house’s air and what you can do to counter it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Process is a Portion of the Problem
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 types of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can detect light from the burners when it’s running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is totally sealed.
A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to combust. Because the furnace constantly uses air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are ideal for keeping your humidity steady. They take all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays locked in the sealed furnace. As an additional advantage, they keep your home more comfy while requiring less energy. Switching to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace may save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Besides combustion, cold air also naturally moves into your home during the winter. Reduced humidity means the air will steal moisture fast 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 comfortable at a time, a whole-house humidifier will spread that comfort around your house.
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 common that cooler weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. That’s since you’re more susceptible to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the right humidity level may also restrict the spread of some viruses. Also, it can help with year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have consistent 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
Preserving your bedroom at the right 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 generally anything in your residence 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. Balancing your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your home’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Needed
Between frequent filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers rely on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs maintenance 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 require a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets distributed 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 house’s air feels less than comfy during cold weather, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 303-647-5853 to schedule a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert advice on how you can balance your residence’s humidity at just the proper level. And, like our other services, our work is backed 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.