There’s a reason why air feels drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s because warmer air carries more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Voorhees house. Starting your gas furnace makes your residence feel warmer but can also dry out the indoor air. Dry air can transport a whole host of ailments, such as 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 fix it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are a share the Problem
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the source responsible for making your residence’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the way it combusts.
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 running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is entirely sealed.
A standard furnace, also called an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to work. Because the furnace constantly relies on air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity even. They draw all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays locked inside the sealed furnace. As another advantage, they keep your house more cozy while consuming less energy. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace can save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
In addition to combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your house during cold weather. Decreased humidity means the air will steal moisture quickly 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 comfortable at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort across your home.
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 sicknesses. That’s because you’re more likely to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level may also hamper the spread of some viruses. Also, it can alleviate year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you recognize just how irritating those conditions can be during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin retain more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the right temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also alleviate loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Defends the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and most anything in your house that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is a result of the fact dry air moves moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Keeping your home’s humidity at the correct level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between regular filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers depend on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be performed along with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets distributed through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can run when the furnace isn’t running.
Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Today
If your home’s air feels less than pleasant during colder weather, Atmostemp Service Experts can help. Call us at 856-310-4824 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert recommendations on how you can keep your house’s humidity at just the proper level. And, like our other services, our work is backed by our famous 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.