There’s a reason why air feels drier in the winter than when it’s warmer. That’s due to the fact warmer air holds extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Knoxville home. Turning on your gas furnace makes your home 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 house’s air and what you can do to counter it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are a Portion of the Problem
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the culprit responsible for making your home’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the combustion procedures.
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 running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is completely sealed.
A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your home to work. Because the furnace constantly requires 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 referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are best for keeping your humidity balanced. They pull all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays locked inside the sealed furnace. As another bonus, they keep your residence more comfortable while requiring less energy. Moving to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace may save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Other than combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your house during colder weather. Lower humidity means the air will snatch moisture quickly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It’s also to blame for static electricity.
How to Balance 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 spread that comfort around your residence.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll get when you upgrade to a whole-home system.
Improved Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s typical that cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. That’s since you’re more likely to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the right humidity level can also hamper the spread of some viruses. Also, it can weaken year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have consistent dry skin or eczema, you realize just how aggravating those conditions can be during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the preferred temperature and humidity level will keep you cozy at night. It can also help with loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your residence that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to fracture. Balancing your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between steady filter changes and continuous refilling, portable humidifiers rely on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be completed alongside your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets moved through your ductwork. Because it’s independently powered, it can run when the furnace isn’t on.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your house’s air feels less than comfy during the winter, R & M Climate Control Service Experts can help. Call us at 865-229-6176 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 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.