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 inside your Orlando residence. Turning on 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, including 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 Process is a share the Problem
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the source responsible for making your residence’s air appear 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 detect light from the burners when it’s running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your home to work. Because the furnace consistently 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 known as a sealed combustion furnace, are ideal for keeping your humidity even. They draw all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays contained within the sealed furnace. As an added advantage, they keep your residence more warm while needing 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®.
In addition to combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your house during the winter. Decreased 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 Residence
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will generate that comfort across your house.
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 common that winter is the worst time for colds, flu and other ailments. That’s due to the fact you’re more likely to become 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. In addition, it can combat year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you realize just how aggravating those conditions make you during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Preserving your bedroom at the right temperature and humidity level will keep you cozy at night. It can also decrease loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your Home
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your house that’s wood suffers 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 residence’s humidity at the proper level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between consistent 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 done in tandem with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the smallest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t use a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported 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 cold weather, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 407-329-7661 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert suggestions on how you can balance your house’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is supported 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.