There’s a reason why air seems drier in the winter than in the summer. That’s because warmer air carries more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your Philadelphia home. Starting 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, including dry skin, cracked lips and make you more likely to get sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your residence’s air and what you can do to combat it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are Part of the Problem
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the thing responsible for making your residence’s air feel 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 notice light from the burners when it’s working. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your home to work. Because the furnace constantly depends 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 ideal for keeping your humidity steady. They pull all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays trapped in the sealed furnace. As an added advantage, they keep your house more warm while using 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 moves into your house during cold weather. Reduced humidity means the air will rob moisture quickly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.
How to Stabilize Humidity in Your Residence
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room pleasant at a time, a whole-house humidifier will generate that comfort around your residence.
These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll get when you switch to a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s typical that cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other ailments. That’s due to the fact you’re more apt to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level might also slow the spread of some viruses. In addition, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you realize just how uncomfortable those conditions make you during winter. Installing a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Preserving your bedroom at the right temperature and humidity level will keep you cozy at night. It can also reduce loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your house that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air moves moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Having your home’s humidity at the right level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Needed
Between regular filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers require 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 use a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported through your ductwork. Since it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace isn’t on.
Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Today
If your residence’s air feels less than cozy during the winter, Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 215-278-9690 to schedule a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert suggestions on how you can maintain your house’s humidity at just the correct 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.