There’s a reason why air feels drier during colder months than in the summer. That’s due to the fact warmer air retains additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true for your Charlotte house. 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 home’s air and what you can do to resolve it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are a share the Trouble
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the source responsible for making your home’s air feel dry. Rather, it’s the combustion process.
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 heating. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is completely sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your home to work. Because the furnace consistently requires air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your house’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 locked within the sealed furnace. As an extra perk, they keep your residence more comfy while needing 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 seeps into your residence during colder weather. Decreased 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 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 across your residence.
These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll get when you put in a whole-home system.
Improved Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s common that cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. That’s due to the fact you’re more likely to get sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level can also slow the spread of some viruses. Additionally, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have consistent dry skin or eczema, you understand just how irritating those conditions can be during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Keeping your bedroom at the ideal 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.
Guards the Wood in Your Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and most anything in your house that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Having your house’s humidity at the proper level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Needed
Between consistent filter changes and continuous refilling, portable humidifiers depend on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be performed along with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the smallest 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. Because it’s independently powered, it can work when the furnace is off.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Now
If your residence’s air feels less than pleasant during the winter, Komfort Air Service Experts can help. Call us at 704-705-8135 to schedule a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert recommendations on how you can maintain your home’s humidity at just the proper 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.