There’s a reason why air feels drier during cold weather than in the summer. That’s since warmer air holds extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true for your Birmingham home. 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, 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 resolve it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are a share the Problem
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the source responsible for making your house’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the combustion procedures.
There are two different types 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 tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also called an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your home to work. Because the furnace continuously requires air to burn, it will also draw in cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also called a sealed combustion furnace, are better at keeping your humidity steady. They draw all their combustion air from outside, but it stays locked in the sealed furnace. As another perk, they keep your home more warm 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®.
In addition to combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your house during cold 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 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 around your home.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you upgrade to 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 susceptible to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under specific airflow conditions, air at the right humidity level can also resist the spread of some viruses. Also, it can combat year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you know just how aggravating those conditions are during winter. Installing a whole-house humidifier will help your skin retain more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Keeping your bedroom at the right temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also help with loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your house 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 crack. Keeping your house’s humidity at the correct level will keep your home’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between steady filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers rely on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be done alongside your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the smallest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets moved through your ductwork. Because it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace isn’t running.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your residence’s air feels less than pleasant during cold weather, Norrell Service Experts can help. Call us at 205-267-0023 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert advice on how you can keep your house’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is protected 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.