There’s a reason why air feels drier during cold weather than when it’s hotter. That’s since warmer air retains more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Boise home. Turning on your gas furnace makes your residence feel warmer but can also dry out the indoor air. Dry air can bring a whole host of ailments, like 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 a Portion of the Issue
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the culprit 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 see light from the burners when it’s on. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is totally sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to combust. Because the furnace constantly depends on air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn affects your home’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are ideal for keeping your humidity even. They pull all their combustion air from outside, but it stays trapped inside the sealed furnace. As an extra perk, they keep your home more warm while using less energy. Switching 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 seeps into your house during colder weather. Lower humidity means the air will snatch moisture fast from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also causes static electricity.
How to Even Out 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 spread that comfort throughout your home.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you install a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s typical that cooler weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other ailments. That’s since you’re more susceptible to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level might also hamper the spread of some viruses. Additionally, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you realize just how uncomfortable those conditions make you during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Maintaining 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.
Defends the Wood in Your Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your residence that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is a result of the fact dry air absorbs moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Keeping your house’s humidity at the right level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between regular filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers depend on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up 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 require a pad. It retains water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets distributed through your ductwork. Since it’s independently powered, it can work when the furnace is off.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your house’s air feels less than cozy during colder weather, TML Service Experts can help. Call us at 208-488-4892 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert advice on how you can balance your residence’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.