There’s a reason why air feels drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s because warmer air holds additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true for your Gaithersburg residence. 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, such as 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 fix it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Process is Part of the Problem
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the culprit responsible for making your house’s air feel dry. Rather, it’s the way it combusts.
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 working. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your house to combust. Because the furnace consistently relies on air to burn, it will also pull cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your home’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity balanced. They take all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays locked in the sealed furnace. As another bonus, they keep your home more comfortable while requiring less energy. Moving 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 home during colder weather. Reduced humidity means the air will rob moisture fast from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also causes static electricity.
How to Balance Humidity in Your Home
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room comfy at a time, a whole-house humidifier will generate that comfort throughout your residence.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll receive when you switch to a whole-home system.
Better Health During Cold and Flu Season
It’s common that winter is the worst time for colds, flu and other illnesses. That’s due to the fact you’re more susceptible to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the correct humidity level can also resist the spread of some viruses. Also, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you recognize just how aggravating those conditions are during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.
Better Sleep
Keeping your bedroom at the ideal temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also reduce loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Defends 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 moves moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Keeping your home’s humidity at the proper level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between frequent filter changes and continuous refilling, portable humidifiers demand a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs maintenance about once a year, which can be performed along with your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need a pad. It holds water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported through your ductwork. Because it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace isn’t on.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your house’s air feels less than pleasant during cold weather, Parker Pearce Service Experts can help. Call us at 301-476-4577 to schedule a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert suggestions on how you can maintain your home’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.