There’s a reason why air seems drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s because warmer air carries more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Buffalo residence. Using 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, including dry skin, cracked lips and make you more exposed to getting 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 Process is a Portion of the Problem
The fuel your furnace consumes isn’t the thing responsible for making your house’s air seem dry. Rather, it’s the combustion procedures.
There are two different styles of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can detect light from the burners when it’s on. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is totally sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your residence to combust. Because the furnace consistently depends on air to burn, it will also draw in cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn lowers your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are ideal for keeping your humidity steady. They take all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays locked within the sealed furnace. As another advantage, they keep your home more cozy while using less energy. Moving 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 moves into your home during cold weather. Decreased humidity means the air will steal moisture rapidly 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 generate that comfort throughout your home.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll get 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 since you’re more apt to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level can also resist the spread of some viruses. Additionally, it can alleviate year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have consistent dry skin or eczema, you realize just how aggravating those conditions make you during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Improved Sleep
Preserving your bedroom at the right 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 Residence
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and just about anything in your home that’s wood suffers when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air pulls moisture from the wood and causes it to fracture. Having your residence’s humidity at the correct level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between consistent filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers depend on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs maintenance about once a year, which can be completed at the same time as your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t require a pad. It holds 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 on.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Today
If your home’s air feels less than cozy during the winter, Sunbeam Service Experts can help. Call us at 716-427-6807 to schedule a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert advice on how you can balance your house’s humidity at just the proper level. And, like our other services, our work is backed by our legendary 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.