Why a Gas Furnace Dries Out Your Homes Air and How to Fix It

There’s a reason why air feels drier during cold weather than in the summer. That’s because warmer air carries additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.

The same is true inside your Winnipeg residence. Using 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, such as 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 counter it.

Your Furnace’s Combustion Steps are a Portion of the Trouble

The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the thing responsible for making your home’s air appear 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 notice light from the burners when it’s working. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is completely sealed.

A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to combust. Because the furnace consistently needs air to burn, it will also pull 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 even. They pull all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays locked within the sealed furnace. As an added advantage, they keep your residence more comfortable 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®.

Besides combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your house during colder weather. Reduced humidity means the air will steal moisture quickly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.

How to Stabilize 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 transport that comfort throughout your residence.

These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll get when you upgrade to a whole-home system.

Better Health During Cold and Flu Season

It’s no surprise cold weather is the worst time for colds, flu and other sicknesses. That’s because you’re more likely 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. In addition, it can help with year-round allergy symptoms.

Soothes Dry Skin

If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you know just how aggravating those conditions make you during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin keep more moisture.

Enhanced Sleep

Keeping your bedroom at the preferred temperature and humidity level will keep you cozy at night. It can also reduce loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.

Guards the Wood in Your Home

Cabinets, flooring, furniture and most anything in your house that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air pulls moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Keeping your home’s humidity at the proper level will keep your home’s furnishings looking their best.

Little Maintenance Needed

Between frequent filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers depend on a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing about once a year, which can be completed alongside your furnace tune-up.

A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets transported through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can work when the furnace isn’t on.

Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Today

If your house’s air feels less than comfortable during cold weather, Winnipeg Supply Service Experts can help. Call us at 204-800-0613 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no pressure, just free Expert suggestions on how you can keep your residence’s humidity at just the right level. And, like our other services, our work is supported by our well-known 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.

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