There’s a reason why air feels drier during cold weather than when it’s hotter. That’s because warmer air holds additional moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true within your Calgary house. Starting your gas furnace makes your house 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 susceptible to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your house’s air and what you can do to combat it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Process is a Portion of the Trouble
The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the source 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 detect light from the burners when it’s running. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.
A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, pulls air from inside your home to combust. Because the furnace constantly requires air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn lowers your house’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also referred to as a sealed combustion furnace, are used for keeping your humidity even. They take all their combustion air from your home’s exterior, but it stays trapped in the sealed furnace. As an added advantage, they keep your house more comfortable while requiring less energy. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace can save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Other than combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your home during the winter. Decreased humidity means the air will rob moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It’s also to blame for static electricity.
How to Even Out Humidity in Your Home
Using a humidifier. While a portable humidifier can only make one room pleasant at a time, a whole-house humidifier will transport that comfort around your residence.
These are just a small number of humidifier benefits you’ll get when you switch 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 due to the fact you’re more likely to get sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under particular airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level can also resist the spread of some viruses. Additionally, it can combat year-round allergy symptoms.
Soothes Dry Skin
If you have constantly dry skin or eczema, you understand just how irritating those conditions make you during winter. Getting 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 comfortable at night. It can also alleviate loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and generally anything in your house that’s wood doesn’t like it when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air moves moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Having your home’s humidity at the proper level will keep your house’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Required
Between steady filter changes and continuous refilling, portable humidifiers require a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs servicing 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 require a pad. It holds water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets distributed through your ductwork. As it’s independently powered, it can work when the furnace is off.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away
If your residence’s air feels less than comfortable during colder weather, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Call us at 403-279-5760 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no sales tactics, just free Expert recommendations on how you can maintain your residence’s humidity at just the correct level. And, like our other services, our work is protected 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.