There’s a reason why air appears drier during cold weather than when it’s warmer. That’s since warmer air retains extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true for your Edmonton home. Using your gas furnace makes your house feel warmer but can also dry out the indoor air. Dry air can transport a whole host of ailments, including dry skin, cracked lips and make you more susceptible to getting sick.
Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your residence’s air and what you can do to resolve it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are a Portion of the Issue
The fuel your furnace needs isn’t the thing responsible for making your residence’s air appear dry. Rather, it’s the combustion procedures.
There are two different types of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can detect light from the burners when it’s heating. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is totally sealed.
A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your residence to work. Because the furnace consistently relies on air to burn, it will also use cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your residence’s humidity.
High-efficiency furnaces, also known as a sealed combustion furnace, are better at keeping your humidity steady. They draw all their combustion air from outdoors, but it stays trapped in the sealed furnace. As an added perk, they keep your residence more warm while using less energy. Upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace from an old furnace might save you as much as 40% on heating costs, according to Lennox®.
Other than combustion, cold air also naturally seeps into your house during colder weather. Lower humidity means the air will rob moisture fast from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.
How to Balance 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 spread that comfort throughout your home.
These are just a few humidifier benefits you’ll get 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 ailments. That’s since you’re more likely to become sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level may also hamper the spread of some viruses. Also, it can reduce year-round allergy symptoms.
Eases Dry Skin
If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you know just how irritating those conditions are during winter. Installing a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Maintaining your bedroom at the ideal temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also help with loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.
Protects the Wood in Your House
Cabinets, flooring, furniture and most anything in your home that’s wood is affected when humidity is too low. This is due to the fact dry air draws moisture from the wood and causes it to crack. Balancing your home’s humidity at the proper level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between consistent filter changes and continual refilling, portable humidifiers depend on 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 least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t need a pad. It holds water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets distributed through your ductwork. Because it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace is off.
Request Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Now
If your residence’s air feels less than pleasant during cold weather, Rob's Albertan Service Experts can help. Call us at 780-800-9047 to arrange a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert advice on how you can maintain your house’s humidity at just the right level. And, like our other services, our work is backed 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.