There’s a reason why air appears drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s since warmer air carries more moisture, or humidity, than colder air.
The same is true inside your San Antonio residence. Turning on your gas furnace makes your house feel warmer but can also dry out the indoor air. Dry air can carry 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 house’s air and what you can do to combat it.
Your Furnace’s Combustion Procedures are Part of the Issue
The fuel your furnace needs 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 notice light from the burners when it’s working. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is totally sealed.
A standard furnace, also known as an atmosphere furnace, draws air from inside your home to work. 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 better at keeping your humidity even. They pull all their combustion air from outside, but it stays locked in the sealed furnace. As an additional bonus, they keep your residence more comfortable while needing 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®.
Besides combustion, cold air also naturally flows into your home during cold weather. Decreased humidity means the air will snatch moisture rapidly from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also contributes to static electricity.
How to Balance Humidity in Your Residence
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 home.
These are just a couple humidifier benefits you’ll acquire when you put in 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 apt to end up sick when your nose and throat are dry. Under certain airflow conditions, air at the specific humidity level might also slow the spread of some viruses. In addition, it can weaken year-round allergy symptoms.
Relief from Dry Skin
If you have consistently dry skin or eczema, you realize just how aggravating those conditions make you during winter. Adding a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.
Enhanced Sleep
Preserving your bedroom at the ideal temperature and humidity level will keep you comfortable at night. It can also help with 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 suffers when humidity is too low. This is because of the fact dry air moves moisture from the wood and causes it to fracture. Having your residence’s humidity at the right level will keep your home’s furnishings looking their best.
Little Maintenance Necessary
Between steady filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers expect a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs a tune-up about once a year, which can be completed at the same time as your furnace tune-up.
A steam humidifier has the lowest amount of maintenance since it doesn’t use 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 run when the furnace isn’t running.
Schedule Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Now
If your residence’s air feels less than comfy during colder weather, Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air can help. Call us at 210-404-4233 to set up a free home comfort consultation. There’s no obligation, just free Expert recommendations on how you can keep your residence’s humidity at just the right 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.