Why a Gas Furnace Dries Out Your Homes Air and What to Do About It

There’s a reason why air feels drier during colder months than when it’s hotter. That’s due to the fact warmer air carries extra moisture, or humidity, than colder air.

The same is true within your the U.S. home. Turning on 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 exposed to getting sick.

Here’s why your gas furnace dries out your home’s air and what you can do to resolve it.

Your Furnace’s Combustion Process is a Portion of the Issue

The fuel your furnace uses isn’t the culprit responsible for making your residence’s air appear dry. Rather, it’s the way it combusts.

There are two different types of gas furnaces, standard and high efficiency. With an older standard furnace, you can see light from the burners when it’s on. A newer, high-efficiency furnace is tightly sealed.

A standard furnace, also termed an atmosphere furnace, takes air from inside your home to combust. Because the furnace constantly requires air to burn, it will also draw in cold, dry air from outdoors, which in turn reduces your home’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 outdoors, but it stays trapped inside the sealed furnace. As an extra bonus, they keep your house 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 drifts into your home during cold weather. Reduced humidity means the air will snatch moisture fast from your skin, lips, nose and throat. It also causes 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 generate that comfort across your home.

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 typical that cooler 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 may also resist the spread of some viruses. Also, it can weaken year-round allergy symptoms.

Eases Dry Skin

If you have chronically dry skin or eczema, you know just how uncomfortable those conditions can be during winter. Getting a whole-house humidifier will help your skin hold onto more moisture.

Improved Sleep

Maintaining your bedroom at the ideal temperature and humidity level will keep you more comfortable at night. It can also decrease loud snoring, since your throat and nose will be better hydrated.

Guards the Wood in Your Residence

Cabinets, flooring, furniture and most anything in your residence that’s wood doesn’t like it when humidity is too low. This is a result of the fact dry air moves moisture from the wood and causes it to split. Keeping your residence’s humidity at the right level will keep your residence’s furnishings looking their best.

Little Maintenance Necessary

Between consistent filter changes and constant refilling, portable humidifiers require a lot of upkeep. A whole-house humidifier only needs maintenance about once a year, which can be done along with your furnace tune-up.

A steam humidifier has the least amount of maintenance since it doesn’t use a pad. It stores water in a canister and boils it into steam that gets moved through your ductwork. Since it’s independently powered, it can be in use when the furnace is off.

Book Your Free Home Comfort Consultation Right Away

If your home’s air feels less than cozy during colder weather, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Call us at 866-397-3787 to schedule 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 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.