How Your Heater and Humidifier Work Together During the Winter

The winter months can be brutal for everyone, even those who spend most of their time in comfortably heated homes. Yes, you might have a furnace that works around the clock to keep you and your family from getting too cold, but unless your HVAC system has a decent humidifier, you may have to contend with dry skin, sore throats, respiratory problems, and other issues associated with very dry air.

An HVAC professional can install a humidifier that connects directly to your HVAC system or you can purchase smaller humidifiers if you need to humidify a smaller space. Either solution is welcome during the dry winter months, but let’s take a look at exactly why this is the case and how your heater and humidifier work together.

Why Winter Air is So Dry

There are a few reasons why you will have to contend with dry air during the winter. The first is that there is simply less vegetation out there to increase humidity outdoors. Deciduous trees have gone dormant and lost their leaves, and most of the grass is covered under a few feet of snow. You wouldn’t think this would make much of a difference in a region’s humidity, but anyone who has had to contend with dry and cracked skin in the winter will know how severe things can get.

The second reason why winter air is so dry is due to furnaces being run almost around the clock. If you don’t have a reliable means of humidifying your home, your furnace will pump dry air throughout your home. This warm air might feel welcome on a particularly cold day, but like the lack of humidity outdoors, it could feel uncomfortable.

How Your Heater and Humidifier Work Together

Technically speaking, your heater and humidifier are two separate things. They might both be connected to your HVAC system, but they provide two different functions. While your heater spreads warm air throughout your home, the air is dry and needs to rely on a humidifier for added moisture. This humidifier might work by pulling air through a saturated wick to increase moisture content, boil water and release saturated air in your home, or use ultrasonic vibrations to create small water droplets that can be introduced to the surrounding air. Note that this doesn’t actually make the air any cooler, so it won’t lower the surrounding temperature and defeat the purpose of your heater. It only introduces the moisture that otherwise might not be present if you were only running your heater.

Call 4Front Energy

If you are in need of an HVAC professional to install a humidifier in your home this winter, don’t hesitate to contact 4Front Energy. Our team of professionals can help you choose the best solution for humidifying your home and ensuring that it will feel comfortable even during the coldest and driest days this winter.

Interested in scheduling an appointment with 4Front Energy? Contact us at (952) 933-1868 or get started by scheduling your service online today!