When you think about how you stay warm in the winter, you’re probably thinking about your furnace. If you live in an old and drafty home, keeping the cold breezes out might cross your mind. But have you considered humidity? The level of humidity in your home can actually have some significant impacts on your heating system. And there’s something you can do about it.
How Your Body Experiences Warmth
When air brushes against your body, if it is colder than the temperature of your skin, it will carry a tiny bit of your body heat away with it. But if it is warmer than your skin, you’ll take some heat from the air. Here’s the tricky part: air is better at holding onto heat when it has more moisture in it. When dry air brushes against you, you’ll lose more of your heat than you would if that air was more humid.
How Air Carries Heat
Ultimately, at the molecular level, heat is about agitation. The faster molecules move, the hotter the substance they are part of will be. When the air has particles of water in it, due to their molecular density, they behave like tiny hot water bottles, allowing the air to hold the heat more effectively than it otherwise would. That means it will take less heat away from your body.
Does this mean that the humid air is warmer than drier air? No! It just feels warmer. That means that in an environment with more water vapor in the air, you will be just as cozy even with the thermostat set a few degrees lower.
Energy Savings
If you can set your thermostat lower because your home’s humidity is at an ideal level, you’ll be running the heat less. This means less energy use, and lower heating bills. And we can probably all agree that paying less to heat our homes sounds like a great plan!
Heating System Benefits
There are other benefits to using your heating system less of the time. It will accumulate less wear and tear. The system won’t be so strained. You’ll be less likely to experience worn out components, repair needs, or furnace breakdowns. And running the heat for fewer hours each year means it will be able to keep running for more years!
Humidifier Options
The way to ensure that your home’s air is kept at an ideal level of humidity is to use a humidifier. Of course, it’s possible to get inexpensive, portable humidifiers at home goods stores. And they definitely humidify the air! They’re fantastic for small spaces, and for situations where you would need to move them from place to place. For example, a dorm room, and then another dorm room next year, would be perfect candidates for portable humidifiers.
But they simply won’t give you enough humidity, or enough control over the humidity, to make the difference you need in a whole home. That’s what a whole house humidifier is for! This fantastic option is installed as an addition to your HVAC system, and humidifies all the air that passes through your home’s ductwork, with precise measurement and control of the humidity levels.
We’d love to talk with you if you have questions about humidifier installation in Washington, DC.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you have about heating or humidity levels.
Whether you require installation, repair, or maintenance, our technicians will assist you with top-quality service at any time of the day or night. Take comfort in knowing your indoor air quality is the best it can be with MOE heating & cooling services Ontario's solution for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation that’s cooler than the rest.
Contact us to schedule a visit. Our qualified team of technicians, are always ready to help you and guide you for heating and cooling issues. Weather you want to replace an old furnace or install a brand new air conditioner, we are here to help you. Our main office is at Kitchener but we can service most of Ontario's cities
Source link
