Is My House Too Dry? HVAC Tips You Need To Know

Colorado is known for its dry climate. You feel it every time you take a breath. You can feel it on your skin. 

In the winter, your indoor air can become even dryer. That’s because cooler air holds less water vapor. When the snow starts to fly and your furnace kicks into overdrive, it continually operates to warm the air. That can create low humidity levels inside your home, creating less comfortable living space. 

Does your home show the classic signs of dry indoor air:

• Dry skin and chapped lips – it’s more than the cold weather wreaking havoc on your hands and lips. It’s also a sign the dry air in your home may be pulling moisture from the air supply. 
• Static shock – your kids may love to rub their feet on the ground and make their hair stand on edge, but those little shocks are trying to tell you something. If you regularly feel shocks when you touch doorknobs or light switches. It means less water vapor is in the air, allowing static electricity to build. 
• Cracked wood – from hardwood floors and furniture to door frames and personal decor, if it’s made from organic material, it will be affected by humidity levels. If you start seeing cracks where they weren’t before, it might be time to investigate how much moisture is in the air. 

One of the best places to start is to determine how much humidity is in your home. A good rule of thumb is to keep it between 30 and 50 percent during the winter months. Below 30 percent will create dry indoor air and give you problems. 

If this is where you are, your first step is to seal air leaks throughout your home. This prevents dry air from coming in and allows things like your daily showers to further control the humidity in your home. If it’s still too dry, it may be time to install a whole-house humidifier. 

They are designed to combat the uncomfortable side effects of dry air inside the house. Have additional questions about ways your HVAC system can keep your home comfortable every day of the year? 

Just call – we’re happy to answer your questions.