Can Central Heating Dry Out Indoor Air?

02/20/2023

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When the cold winter weather strikes, many of us find ourselves spending more time indoors staying warm thanks to our centralized heating systems. Unfortunately, sometimes remaining cooped inside can lead to unhealthy symptoms and flare-up conditions like asthma and severe allergies. Fortunately, with the right settings, you can help to keep the inside of your home a healthy and happy place for your entire family.

Dry Air is the Likely Culprit

One of the biggest reasons people experience flare-ups and worsening symptoms for their respiratory conditions is dry air. As your central heating system circulates indoor air, it can easily remove moisture. Without enough moisture in the air, you may have difficulty breathing, experience more coughing, and even end up with annoying sinus problems.

Poor Air Filtration Could Be a Contributing Condition

In the wintertime, your home is typically shut off from the outdoors. Instead of being able to open windows and doors to help allow fresh air to come in, most homeowners will do their best to completely seal off their homes from the cold outdoor weather. While this may reduce heating bills, it can keep harmful airborne pollutants trapped inside your home.

Fortunately, your HVAC system should come standard with an air filter, whose job is to trap these unwanted airborne particles. Your filter must be changed every few months. If you omit to change it, those nasty airborne particles won't be filtered out of your air, and you'll likely experience various health problems. You should also check the type of filter that you're installing and consider installing one with a higher MERV rating if you're currently experiencing health issue flare-ups while at home.

Tips for Reducing Dry Air in Your Home

You want to start out by only setting your thermostat to a temperature necessary to remain comfortable. Don't turn your thermostat up to the point where you're sweating in a pair of shorts. The more your heating system runs, the more moisture it will remove from the air.

Next, consider investing in a whole-home humidification system. This will work to introduce moisture into the air inside your home. Most experts recommend setting your indoor air humidity to around 30%. This is enough to ward off any allergy or respiratory symptoms from dry air while not overdoing it.

Call Us Today

If you need help with your indoor air quality, contact us at Command Service Center. Let our helpful HVAC professionals assist you with your home heating, cooling, and indoor air quality needs.

Resources: https://patient.info/news-and-features/can-central-heating-cause-health-problems

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