Why the house gets so dry in winter
Cold air holds very little water. When winter air leaks into the house and warms up, its relative humidity drops sharply. The colder the day, the drier the house, which is why the worst of it arrives in January and February.
More isn't better
If the humidity is set too high for the weather, water condenses on the inside of the windows and can lead to mould on the frames and sills. A good control lowers the target as it gets colder outside. Automatic controls do this on their own with a sensor outdoors, so nobody has to remember to turn the dial.
Bypass, fan-powered or steam
- Bypass humidifiers are the simplest. They use the furnace blower to push warm air through a water panel, and send some water down the drain as they work.
- Fan-powered humidifiers have their own fan, put out more moisture and don't need the extra duct a bypass model does.
- Steam humidifiers boil water to make vapour. They put out the most and work even when the furnace isn't firing, which makes them the better choice with a heat pump, whose air is cooler than a furnace's.
Upkeep
Bypass and fan-powered units need a new water panel once a season, and a look at the drain and the water valve. A steam unit needs its cylinder or canister cleaned or replaced on the maker's schedule. We can do it during your fall furnace check.