Molly Ayala
It is a common misconception that electric furnaces dry out the air. While the air in a home can get dry in winter, this is not due to the heating process itself. The combustion process generates water vapour, and warmer air can hold more moisture. However, when the furnace draws on indoor air for combustion, it creates an air deficit, causing outdoor air to be pulled inside. This air is colder and drier, leading to a decline in the house's humidity level. Newer furnaces with sealed combustion can address this issue by drawing air for combustion from outdoors through a PVC pipe, preventing dry air from entering the house.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for dry air in a home | Too much air infiltration from the outside |
| Reason for dry air during winters | More water vapour is pulled out of the air as snow |
| Atmospheric combustion furnaces | Draw air from the house for combustion |
| Sealed combustion furnaces | Draw air from outside for combustion |
| Effect of heating air | Lowers relative humidity but not absolute humidity |
| Effect of furnace on air dryness | Dry air is due to outdoor air, not the heating process |
| Effect of unvented gas heaters | Humidifies the house |
| Suggested solution for dry air | Install a whole-house humidifier |
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What You'll Learn
- The combustion process of an electric furnace generates water vapour, not removing it
- Atmospheric combustion furnaces draw air from inside the house, creating an air deficit
- Sealed combustion furnaces draw air from outside, preventing an air deficit and improving energy efficiency
- The air deficit created by atmospheric combustion furnaces causes outdoor air to pour in, which is drier
- Warmer air can hold more moisture, but cold air in winter holds less moisture
The combustion process of an electric furnace generates water vapour, not removing it
The combustion process of an electric furnace does not remove moisture from the air. In fact, it generates water vapour. This is because the combustion process produces a lot of water vapour, which can cause problems if it gets into the house. For this reason, newer furnaces are constructed as "sealed combustion furnaces", which have their combustion chambers shielded from the inside of the house. These furnaces draw the air they need for combustion through a PVC pipe that leads to the outdoors, preventing indoor air from being pulled in and creating an air deficit.
Older types of furnaces, known as "atmospheric combustion furnaces", draw air from inside the house into their combustion chambers, allowing for combustion to occur. This creates an air deficit for the house, causing a movement of air from outdoors to the inside. Because this air is colder, it is also drier, and the house's humidity level will decline. This is why people often associate drier indoor air with the use of furnaces.
However, it is important to note that the combustion process itself does not remove moisture from the air. The drier air is a result of the colder, drier outdoor air being pulled into the house due to the air deficit created by atmospheric combustion furnaces. If you have an unvented gas heater, the heat can actually humidify the air instead of drying it out.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that while heating up the air will lower the relative humidity, the absolute humidity should remain the same. Relative humidity is dependent on temperature, so as the temperature of the air increases, the relative humidity decreases. However, the total amount of water vapour in the air (absolute humidity) should not change unless there is a source of humidification or dehumidification.
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Atmospheric combustion furnaces draw air from inside the house, creating an air deficit
The standard older furnaces, known as "atmospheric combustion furnaces", draw air from inside the house to allow for combustion to occur. The burners in these furnaces are open to the outside, and the combustion chamber is exposed to the space around it, allowing the furnace to draw air directly from inside the house. This movement of air creates an air deficit, causing an influx of air from outside the house to push indoors. As the air outside is drier during the winter, the movement of air indoors will lead to a drop in humidity levels.
In contrast, newer furnaces can be constructed as "sealed combustion furnaces". These furnaces have their combustion chambers shielded from the inside of the house, and they draw the air they need for combustion through a PVC pipe that leads to the outdoors. This prevents the furnace from pulling in indoor air and creating an air deficit. Sealed combustion furnaces do not remove air from indoors, which can be helpful in maintaining humidity levels during the winter.
While the combustion process in a furnace generates water vapour, this water vapour does not enter the house. Instead, it is sent outdoors through the flue or exhaust. As a result, turning on the furnace does not directly dry out the air. However, the influx of dry air from outside to compensate for the air deficit created by atmospheric combustion furnaces can lead to a decrease in indoor humidity levels.
Therefore, while atmospheric combustion furnaces do not directly dry out the air, they can contribute to lower humidity levels in the house by creating an air deficit that pulls in drier air from outside.
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Sealed combustion furnaces draw air from outside, preventing an air deficit and improving energy efficiency
The short answer is no, electric furnaces do not dry out the air. However, the issue is a bit more complicated than that.
Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between atmospheric combustion furnaces and sealed combustion furnaces. Atmospheric combustion furnaces draw air from inside the house to allow for combustion, whereas sealed combustion furnaces draw air through a PVC pipe from outside, preventing an air deficit.
Sealed combustion furnaces offer several advantages over atmospheric combustion furnaces. One key benefit is improved energy efficiency. By drawing air from outside, sealed combustion furnaces lose almost no heat to the outside, making them more cost-effective to run. This improved efficiency is further enhanced by the reduced possibility of combustion danger and lower chances of natural gas escaping into the home.
Additionally, sealed combustion furnaces improve comfort levels by eliminating the air deficit created by atmospheric combustion furnaces. The influx of dry winter air rushing into the house to compensate for the air deficit pulled by atmospheric combustion furnaces leads to a drop in humidity levels, causing the common perception that furnaces dry out the air.
In summary, sealed combustion furnaces offer improved energy efficiency, enhanced safety, and better comfort by drawing air from outside, preventing an air deficit, and maintaining balanced humidity levels, especially during the winter months.
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The air deficit created by atmospheric combustion furnaces causes outdoor air to pour in, which is drier
Atmospheric combustion furnaces, often found in older homes, contribute to air dryness during the winter months. As the furnace draws indoor air for combustion, it creates a vacuum, causing outdoor air to rush in through any available openings, such as windows, doors, attics, or basements. This outdoor air is typically drier and colder, leading to a decrease in indoor humidity levels.
The combustion process in a furnace does not remove moisture from the air. In fact, it produces water vapour, which is released outside through the flue in the case of sealed combustion furnaces. The perception that furnaces dry out the air is due to the introduction of dry outdoor air, not the removal of moisture by the furnace itself.
To address dry air issues, modern furnaces are designed as sealed combustion furnaces, which draw air for combustion from outdoors through a PVC pipe. This prevents the creation of an air deficit inside the house and avoids the problem of dry outdoor air being pulled indoors. Sealed combustion furnaces are more energy-efficient and safer than their atmospheric combustion counterparts.
Additionally, it's worth noting that unvented gas heaters can humidify the air rather than dry it out. The water vapour produced during the combustion process remains inside the house, increasing humidity levels. Therefore, the type of heating system and its interaction with indoor and outdoor air sources play a crucial role in determining the humidity levels within a home.
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Warmer air can hold more moisture, but cold air in winter holds less moisture
It is a well-known fact that warmer air can hold more moisture, but cold air in winter holds less moisture. This is a basic assumption of psychrometry, which simplifies that humid air is a mix of two ideal gases: water vapour and dry air. However, some sources argue that it is not technically correct to say that warmer air can hold more water, as the water is not "in" the air but rather hanging around it. Instead, it is the water (vapour) temperature that matters.
The relative humidity (RH) of air is a measure of how much water vapour it contains. Warmer air has a higher dew point, which means it can hold more water vapour before it becomes saturated and the water vapour condenses into a liquid. This is why warmer air is often associated with higher humidity.
During the winter, the moisture level in the air drops as more water vapour becomes pulled out of the air as snow. As a result, the air inside homes can become dry, and people often blame furnaces for drying out the air further. However, technically, heating the air does not cause it to become drier. Instead, the type of furnace and the presence of air leaks can contribute to the dryness of indoor air.
Atmospheric combustion furnaces draw air from inside the house for combustion, while sealed combustion furnaces draw air from outdoors, preventing the furnace from pulling indoor air and creating an air deficit. Additionally, air ducts that leak, especially in unconditioned spaces, can pull in cold, dry air and blow it into living spaces, further contributing to the dryness of indoor air.
To address dry air in a home, solutions such as humidifiers, boiling water, leaving the door open while showering, and installing houseplants can be considered.
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Frequently asked questions
The air in a home can get dry in winter, and people often blame furnaces for causing the air to become even drier. However, technically, heating the air does not make it drier. Atmospheric combustion furnaces draw air from inside the house, which doesn't affect the humidity as the air inside the house stays the same, it just gets heated.
Sealed combustion furnaces draw dry air from the outdoors, lowering the humidity.
If you have a sealed combustion furnace, you will have two PVC pipes on the outside of your home, one for drawing air in and one for sending exhaust gases out.
You can solve the problem with the professional installation of a whole-house humidifier.
You can use a hygrometer to measure your indoor temperature and humidity levels. You can also let clothes air dry inside, boil water for tea or coffee, leave the door open while you shower, and get some houseplants.
