How Dry Winter Air From Your Furnace Affects Sleep, Skin, And Static At Home

Your heater is on full tilt, and you’re cozied up in a warm blanket. Still, you can’t sleep. Instead of feeling relaxed, you can’t stop itching.

Experiencing itchy skin and getting zapped by doorknobs are just two of the common signs of dry indoor air. While dry air is common in the winter, it can negatively impact your body and home. By finding the best HVAC solutions, you can stay comfortable during the coldest months of the year.

Why Your Furnace Makes Winter Air Feel So Dry

There are a few reasons why indoor air becomes dry in the winter.

What Happens To Indoor Air in Winter

As the air cools down, it holds less moisture. As a result, the outdoor air that comes into your home has less humidity. Then, the furnace heats the air and reduces the relative humidity (RH) even more.

Signs Your Home’s Air Is Too Dry

If your home has an issue with dry air, there are a few common signs you may notice.

• You may wake up with a dry nose or throat.
• Your skin may feel itchy or flaky.
• You may feel sinus pressure upon waking up.
• Your lips may feel chapped.
• You may experience a static shock when you touch a doorknob, blanket, or laundered clothing.
• There may be gaps or cracks in your wood furniture or flooring.

The Comfort “Sweet Spot” for Indoor Humidity

Throughout the year, you generally want to keep your indoor humidity level between 30% and 50%. During the summer, you should keep your humidity levels between 40% and 50% to ensure your family’s comfort. When winter arrives, humidity levels between 30% and 40% are ideal for preventing mold and stickiness.

How Dry Winter Air Disrupts Your Sleep

If your home is experiencing dry winter air, it can affect your sleep quality at night.

Dry Air and Your Nose, Throat, and Sinuses

When humidity levels start to drop, it can irritate the delicate tissues in your throat and nasal passages. This can cause increased mouth breathing and snoring. Often, people end up waking up more frequently to drink water. For all these reasons, dry air can make it harder to have a restful night’s sleep.

Nighttime Symptoms Homeowners Notice

In the morning, you may wake up feeling congested. Because of how dry the air was all night, you may have a scratchy or sore throat. You may also struggle to stay asleep.

Bedroom Comfort Tips That Actually Help

If you’re struggling to get enough rest at night, try using the following tips to boost your comfort.

• Ensure clean filters so that the airflow is moving properly.
• Don’t crank your thermostat up at night because this can worsen any dryness.
• Houseplants and air-drying laundry can slightly improve your humidity levels.

While all of these tips can help, they don’t resolve the underlying problem. By investing in the right humidity solutions for your HVAC system, you can maximize your family’s comfort this winter.

Dry Air, Skin, and Breathing: Why You Feel It All Day

Once the humidity level starts to drop, it can have a significant effect on your skin and respiratory system.

Why Heated Air Is So Tough on Skin

When heated, low-humidity air comes in contact with your skin, it pulls the moisture out. This is one of the reasons why you notice such a difference in your skin dryness between the seasons.

Heated air also worsens your skin condition through other mechanisms as well. When you transition from cold outdoor air to hot indoor air, it can cause redness and inflammation as your capillaries expand and contract. Additionally, lost moisture can damage the outer layer of skin, increasing its susceptibility to irritants.

Common Winter Skin and Eye Complaints

As the temperatures fall and indoor air becomes drier, you may experience some common symptoms.

• Itchy, flaky hands and arms
• Increased incidence of eczema and psoriasis
• Chapped lips
• Dry, irritated eyes
• Redness and flushed skin
• Cracking at the corners of your mouth

When Lotion Is Not Enough

Although lotions and topical fixes can help, they don’t solve the actual problem. To enjoy lasting relief, you need balanced indoor humidity levels.

Breathing Easier With Better Humidity

Unfortunately, dry air can be uncomfortable if you suffer from respiratory ailments. Low humidity can irritate airways and trigger airway narrowing.

Whole-home humidity is more effective than just adding a humidifier to a single room. It offers better control and more consistent humidity. Plus, whole-home humidity means you don’t have the discomfort of going into rooms that lack humidified air.

Static Shocks, Frizzy Hair, and Clingy Laundry

Besides your skin and lungs, dry air can negatively impact your home in other ways.

Why Static Is Worse in Winter

In wintertime, static buildup is worse because cold air holds less moisture, and dry air causes static buildup. The air serves as an insulator, preventing static charges from dissipating naturally. Instead, the charge accumulates until something touches it.

Where You Notice Static Around the House

There are a few specific areas where you may notice static in your home. For example, you may get zapped when you pull the laundry out of the dryer or when you touch a metal doorknob. Static can also make your hair stick to clothes or pet fur to stand on end.

How Humidity Control Cuts Static

Fortunately, you can resolve this issue by controlling your indoor humidity. By increasing the humidity in the air, you transform the air from an insulator into a conductor. This helps to discharge static faster, so you don’t get zapped as much. Plus, you can also prevent your electronics and sensitive devices from getting damaged by static electricity.

Is It Really the Furnace, or Is Something Else Making Dryness Worse?

If you’re struggling with dry air, it helps to troubleshoot the cause.

How Often Your Furnace Runs

First, look at how long your furnace runs. A long run time during cold weather can lower the RH. Alternatively, an undersized or oversized system can cycle in unusual ways that impact your comfort.

Air Leaks and Drafts

If your home has leaks or gaps around your doors and windows, cold, dry air can get into your home. Because your furnace has to reheat this air, it can compound the added dryness.

Thermostat Habits and Vent Settings

Vents and thermostat settings can also impact your indoor comfort. When thermostat settings are too high, it can dry out the home. Similarly, blocked or closed supply vents can modify how air flows through your home.

Filters, Ducts, and Overall System Health

If your ducts are leaky or your filters are dirty, it can impact how your heat and airflow function. To ensure your family’s comfort, it’s important to get these issues inspected by a professional.

Quick Fixes Homeowners Can Try Right Away

To help improve your indoor humidity, avoid dry skin, and boost your respiratory health, remember these wintertime tips.

Small Daily Habits That Help

• Take a longer, warmer shower.
• Leave the shower door open, so the steam can spread.
• Don’t overuse exhaust fans because they pull conditioned air out of your home.

Portable Humidifiers

Getting a portable humidifier is an inexpensive way to achieve relief. However, it can be inconvenient to refill and clean them. Additionally, they are only intended to treat one room at a time.

Other Simple Helpers

While these aren’t full solutions to the problem, the following tips can help.

• Stay hydrated.
• Use lotion and moisturizers.
• Get houseplants.
• Place bowls of water near heating sources.

Whole-Home HVAC Solutions for Dry Winter Air

For a long-lasting, effective solution, consider a whole-home humidifier.

How a Whole-Home Humidifier Works With Your Furnace

Whole-home humidifiers directly supply your ductwork, so they can treat the air in your entire home and not just a single room.

Benefits You Can Feel All Over the House

A whole-home humidifier offers a few important benefits.

• More comfortable sleep
• Fewer dry throats and sinus problems
• Less static
• Better comfort at a lower temperature
• Softer skin

Professional Sizing and Installation Matter

For the best results, you need to have your humidifier sized and set up by a professional. We can ensure it is perfectly matched to your existing ductwork and furnace. Additionally, a skilled HVAC technician can help you set the right humidity target.

Maintenance and Checkups

To keep your humidifier functioning at its best, remember to change water panels as needed. You should also get it inspected during your routine furnace tune-ups.

When To Call Fox Family Heating & Air Conditioning

If you’re dealing with uncomfortable indoor air or major mechanical malfunctions, it may be time to call an expert.

Signs It Is Time To Bring in a Pro

Call our experienced HVAC technicians if the following statements describe your home.

• The dry air persists after you’ve tried basic solutions.
• You’re experiencing comfort problems in multiple rooms.
• The furnace runs more than usual, making your air especially dry.

What a Fox Family Technician Will Look At

When we come out to check your home, we’ll first look at your furnace performance and any safety issues. Then, we’ll review your home’s airflow, ductwork, and filters. Once we have this information, we can discuss the best whole-home humidifiers and indoor air quality upgrades for your needs.

Next Steps for Sacramento Area Homeowners

If you’re struggling with itchy skin, poor sleep, or an uncomfortable indoor environment, Fox Family can help. Before the next cold spell arrives, schedule an inspection and maintenance visit. Our team can review your existing setup and recommend the best solutions for your needs.

Call today to schedule your next furnace tune-up!