The couple of the (winter) season: Furnace humidifiers! You know all about the humidifier benefits you can reap with help from AprilAire whole-house humidification solutions, but did you know that pairing humidifiers with furnaces as dry, winter air starts to enter your home can help you experience those life-changing home and health perks and more?

From improving energy savings, reducing utility costs, and more, we asked our very own Healthy Air Expert on the instructional development team, Brandon Glancy to tell us all about this important relationship and why homeowners should consider marrying their humidifiers with furnaces!

Humidifiers With Furnaces: Why Are They a Perfect Pair?

The Furnace Humidifier Relationship

“A lot of people would not know this, but the driest place on Earth is not Death Valley, California, or the Sahara Desert, it’s the average home in the winter when the furnace is running,” explains Brandon.

“We must have the heat a furnace provides, but the tradeoff is that we dry out the air in our home to often dangerous levels. To compensate for this, we use an AprilAire Whole-House Humidifier that’s ducted into the HVAC system. Adding this crucial component helps bring the humidity levels back to a safe, comfortable level.”

How a Furnace Humidifier Combo Works

“To create humidity in the form of vapor, you need three components: Water, heat, and airflow. A water line running to your AprilAire Whole-House Humidifier trickles water down an evaporative panel so the furnace can provide both heat and airflow. This process turns the water into vapor, which the HVAC blower then moves through the ductwork and disperses into your home’s air.”

The Humidifier Benefits Homeowners Can Except

“An AprilAire Whole-House Humidifier,” Brandon begins, “is designed to raise absolute humidity in your home, which, at the same time, increases the relative humidity (RH) in the air.”

“Relative humidity is what we need to be concerned with. Too much of it and your home could grow mold, mildew, fungus, etc. and inherit a host of other problems. Too little and your air will start to steal water from any source it can, from the building materials your home is made of to the bodies of you and your family members.”

To further underscore the importance of balanced humidity in the home, Brandon shares, “It’s one of the main reasons we tend to associate winter with dry, itchy skin, colds/flus, and other discomforts. Truth is, you didn’t get sick because it was cold out. You likely were sick because when it got cold outside, your furnace turned on and heated your home but dried out your air. When that happens, air pulls moisture from your skin, mucus membranes, and more, leaving your body’s defenses against colds/flus/infections low. The result? You get sick.”

How can one ensure they reap these humidifier benefits? Brandon offers this advice: “By installing an AprilAire Whole-Home Humidifier, you are doing everything you can to ensure your home’s relative humidity doesn’t fall to a level that leaves your body’s defenses weakened against colds/flus/infections. That means less of a chance for you to get sick, miss work, lose income, etc. Maintaining balanced humidity in your home protects your family the same way. It protects your body and is the best defense you can have against the dangers dry air brings every heating season.”

“Generally, we want to keep our home’s humidity between 40–60%*,” Brandon recommends. “We need an AprilAire Whole-Home Humidifier to do that. When the humidifier does its job, the air in your home is safe and healthy.”

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*While balanced humidity exists between 40 and 60%, it’s important to remember that outdoor temperature and other home factors will impact what relative humidity level is attainable and recommended for your house. Talk with your AprilAire Healthy Air Professional to learn more.