Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Should Your New Heater Have a Humidifier?

One of the rules we all grew up with was that electricity and water don't mix; even if we never learned more than that, that primary safety rule governs how we use and store appliances. But sometimes there's no separating the two: both good coffee and good air quality break the rule. It's becoming more and more common to combine a heater in Tyngsboro MA with a humidifier.

Is it safe to have the two right next to each other?


New furnace models are being made available with furnace humidifiers. Because the two separate devices are built together, they're safe to run. Modern furnaces are undergoing a lot of changes, such as changing from standing pilot lights to electric ignition and the addition of several safeties cut-offs and sensor, and using an in-built humidifier can make the air much more pleasant.
But if your central heating system isn't built to accommodate a humidifier, give the two a bit of space. Humidifiers don't soak the surrounding air with moisture or create areas of standing water, but they can develop leaks. If you only recently considered adding a humidifier to your home's air system, start with a room unit. You can adjust it to different levels, see if it increases the comfort level, and then decide if you want a larger unit or to go room by room.

Why do people use humidifiers in winter?


Winter air is relatively dry, especially if you have severe winters. Heating that already dry air will make it even more parched, and that can worsen winter illnesses, skin conditions, or respiratory conditions. Dry air is also more expensive to heat: because it doesn't have moisture to help hold the heated temperature, you have to replenish the energy more frequently.

If you need a heating service contact New England Cooling Towers, Inc for more information or to schedule an appointment.