The seriously long and freezing winters in my area necessitate running the oil furnace for various to various weeks.
The outside temperature frequently dips below freezing and often well below zero.
The wind chill is downright brutal, however because freezing air retains less moisture than hot air, both of us end up with concerns with humidity. Plus, the blast of heat from the oil furnace further dries out the residing environment. It causes health concerns such as itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, headaches, sore throat and an increased risk of sinus infection. Along with chapped lips, frizzy hair and static shock, insufficient humidity aggravates dust irritations, asthma, eczema and psoriasis. There’s the chance of hardwood floors and furnishings drying out and cracking. Since the overly dry air feels colder, both of us tend to raise the temperature control setting. The oil furnace then needs to labor hard and run more often. It experiences greater wear and tear, uses more energy and leads to higher utility bills. I tried portable humidifiers, however they were too much labor for easily little benefit. I consistently needed to clean and refill the reservoir. I noticed a weird odor in the air. I finally invested into a whole-house humidifier that incorporated right into the oil furnace. I chose a steam-style humidifier that uses electrodes to change water to steam. The steam is introduced into the hot air before it gets circulated throughout the house. Since adding the humidifier, I’ve been able to lower the temperature control by a couple of degrees and yet the residing space feels warmer and more comfortable. The humidifier wasn’t overly costly and is paying for itself by way of lower heating bills. The operation is nearly silent and the unit requires only annual maintenance.