When you wake up in the middle of January, you are accustomed to the sensation of the dry winter air. It’s that sandpaper-like scratchy throat and the tight, itchy skin that doesn’t seem to go away with moisturizer. As you cross the carpet in the living room to give your dog a pet, you are both startled by a sudden burst of static electricity.
Many homeowners in Oakville, Mississauga, and Toronto link this discomfort to the extremely cold weather. However, your house is the true culprit. The air around you is dry in the winter. We at Heat Flow HVAC realize that during Canada’s long winters, keeping your house warm is only half the fight. Controlling your humidity and air quality is essential for true home comfort. In this guide, we will walk you through exactly why your home feels like a desert, the science behind it, and why a whole-home humidifier is the game-changer you need to protect your family and your property.
The Science Behind Dry Winter Air in Your Home
We must examine the idea of relative humidity (RH) in order to comprehend why your house becomes so dry. It boils down to basic physics: warm air can hold more moisture than cold air.
The outside humidity drastically decreases when winter arrives in Ontario. The air is crisp and cold. This dry, cold air is drawn in and heated by your furnace. The air expands as the temperature rises. But the moisture content of that air doesn’t change. The air’s capacity to hold moisture falls dramatically as a result of its expansion.
At this point, the concept of furnace temperature becomes critical. As the furnace temperature rises, the air expands more and the relative humidity falls. In February, humidity levels in GTA homes frequently fall below 15%. In comparison, the average humidity in the Sahara Desert is roughly 25%. It’s possible that your living room is actually drier than a desert.
The “Thirsty” Air Effect Caused by Winter Dryness
Your home’s moisture-thirsty air doesn’t just sit there. It actively seeks out moisture wherever it can. You experience the effects so physically because of this. Water is being drawn from your skin, lips, eyes, houseplants, and even your home’s wood structure by the air.
How Furnace Temperature Worsens Dry Winter Air
Most people react to the cold by turning up the thermostat. But here is a secret that can save you money: humid air feels warmer than dry air.
When the air is dry, moisture evaporates from your skin very quickly. This evaporation process cools your body down, it is the same reason you sweat to cool off in summer. In winter, this “evaporative cooling” makes you feel chilly even if your thermostat is set to a standard 21°C or 22°C.
As a result, you turn up the furnace temperature to 23°C or 24°C to compensate. This cycle actually makes the problem worse. By increasing the heat, you dry the air out further, which makes you feel colder, leading you to turn the heat up again. If you are constantly fighting with your thermostat, you might want to check out our furnace repair and maintenance services to ensure your system is running efficiently alongside your humidity control.
3 Major Risks of Ignoring Low Humidity in Your GTA Home
We often hear customers say they will “just deal with it” until spring. But ignoring winter dry air can have serious consequences for your health and your biggest investment, your home.
1. Health and Wellness Impacts
Your body relies on moisture to fight off illness. Your nose and throat are lined with mucus membranes that trap viruses and bacteria before they can enter your lungs. When the air is too dry, these membranes dry out and crack, creating a highway for winter colds, the flu, and respiratory infections. For more on how humidity helps fight viruses, you can read the Mayo Clinic’s guide on humidifiers and health.
2. Damage to Your Hardwood and Furniture
For homes with hardwood floors in Burlington, Oakville, and Hamilton, this is a major problem. Wood is a breathable natural material. The National Wood Flooring Association states that in order to avoid irreversible damage, it is essential to maintain appropriate moisture levels.
Your hardwood floors will start to shrink if you keep your house at a high furnace temperature without adding humidity. Gaps between the planks may start to show. In extreme circumstances, the wood may permanently “check” or crack. Door frames, kitchen cabinets, and pricey musical instruments like pianos are also affected.
3. Static Electricity Buildup
While it seems like a minor annoyance, static electricity can be dangerous for sensitive electronics. The constant snapping and zapping is also a clear sign that your air is critically dry.
DIY Tips to Reduce Dry Winter Air Naturally
Before you look at professional upgrades, there are a few simple habits you can adopt to help fight the dryness. While these are rarely enough to fix the problem in a large GTA home, they can offer some temporary relief.
- The Open Door Shower: Leave the bathroom door cracked open while you shower. Let that steam travel into the hallway and bedroom instead of trapping it with the exhaust fan.
- Green Power: Houseplants like Spider Plants, Peace Lilies, and Ferns naturally release moisture through a process called transpiration. Grouping them together can create a small micro-climate of humidity.
- Stovetop Cooking: Boiling water for pasta or simmering soups releases steam into your kitchen. It is much better for your air quality than using the microwave.
- Air Dry Your Clothes: Set up a drying rack in the bedroom. As the water evaporates from your clothes, it humidifies the room gently.
Whole-Home Humidifiers: The Ultimate Solution for Dry Indoor Air
It’s time to consider a whole-home humidifier if you’re sick of filling tiny, noisy portable tanks that only function in one room and develop slime if you neglect to clean them. Your furnace system is directly equipped with these units. They automatically distribute moisture through your ductwork to every room in your home in conjunction with your HVAC system.
Professional humidifier installation services that are customized to your unique home’s size and requirements are our specialty at Heat Flow HVAC.
Bypass Humidifiers: Economical and Effective
In the suburbs of Toronto, this kind of humidifier is the most prevalent. It is installed on your furnace’s supply or return plenum. It uses a small pipe to “bypass” some air from the supply side, push it through a water-saturated panel (often called a biscuit or pad), and then back into the return air stream.
- Pros: Cost-effective to install, simple design, low maintenance.
- Cons: Only runs when the furnace blower is running; uses more water than steam units.
Steam Humidifiers: High-Performance Moisture Control
Steam humidifiers are the gold standard for comfort. Instead of relying on the air to evaporate water, these units have an internal canister that boils water electrically to create steam. This steam is then injected directly into your ductwork.
- Pros: Delivers the highest amount of moisture, precise control, works even when the furnace is not heating.
- Cons: Higher upfront cost, requires a dedicated electrical circuit.
Comparison: Bypass vs. Steam Humidifiers
| Feature | Bypass Humidifier | Steam Humidifier |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Standard homes (up to 2500 sq ft) | Large homes, homes with lots of woodwork |
| Operation | Uses furnace heat and airflow | Creates its own steam electrically |
| Efficiency | Good | Excellent (uses less water) |
| Control | Runs only with furnace cycle | Can run independently of heat cycle |
| Cost | Budget-friendly | Premium investment |
How GTA Hard Water Affects Your Humidifier Performance
Water hardness is one particular issue that the Greater Toronto Area faces. Water with high mineral content (calcium and magnesium) is common in places like Hamilton, Burlington, and some rural GTA.
These minerals are left behind when water evaporates. This becomes a white, crusty scale on the water pad in a bypass humidifier. This scale can totally clog the pad if maintenance is neglected, preventing any moisture from entering your air. It may even obstruct the drain line, allowing water to seep into your furnace.
Hard water coats the heating electrodes inside the canister of steam humidifiers. Hard water will drastically reduce the lifespan of modern steam units, which are intelligent enough to alert you when the canister is practically dead and needs to be replaced. We can help you determine the best setup for your specific water conditions during a consultation.
Expert Humidifier Installation and Replacement Services
Is your current humidifier looking rusty, yellowed, or simply not working? Many homes in our area have units that are 15 or 20 years old. They are often clogged with decades of mineral deposits or have failed solenoid valves.
Signs you need a replacement or service:
- The Bone Dry Test: If your humidistat is set to 35% or 40% but your hygrometer reads 20%, the unit is not working.
- Water Leaks: Any sign of water pooling around the base of your furnace is a red flag.
- Visual Corrosion: If the unit looks crusty or rusty on the outside, it is likely worse on the inside.
We provide comprehensive services for all these scenarios. Whether you need a fresh installation in a new build to an existing furnace or a replacement for an old, failed unit, we handle the duct cutting, water line connection, and electrical wiring safely and to code.
Ideal Indoor Humidity Levels for Toronto Winters
“What should I set my humidity to?” may be on your mind. The optimal range for health is between 30 and 50%, but you must weigh this against the outside temperature. Condensation and ice will probably form on the inside of your windows if you attempt to maintain a 45% humidity level in your house when the outside temperature is -20°C.
We advise using a sliding scale method. You should lower your humidity setting a little as the outside temperature drops. We install a lot of the latest Aprilaire or GeneralAire units that have “Automatic Mode” and an outdoor sensor to take care of this for you.
Ready To Balance Dry Winter Air With A Humidifier?
This winter, you won’t have to endure static shocks, cracked skin, or restless nights. A basic piece of equipment connected to your furnace can often make the difference between a dry, uncomfortable home and a comfortable haven.
We can help you breathe easier, whether you need a seasonal maintenance check on your current unit or are prepared to spend money on a brand-new steam humidifier installation. Are you prepared to balance the air in your house? The GTA, which includes Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, and Burlington, is served by us. To discuss your options, get in touch with us today.