You are familiar with the term “a dry heat,” which is usually held up as superior to a humid heat. There’s a reason for this: the moisture in humid air condenses onto skin and releases more heat as it does so, giving you the sensation that the temperature is hotter than it actually is. The opposite occurs in a dry heat, which will make you feel as if the temperature is somewhat cooler than it is.
But a dry heat brings its own problems: aridity. Extremely dry air can lead to health issues: cracked and chapped skin, eye and noise irritation, asthma and other breathing troubles. During dry, cold weather, the temperature will feel lower without the addition of moisture to add heat from condensation.
A home heating system can contribute to the issue of dryness. The hotter your house becomes, the drier its air will become—and some heating systems remove more moisture than others. How does this affect our heating systems in Orlando, FL? It’s a bit of a different situation than in other parts of the country, as our technicians at Downtown Air & Heat can explain.
Because Florida has one of the most humid climates in the U.S., heaters like heat pumps that use condensation to release heat into a home can be beneficial to defeating the moist air. The condensing coil on a heat pump (the indoor coil when the system is in heating mode) removes moisture from the air as it releases heat through condensation. This can be a tremendous relief during moist cold weather. In general, a heat pump won’t make your air too dry, nor will a standard furnace (although a furnace will not be the same help with dehumidifying the air). In fact, we often recommend people in Florida invest in a heat pump for this very reason: its dehumidifying ability.
However, if your air does become excessively dry when you run your heater, it may indicate some sort of flaw, such as the heater running too long. When this happens, hire repairs technicians to examine the problem. Look to Downtown Air & Heat for the quality work on Orlando, FL heating systems that will make sure they are properly balanced to give you warmth without drying out your home.
