If winter air inside your Utah home feels dry, it’s because cold outdoor air contains little moisture. Once heated inside, its relative humidity plummets even further. Add high elevation, desert climate, and forced-air heat into the mix, and you’ve got dry indoor air year after year unless humidity is added.
Key Takeaways
- Cold outdoor air has very little moisture; indoor heating lowers RH even further
- Furnaces and ventilation systems pull moisture from air or do not replace it
- Airtight homes trap dry air inside year-round
Relative Humidity and Cold Air Explained
Relative humidity (RH) is the ratio of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount of moisture that air can hold at a specific temperature. Cold winter air outside has a low absolute humidity to begin with, and once it’s warmed by your furnace, its RH drops.
Cold air holds very little moisture. When your dry, outdoor air heats up inside your home, it’s going to become even drier in relation to the amount of moisture in the air.
- Dry skin, chapped lips
- Static electricity shocks
- Dry sinuses and scratchy throat
Outdoor air might have a RH of about 70% when the temperature is around 32°F (0°C). Heat that air up to 70°F (21°C) and the RH will drop down to around 20% without adding or removing any moisture from the air.
Why is it so dry inside my Utah home?
Cold winter air + heating your home = extremely dry indoor air
If you closely observe the science behind dry winter air, it’s easy to understand why your Utah home’s indoor air feels so dry.
Utah’s Climate and Dry Winter Air
Precipitation and mountain ranges have a lot to do with dry air inside Utah homes. Winter rains and storms dump their moisture on the mountainside. Before those clouds reach Utah’s geography, they’ve released most of their humidity to the mountains.
Low annual rainfall
Winter rains are light compared to other climates
Vegetation and trees are sparse in Utah
Dry, rocky ground soil
Extreme temperature changes between day and night
All of these combine to make the air that enters your home dry before it even begins to warm up.
Do not forget elevation. The higher elevation means thinner air and lower moisture content. Plus, evaporation occurs much quicker at elevation. Have you ever noticed how dry your skin feels at high altitude? Everything dries out faster — your skin, wood floors, clothing, furnishings.
Rain shadow effect
Mountain ranges act as barriers to the moisture from winter storms and rains. Since precipitation tends to occur on the mountainside, drier air makes its way down into Utah valley.
Reduced precipitation during winter
Winter moisture has to come from somewhere, but there’s not much humidity that comes in the winter season. By the time summer rolls around, the mountains have gotten most of the moisture.
Ventilation and Dry Air Indoors
When air infiltrates your home through holes, gaps, and other leaks commonly found around windows, doors, and air ducts, that dry air is replacing your interior’s humid air.
Plus, most Utah homes have forced-air furnaces that heat your air and lower RH.
Home Furnace Lower Humidity
Adding heat to air lowers its relative humidity
Then those furnaces vent combustion moisture outside your home through chimneys or flues.
Did you know that houses built today are meant to be tighter than ever?
Since houses aren’t meant to breathe like they used to, all of that dry air gets trapped indoors along with your family.
Signs You Live in a Dry Climate
Dry homes have indoor humidity levels that fall way below comfortable levels. Dry indoor air can cause:
- Cracked paint or wallpaper
- Drywall
- Wide gaps in floors and trim
- Electrical static shocks
- Dust floating everywhere
Dry indoor air can cause:
- Dry skin
- Chapped lips
- Raw throat or nasal passages
- Irritated sinuses
- Allergies & asthma flare-ups
- Itchy eyes
Even your furniture and flooring can fall victim to too little humidity.
Signs of Dry Homes
Wood floors can become warped or develop large cracks
Cabinets can develop loose fitting joints
Musical instruments often get damaged from dry indoor air
Cloth and furniture can look faded and worn
Even paint can start to peel off
How to Increase Humidity In Your Home
Whole-Home Humidifiers
Hooked up to your home’s HVAC system, these systems add moisture directly to your heated air and distribute it evenly throughout your home.
Steam Humidifiers
The best for larger homes with high ceilings, steam humidifiers offer precise humidity levels and higher moisture output.
Portable Humidifiers
As the name implies, these are best for portable applications such as bedrooms and living rooms.
Ideal Home Humidity Levels
The ideal humidity range for your home during winter is between 30–40%.
Keep Indoor Humidity at Ideal Levels
Quick tips for keeping your humidity at ideal levels all winter long.
- Consider purchasing a hygrometer to keep tabs on humidity levels inside your home
- Don’t leave the bathroom fan running if it vents to the outside
- Don’t over-ventilate your home when its cold outside
- Seal drafts & increase your homes overall level of insulation
- Keep the thermostat at the same temperature at all times
Avoiding Condensation on Windows
If you notice condensation starting to build up on windows then you have too much humidity. Too little humidity can be equally as bad for your home. Insulate cold surfaces to avoid condensation.
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, your home feels dry in the winter because outdoor air contains very little moisture. Once that air gets inside and is heated, its RH decreases significantly. We live at high elevation and in a desert climate. Also, most homes are heated with forced-air furnaces that continually heat and recirculate dry air.
There’s no denying your furnace is drying out the air in your home. The easy fix? Add moisture. Adding moisture to the equation with a whole-home humidifier or portable units will allow you to experience increased comfort levels, protect your home from damage, and breathe easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why is my Utah home so dry in winter?
A: air outside your home has very little moisture and gets even drier once heated indoors.
Q2: Will all heating systems dry out my home?
A: Yes, unless you’re using radiant heating. Forced-air furnaces dry out your home the fastest.
Q3: What indoor humidity level should I maintain?
A: Aim to keep your home’s humidity level between 30–40% RH.
Q4: How do I know if my home’s air is too dry?
A: You’ll see signs of dry skin, feel shocks of static electricity, notice cracking wood, increased dust, and irritated sinuses.
Q5: What are the best ways to add moisture to my home?
A: Investing in a whole-home humidifier is ideal for the long term. Portable humidifiers work great for rooms.
