Winter in Canada brings snow, cold temperatures, and cozy nights indoors. But it also brings something far less pleasant: dry indoor air. If your skin feels itchy, your lips are constantly chapped, or you’re waking up with a dry throat or stuffy nose, your home’s air is likely too dry.
Dry winter air isn’t just uncomfortable. It can affect your health, your home, and even how your HVAC system performs. Below, we’ll explain why winter air feels so dry, what it can do to your home and comfort, and how to fix it with simple, proven steps.
Why does winter air feel so dry?
The main reason winter air feels dry has to do with temperature and humidity.
- Cold air holds less moisture
Cold outdoor air naturally contains less moisture than warm air. When cold air enters your home and gets heated by your furnace, the temperature rises, but the moisture level does not. This causes relative humidity to drop, making the air feel dry.
Put simply: heating air doesn’t add moisture.
- Your furnace doesn’t humidify the air
Your furnace is designed to heat air, not add humidity. As it runs throughout the winter, it circulates dry air through your home. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air, so it pulls moisture from whatever it can, including your skin, sinuses, and even wood furniture and floors.
- Ventilation and air leaks make it worse
Every time cold air leaks in through drafty doors, windows, or weak insulation, your heating system has to warm that dry air again. Bathroom fans, kitchen range hoods, and ventilation systems can also push moist air out of your home, lowering humidity levels further.
Common signs your home’s air is too dry
Dry indoor air affects more than comfort. Some of the most common signs include dry, itchy skin and cracked lips, scratchy throat, dry cough, or frequent nosebleeds, sinus irritation, increased static electricity, and dry indoor plants.
In some homes, you may also notice hardwood floors shrinking or cracking, or wood furniture becoming more brittle over time.
What is the ideal indoor humidity level in winter?
For most Canadian homes, a comfortable winter humidity level is between 30% and 50%.
Below 30% typically feels dry and uncomfortable. Above 50% can increase the chance of condensation on windows, frost buildup, and moisture issues.
A small hygrometer is an easy way to measure humidity and confirm what’s happening in your home.
How to fix dry winter air in your home
The good news is that dry winter air is very manageable. The best approach is usually a combination of adding moisture and reducing the reasons humidity is escaping.
- Use a humidifier
A humidifier is one of the most effective solutions for dry indoor air.
Portable humidifiers can help individual rooms like bedrooms and home offices, while whole-home humidifiers connect directly to your HVAC system and distribute moisture evenly throughout the house.
Whole-home humidifiers are especially helpful in larger homes because they provide consistent humidity without constant refilling.
- Keep moisture inside when you can
Small habits can help maintain indoor humidity. After a shower, letting some steam circulate before turning on the fan can add moisture back into the air. Cooking and simmering water on the stove also adds humidity naturally.
Exhaust fans are important, but running them longer than needed can remove the moisture your home actually needs in winter.
- Add indoor plants
Houseplants release moisture through transpiration. They can slightly raise humidity levels while also improving the feel of your space. This works best as an extra boost rather than the main solution.
- Seal drafts and reduce air leaks
Air leaks don’t just waste heat. They also bring in dry outdoor air that your furnace has to warm up again, lowering humidity even more.
Weather-stripping doors, sealing window gaps, and improving insulation can help keep both warmth and moisture inside the home. If you have ductwork issues, duct leaks can also contribute to comfort problems and should be addressed.
- Maintain your HVAC system
A well-maintained HVAC system supports more consistent comfort. Make sure you’re changing your furnace filter regularly and scheduling routine maintenance. Poor airflow, clogged filters, and uneven circulation can make dry air symptoms feel worse.
When to call an HVAC professional
If you’ve tried the basics and the air still feels uncomfortably dry, it may be time to bring in a professional. An HVAC technician can measure humidity, assess airflow, check ductwork, and recommend the right humidification solution for your home.
They can also help ensure your humidity level is balanced properly to avoid condensation or moisture issues.
Conclucion
Dry winter air is one of the most common comfort issues in Canadian homes, but it doesn’t have to be something you simply deal with. Once you understand why the air feels dry, you can take the right steps to restore humidity, improve comfort, and protect your home.
If you’d like help choosing a humidifier solution, improving airflow, or making your home more comfortable this winter, Delta Air Systems can help. Give us a call at 519-885-2740 today to get started!
