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The Relationship Between HVAC And Hardwood Floors

It is relatively easy for the average homeowner to determine what ultimately happens when your attic is poorly ventilated, or how a lack of wall vents can make your indoor environment a toxic morass of pet dander, bacteria, and other microscopic unpleasantries. Protecting your investment is an idea any homeowner can get behind, but when you have a hardwood floor, it becomes even more crucial to control the amount of indoor humidity to prevent any future damage.

How the Seasons Impact Your Home Environment

During the winter time, cold air tends to be drier than warm air. This is due to the fact that cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air. In fact, cool air cooled beyond its dew point will create moisture, aka dew, which can wreak havoc on drywall and hardwood floors.

Second, indoor environments require some outdoor air to help keep its occupants comfortable and healthy. Passive wall vents and dampers allow stale, inside air to exhaust out of the home while also bringing in fresh, outside air. Depending on the age of the house and its HVAC system, it can change the entirety of its indoor air within a certain period of time. Older homes with more air leaks can convert their indoor air at a much more rapid rate than newer homes as a result.

Thirdy, Wood reacts to its environment, and will swell in higher humidity levels and shrink in lower levels. This could lead to cracking and warping if humidity levels are constantly fluctuating.

How You and Your HVAC System Protect Your Hardwood Floor

Many newer HVAC systems come with humidifiers and dehumidifiers as part of the package and can usually be set to your preferences through the main control panel. Depending on your system’s capabilities, it may have the ability to reduce/increase humidity in all rooms as needed and maintain it at your desired level.

However, if you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, it would be a good idea to ask your sales representative if the unit comes with a dehumidifier/humidifier. If it does not, it may be necessary to get over-the-counter humidifiers/dehumidifiers if you find your indoor environment too dry or too humid.

Fun Fact: Simply running your AC is a great way to reduce moisture in your home if you’re in a pinch. This is done through the use of an evaporator coil, which your HVAC system may come with.

How FAMCO Can Help

We are FAMCO, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of HVAC supplies in the Pacific Northwest. We are headquartered in Meridian, Idaho, and have HVAC solutions to fit any taste, job, and/or budget.

If you’re looking for efficient and cost effective ways to regulate temperature and humidity levels in your home, whether it’s through the metered introduction of outside air into your home with our IAQ Zip Economizer or installing a dryer vent to keep your laundry room from feeling like the Amazon Basin, we are here to help.

Feel free to give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to help.

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