Hardwood flooring is aesthetically pleasing and adds value to your house. But did you know that approximately 90 percent of the wood floors that end up ruined are as a result of indoor air problems? Your wood flooring loses or absorbs moisture as the conditions inside your home change. Fortunately, you can use your HVAC system to minimize the indoor climate effects on hardwood floors. Read on to learn more.

How Your Home’s Air Affects Hardwood Floors

Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. Therefore, humidity levels drop naturally when the cold winter weather sets in. When you turn on your furnace and the air is dry, your hardwood flooring loses a portion of its moisture and shrinks as a result. You may notice gaps along the ends or sides of the boards.

Summers in Georgia can be excessively muggy. When there’s excess humidity, hardwood flooring absorbs moisture from your home’s air. This leads to swelling and warping. Due to wood’s porous nature, there’s also an increased risk of mold and bacterial growth.

How Your HVAC System Can Help

Wood flooring only performs optimally if installed in a stable, maintained environment. That implies you should keep the humidity and temperature conditions in your home within a specific range. Ideally, the relative humidity should range from 35 to 55 percent. The good news is you can achieve this with the help of your HVAC system.

Equipping your HVAC system with a furnace-mounted humidifier will prevent separations of the wood planks in dry conditions. The humidifier will add moisture to the air whenever it gets dry.

Keeping your air conditioner running in the humid summer will lower humidity levels inside your home. The air conditioner’s dehumidification capabilities usually reduce in the mornings. Therefore, run it in tandem with a whole-house or standalone dehumidifier to help protect your floors from damage.

Believe it or not, warranties don’t cover humidity effects on hardwood floors. For that reason, it’s crucial to use your HVAC system appropriately to provide a consistent environment and protect your investment. For more information on home climate control, contact us at Powers Heating & Air, proudly serving the Peachtree City area with quality HVAC products and services.