IDAHO, USA — This time of year brings lots of changes, cooler weather, falling leaves and some places see their first snowfall for the season. There is also another change you may be seeing and feeling.
In fall and winter, there tends to be a lot more static electricity. People may be getting shocked when they are opening doors or snuggling with their dog on the couch.
In cooler seasons, the air holds less moisture. Dry air means less water vapor is available to conduct the charge away from you. Think of it as a kind of buffer. Without the water vapor in the air, your body can carry a higher charge. The lower the humidity, the higher the voltage, which means a stronger shock.
People may notice it more so in the house. Furnaces pull in the dry air from outside and heat it up, drying it out even more.
If you don't enjoy these "shocking" moments in your house, you can try increasing the moisture. People can get a humidifier, have more indoor plants or even leave out a big bowl of water in each room.
A local heating and cooling company, Western Heating and Air, said they normally get calls this time of year about air drying out in people's homes. People can get bloody noses and dry skin. It can also affect the home physically. Western Heating also said hardwood floors can sometimes shrink or drywall can crack when wooden beams shrink too quickly.
For people that are significantly affected by dry air in the winter, there are whole home humidifiers that can help remedy the situation.
Since the air is drier with these cooler temperatures, you might notice more frequent, and more significant shocks. So yes, you can blame that on the weather.
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