Why is there more static electricity in my home during winter than at any other season?
154163
Because winter has the driest air of any season.\nThere is generally less general moisture in the air.  On top of that, people usually have the heat on in the home, which dries the air out even more.\n\nWant to cut down the static electricity?  Buy and use a humidifier.
1137925
It is called static electric.
331243
Random act of nature.\nSome say one house is warmer or colder than the other.
348314
warm air and cold air combine to make storms... in the winter there is less warm air
28574
Lightning can happen when it snows.  The reason lighting happens is because the air in the clouds is negatively charged compared to the ground (making the clouds (-) and the gorund (+)).  The clouds usally get this way in dry conditions cause there is less moisture in the air to stop air molecules from rubbing up against one another and creating excess energy (a negative charge).  Well since the clouds are (-) it needs a way of getting rid of some energy so it can be neutral (n).  It does this by passing some energy in to the (+)  ground, which also want to be (n).  This passing of energy rips throught the (n) air in between the (-) clouds and the(+) ground and creats the effect of lightning.  Now the reason it usually doesn't happen when it snow is because of the moisture in the air being so high, but everyonce in a while the air become dry enough when it snow to produce lightning.
40678
It's drier in the winter.  The moisture level is way lower simply because it's colder.  And since moisture deters static charges, you get more static electricity in your hair when you brush it in the winter!
1001343
There is an evident discrepancy between what you claim is actual use as to what the electric company has actually read.  Something is not right.  When you first moved in, there should have been an accurate starting point reading.  If not, then that is one issue.  Another, sometimes a person uses enormous amounts of electricity (growing pot for example).  Another possibility is that the meter itself is defective and so you could ask that it be checked out.  You would need to rule out that you have actually used an excessive amout each month.  There is a reason the company came up with its figure.  Find out exactly what the rest of the story is.
1056436
Let me answer this way:  The static charge built up between the clouds and earth (ground) cause the air between to become ionized (lightening) causing a discharge of (usually) millions of amperes of current, neutralizing (minimizing) the charge.\n   And as you know, an efficient arrestor is designed to prevent any great voltage rise during the discharge.
944281
+ve charge on one, -ve on the other....static electricity
242381
Lightning and thunder can happen while snowing, but it's quite rare.  It has to do with the fact that cold air holds less moisture than warm air.  The more moisture a cloud contains the bigger the storm becomes.  That's why thunderstorms are common in the warm weather months.  In the winter, less moisture is available which does not promote the forming of clouds that support thunderstorms.  However, with the right dynamics in the atmosphere, especially with nor'easters or lake effect snows, thundersnows occur.  Here in north central Indiana we had a thundersnow during an event that produced heavy snow a couple years ago.  I've only seen it once though in the 23 years I've lived here.
875567
Two reasons: dis-similar materials and it is an insulator.\n\nHere's how: When you drag a plastic comb through your hair, or rub a ballon against your hair or take a nylon coat off while wearing a polyester sweater, you are rubbing two different materials together.\n\nOne material has a slightly greater affinity for electrons and picks up some from the surface of the other material.  So one item ends up being negatively charged and the other ends up being positively charged.  This enables you to stick the charged ballon to the ceiling, but it also gives you a static spark when you touch something grounded like a light switch.\n\nJust like rubbing your feet (while wearing shoes) on the carpet to zap another kid back in school.  You can build up 1,000-2,000 volts of static electricity (at a very, very low amperage!).\n\nIf the material were a conductor, the charge would be carried away.  So it does not happen with metals.\n\nIt only happens on dry days because humid air bleeds off the charge.  So we mostly notice the effect inside during winter when our heating systems create dry indoor air.\n\nThere are anti-static sprays sold for computer users for carpets and clothes that make them a little bit conductive.  "Anti-cling" sheets to add to the clothes dryer do the same thing.
399475
it doesn't seem normal.  I always unplug my computer during lightening storms and never have any problems.
164162
Static electricity gets worse when it's dry... low humidity.  You can't do much about that outside, but you can always get a humidifier for your house. Use moisturizers on your skin, switch to cotton clothing, use dryer-sheets at the laundry, use a metal object (like a key) to touch metal things like doorknobs after shuffling along your rug.  Along those lines, pick up your feet when you walk so they're not sliding.  If no key is available, try grounding yourself by touching something like the wall before touching a metal object or a person (or pet!) Experiment with different shoes.  My leather boots are the worst!
790168
Lightening (which causes the thunder) is caused by a static electrical charge build up inside very high clouds. The static build up is caused by the collision and rubbing of small ice particles way up in the clouds. If these particles get big enough they will fall down and depending on the temperature outside will either melt into rain, or could initiate crystal formation (snow).\n\nSo you see, there is nothing about whether its rain or snow that effects the mechanism of lightning generation. The reason that it is less common in the winter is that in order to produce the very high lightning generating clouds (anvil-topped cummilonimbus [sorry if spelt wrong!]) it requires very strong updrafts - This is more likely in the summer when the hot sun beating down heats air rapidly so it shoots up fast. But there are conditions in winter that can have the same effect (like collision between warm and cold fronts).
7352
Because ice builds up on the power lines and breaks them, causing a loss of power to the people serviced by that line. Or tree branches/whole trees fall on a power line due to the weight of the ice, or a car slides on the road into a hydro pole.. Anyways, reasons like that.
16240
From Wikipedia:\n\nOne possible explanation for "flu season" is that, because people are indoors more often during the winter, they are in close contact more often, and this promotes transmission from person to person. Another is that cold temperatures lead to drier air, which may dehydrate mucous, preventing the body from effectively expelling virus particles. The virus may also linger longer on exposed surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, etc.) in colder temperatures. Increased travel and visitation due to the Christmas season may also play a role.
927260
Living in Texas, my electric bill drops drastically during the winter. Consider a $500 bill for July versus $86 for October!\n\nHowever, if last year is anything to go by, my electric bill will rise by about $10 for the Christmas season. I don't do a lot of lights and fuss, though. Just the tree.