Humidify For a Healthy Environment


                                                  My name is Dennie Plomedahl and I am the Dennie PlomedahlProduct Specialist for humidifiers and dehumidifiers for Aprilaire.  As you know, in the cold winter months, the air in your home can become dry to the point that it is unbearable; static shock, hair that stands on end, dry itchy skin, nasal membranes that crack and bleed all become issues.  Enough said, you know what I'm talking about, because we've all lived it.  But there is no need to suffer.  Proper humidification prevents all these things from happening and more.  My passion is to spread the word on how proper humidification provides the comfort and protection that everyone needs.  As the father of four, this passion starts at home.  I protect my family and you can protect yours.  The goal of this blog is to make everyone as passionate as I am, to help you understand that you have the right to better health and comfort through proper humidification. 

Aprilaire is Your Whole-House Humidifier Solution

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

You know you need a humidifier.  You understand all the benefits that come with properly humidified air: health, comfort, protection of assets, and energy savings.  Now comes the tricky part; which humidifier do you buy?

Answer these three questions before you purchase
There are three simple questions you need to ask yourself to determine which humidifier is best for you:

1) Is noise important?
2) Do you have children?
3) How much humidification do you require?

We covered items one and two in our last blogs.  Let's finish up with number three today by asking how much humidification do you require.  Or, put another way, how many rooms do you have and how big are they?

Your house has more than one room
Unless you live in a one-room efficiency, you probably have 2-3 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and more.  It would take one portable humidifier for every room in your home to adequately increase your comfort and protect your valuable possessions.  That's five or more units to fill and clean every day.  And, have the remote control for your TV handy as you'll have to crank up the volume to get over all the noise.

A whole-house humidifier from Aprilaire is your best solution.  It works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to add soothing, protecting moisture to every room in your home.  It operates quietly and efficiently, with only annual maintenance required: no tanks to fill and clean, no noise, no hassles.

Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today.  You'll be glad you did.

Aprilaire - providing all the humidification you need for over 50 years!
 

Protect Your Children with an Aprilaire Humidifier

Friday, October 16, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

You know you need a humidifier.  You understand all the benefits that come with properly humidified air: health, comfort, protection of assets, and energy savings.  Now comes the tricky part; which humidifier do you buy?

Answer these three questions before you purchase
There are three simple questions you need to ask yourself to determine which humidifier is best for you:

1) Is noise important?
2) Do you have children?
3) How much humidification do you require?

In my last blog we explored question number one.  Today, let's look at number two.  Why do we ask that?  The answer is easy; safety.  Warm mist humidifiers use a heating element to heat the water and can have very hot surfaces.  These portable humidifiers sit out in the open in your home where your children can touch them.  OUCH!

Aprilaire has your safety solution.  A whole-house humidifier from Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system, out of sight and out of reach of your curious little ones.  And, unlike portable humidifiers that add moisture to only one room at a time, Aprilaire distributes soothing moisture throughout your entire home, protecting your family members from dry air no matter what room they're in.

Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today.  You'll be glad you did.

Aprilaire - protecting your family for over 50 years!
 

Now is the Time to Maintain Your Humidifier

Monday, October 12, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Comment from Denise
It's time for me to replace the filters on my Aprilaire humidifiers.  Please contact me with information on how to do that.  Thank you.

Hi Denise,
The filters you refer to are called water panel evaporators and they are the heart of an Aprilaire humidifier.  This is where the moisture is picked up by the air in your heating system, and from there is distributed throughout your home.  To maintain optimum humidifier performance, it is recommended that you change this item on an annual basis.

The best way to have your humidifier properly serviced is by your local Aprilaire dealer.  Your local dealer will have the expertise to not only change out the water panel evaporator, but also to check other critical aspects of the humidifier to ensure it performs properly this upcoming heating season. 

If you feel you can do it yourself, you can still purchase the water panel evaporator over
the counter from your local Aprilaire dealer.  If you don't have a dealer, you can purchase from the Aprilaire e-store.  All orders ship out same day for your convenience.

Thank you for your inquiry, Denise.  And thank you for supporting Aprilaire.

 

Don't Lower Your Temperature to Dehumidify

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you lower your thermostat to the point where you are uncomfortably cold just so you can remove excess humidity from your home?  Are you tired of feeling cold and clammy, tired of wearing a sweater in your home in the summertime?  Did you know there is a whole-house solution that not only removes moisture from your home, but allows you to raise your thermostat setting so you can once again call your home a comfortable place to live?

Aprilaire has your moisture removal solution
A whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home's HVAC system to remove excess humidity from your home.  And, unlike an air conditioner that controls to temperature, an Aprilaire dehumidifier is controlled by a dehumidistat that constantly measures the relative humidity (RH) in your home and controls the moisture level to the setpoint that you determine.

What does that mean to you?  First of all, your home and other valuable assets are protected from the damage of mold and other moisture-related problems.  Second, you can tuck away your sweater and live in comfort once again because your home will be a more comfortable place to live.  However, be prepared to host more parties, because once your friends and neighbors have experienced your most comfortable environment, you'll have the most popular house on the block.

Aprilaire - making homes more comfortable for over 50 years.
 


Choosing the Right Humidifier

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

You know you need a humidifier.  You understand all the benefits that come with properly humidified air: health, comfort, protection of assets, and energy savings.  Now comes the tricky part; which humidifier do you buy?

Answer these three questions before you purchase
There are three simple questions you need to ask yourself to determine which humidifier is best for you:

1) Is noise important?
2) Do you have children?
3) How much humidification do you require?

Today, let's explore question number one.  How important is noise in your home?  Portable humidifiers have fans to move the moisture from the holding tank into the room.  Fans can make quite a bit of noise.  If your humidifier is sitting in your living room, will you have to turn up the television or stereo so you can hear it over the humidifier?  If it is in your bedroom, will you be able to sleep with all that noise?  Also, portable humidifiers only provide moisture to the room they are in, so you will need several of them to properly humidify your home.  That's a lot of extra, unnecessary noise.

If noise is an issue in your home, Aprilaire is your humidification solution.  An Aprilaire humidifier installs on your home’s HVAC system, out of sight and out of mind, quietly providing soothing humidification throughout your entire home.  And, unlike portable humidifiers, Aprilaire has no tanks to fill and clean and only requires annual maintenance.

Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today and quietly add soothing moisture to your home tomorrow.

Aprilaire - quietly adding moisture to homes for over 50 years. 
 

Study Shows Healthy Levels of Humidity Can Control Spread of Flu Viruses

Friday, September 18, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know...proper levels of humidity can reduce influenza survival, transmission, and seasonality.  Studies done at Oregon State University indicate the key to reducing airborne tranmission of the flu is maintaining the proper levels of humidity as measured by absolute humidity.  Absolute humidity is the measure of the actual water vapor content of the air irrespective of temperature. 

Adding moisture is the key
In cold winter months when your furnace is heating and drying the air, you cannot sustain proper levels of humidification without adding moisture.  In other words, you need a humidifier.  The addition of a humidifier to your home will make you more comfortable, protect your belongings from the ill-effects of dry air, and, as this study shows, protect your health from the devastating effects of the flu.

Your local Aprilaire dealer has your best solution for proper humidity.  Aprilaire humidifiers work in conjunction with your home's HVAC system to add moisture to every room of your home, ensuring your health and comfort regardless of which room you are in.  Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today.  This is one of the most important calls you can make in protecting the health of your family this upcoming flu season.  Maintaining healthy humidity levels is an important part of a comprehensive strategy you can use to reduce the spread of viruses.  Keeping surfaces clean and avoiding contact with others infected are also essential.

Aprilaire - protecting your family’s health for over 50 years.
 

Proper Humidity Gets Your House Back in the Zone

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Is your house a hassle?  It can be if your indoor humidity is out of whack.  An excellent article in USA Today speaks to all the things that can go wrong if your home's relative humidity (RH) is outside the optimal range of 30% to 60%.  RH that is out of whack can lead to damaged wood floors and electronic equipment, increased dust, respiratory problems, throat and skin irritation, rot, pests, mold and mildew, dust mites, and allergies.  Any or all of these conditions can drive you nuts and cost you money!

Aprilaire has the solution
Aprilaire has a full line of whole-house products to eliminate the hassles of RH that is out of whack.  Whether it's a humidifier to add moisture to the air during those dry, winter months, or a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture in the summer, Aprilaire has a whole- house product for you.  Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home's HVAC system to add or remove moisture from your entire home, quietly and efficiently.  Maintenance is a breeze as well, with only annual service required.


Call your Aprilaire dealer and get your house back in the optimal zone today!
 

Why You Need a Whole-House Dehumidifier

Thursday, August 27, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know....There's nothing like a third party endorsement to prove your point.  For example, as an Aprilaire employee, I am more than willing to explain all the reasons why you need to install a dehumidifier in your home: comfort, protection, health, and energy savings.  Of course, you'll say all I want to do is sell more Aprilaire product.  But what if you heard this from someone who did not have a vested interest in any company’s product?  Would you be more apt to listen?  Probably so.

The Natural Handyman
Jerry Alonzy, a.k.a the Natural Handyman, makes a living by providing homeowners sensible advice pertaining to home-related topics.  In an article on dehumidifiers, he talks about everything from why you need one to how to purchase the right one for your needs.  He has some excellent advice on brand choice and where to buy.  He says he always asks himself the following questions: "If this product needs service or parts, can I get them locally?" and "Will this company be in business a year...or 5 years from now?” 

The answer is Aprilaire
Aprilaire is the most respected name in whole-house dehumidification for a reason.  First, our products are installed by respected HVAC professionals in your community.  Their livelihoods depend on treating you, their customer, the way you wish to be treated.  Second, Aprilaire has been doing this longer than anyone else.  We are the experts in whole-house comfort and protection.  Our reputation for quality is second to none.

Contact your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today.  You'll be glad you did.

Aprilaire - providing comfort and protection for over 50 years!
 

Don't Suffer From the Affects of Dry Air

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know....Dry air is a pain, literally.  But don't take my word for it, ask Jonathon R. Richards of Ezine Articles.  You can find his expert advice on this website as well as the Flat Fee MLS website.  Mr. Richards has deep insight on how dry air in your home can make your life miserable.


People learn to live with dry air
Most people never stop to think why they wake up every morning with a dry, scratchy throat, or why their nasal membranes are severly dry and cracking (oftentimes to the point where their nose is bleeding).  If the air in your home is so dry that your home's plaster and expensive woodwork is shrinking and cracking, what do you think it is doing to your skin?  This is not normal and you certainly do not have to put up with it.


Aprilaire has the solution
A whole-house humidifier from Aprilaire provides soothing, relieving moisture to every room in your home.  You will no longer wake up with that scratchy throat and you will drastically reduce your usage of skin moisturizer.  Plus, Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home's HVAC system, quietly and efficiently.  You'll never even know it's there except for the fact that you'll be more comfortable than ever.


Call you Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your Aprilaire whole-house humidifier today.  You'll be glad you did.


Aprilaire - Protecting your health for over 50 years. 
 

Aprilaire Dehumidifies Your Entire Home

Thursday, August 20, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you live in just one room of your house?  Do you cook, eat, and sleep in the living room or do you move around from room to room as the mood hits you?  How about one floor?  Do you spend all your time in the basement?  Of course not.  Then why would you place a dehumidifier in just one room of your house?

Excess humidity is everywhere
Humidity doesn't just hang out in the living room to watch TV with you.  It's in the kitchen, the bathroom, bedrooms, and basement.  Excess humidity is everywhere.  So why would you purchase a portable dehumidifier and put it in just one room of your house?  You wouldn't.  In fact, portable manufacturers recommend different size units depending on which floor of your house you’re putting it on, with the overall recommendation to purchase a dehumidifier for every floor.  Ouch!  Not only do you purchase three dehumidifiers, but you have the hassles of emptying three tanks every day and the joy of paying to operate all three. 

A whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire is the solution to excess humidity.  It works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to efficiently remove moisture from every room of your home.  Aprilaire also means hassle-free maintenance as there are no tanks to empty and clean Also, it's in your equipment room so you aren't constantly tripping over it.  Contact your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today.

Aprilaire - providing hassle-free comfort and protection for over 50 years! 
 


Hassle-Free Humidification

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know....Portable humidifiers are a pain.  Literally.  Here is a list of "Things to Remember" regarding portable humidifiers.  This list can be found on a major home improvement retailer's website.

  • Always place your humidifier on a hard, level surface that will not be damaged by spilled water.  Do not place your humidifier on a carpet or any cloth.  Air must be allowed to circulate under the appliance.
  • During operation, warm mist humidifiers and steam vaporizers boil water.  Keep the appliance out of reach of children and infants to prevent them from being scalded by the hot water in the appliance.
  • Use only the type of water recommended by the manufacturer.  Some types of water can damage a humidifier.  Do not use water that has been treated with water softener.  The chemical agents found in water softeners can cause problems in the humidifier.
  • Do not use additives in the water that are not specifically recommended by the humidifier manufacturer.  Unless there is a manufacturer's recommendation, using additives can cause irreparable damage.
  • If a medicine cup is provided, only use liquid medications that are specified by their manufacturer for application with the humidifier.


Portable humidifiers are a hassle
If all of the above sounds like a lot to worry about, you're right.  Aprilaire takes away all the hassle and worry with a whole-house humidifier.  It installs right on your HVAC equipment, out of sight and out of mind.  There are no hot surfaces, no special water, no additives, no tanks to empty and clean.  Just soothing, properly humidified air that protects your family’s health for years to come.


Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today.  You'll be glad you did.

Aprilaire - Hassle free for over 50 years!

Dehumidify and Save $$$

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know.....You can save money on your air conditioning bill by adding a whole-house dehumidifier to your HVAC system.  Studies show that you can save up to 18% on your electric bill and be more comfortable at a higher temperature.

It's not the heat, it's the humidity
Humidity control is key when it comes to comfort.  When you lower your relative humidity (RH) to a range of 40% to 60%, you can actually raise the setting on your thermostat and be more comfortable.  Why is that?  Lowering the RH allows your body’s natural cooling system, perspiration, to operate more efficiently, eliminating the need to lower the temperature and make your air conditioning system work harder than it has to.  Studies show that by raising your thermostat setting 3 degrees, you can achieve up to 18% savings!

Aprilaire has an entire family of whole-house dehumidifiers that work in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to properly dehumidify your entire house.  And, unlike noisy, portable dehumidifiers that take up space in your living room, Aprilaire works quietly in your equipment room.  Out of sight and out of mind, just the way it's supposed to be.

Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule your installation today.  You'll be glad you did.

Aprilaire - Keeping you comfortable and saving you money for over 50 years.
 

Humidify For Your Health

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know.....Research indicates there are indirect health effects of relative humidity (RH) in indoor environments.  A research article found on PubMed Central suggests that RH can affect the incidence of respiratory infections and allergies.  Experimental studies on airborne-transmitted infectious bacteria and viruses show that survival or infectivity is minimized when RH is maintained between 40% and 70%. 

How does this affect you?  This study also found that the incidence of absenteeism and respiratory infections was found to be lower among people working or living in environments with mid-range versus low or high relative humidity.  This basically says that you will be happy and healthier when the space you live and work in has proper levels of RH.

Aprilaire has the solution
Aprilaire whole-house humidifiers work with your home's HVAC system to provide soothing moisture throughout your entire home, protecting you and your family from the ill-affects of air that is too dry.  And Aprilaire's "set it and forget it" technology means years of automatic, trouble-free operation for years to come.

Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your humidifier today.  Your family will thank you for it.

Aprilaire - protecting your family for over 50 years!
 

Dehumidifier Sized to Meet Your Needs

Thursday, July 30, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you long for the benefits of whole-house dehumidification, but never thought it was possible because your home or condominium is too small to accommodate the physical size of the unit?  Thanks to Apirilaire and the new Model 1730A dehumidifier, you too can enjoy the comfort and protection that proper levels of humidity have to offer.

Compact size is the key
With cabinet dimensions of 12.5" x 14.5" x 22", the Aprilaire 1730A can fit in most small equipment closets and attic scuttles.  This enables your Aprilaire dealer to easily install this Energy Star rated dehumidifier in most applications.  And, because it's Energy Star rated, you can be assured your Aprilaire dehumidifier is not only dependable, but energy efficient as well.

Protect your home or condominium from mold and mildew and enjoy increased comfort by installing an Aprilaire dehumidifier.  Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule your installation today!

Aprilaire - protecting your home and increasing your comfort for over 50 years.

 

Air Too Dry? Humidify!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know....According to infoplease.com, dry air has four main effects on the human body:

1.  Breathing dry air is a potential health hazard which can cause such respiratory ailments as asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and nosebleeds, or general dehydration since body fluids are depleted during respiration.
2.  Skin moisture evaporation can cause skin irritations and eye itching.
3.  Irritative effects, such as static electricity which causes mild shocks when metal is touched, are common when the air moisture is low.
4.  The “apparent temperature” of the air is lower than what the thermometer indicates, and the body “feels” colder.

The solution to dry air- Humidify
Infoplease.com also mentions a simple solution to all these problems: increase the indoor relative humidity (RH).  Of course, this can be done through a number of methods, the most efficient of which is a whole-house humidifier from Aprilaire.  An Aprilaire humidifier works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to add soothing moisture to your entire home, not just a single room like a portable unit.  And, unlike a portable unit, Aprilaire whole-house humidifiers are virtually maintenance free, with no tanks to constantly fill and sanitize.

Call your local Aprilaire dealer to end suffering from air that is too dry.  Install an Aprilaire whole-house humidifier today!

Aprilaire - protecting your health for over 50 years.

 

Humidify to Avoid Dry Air

Thursday, July 23, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

It's hard to believe, but with this wacky summer weather, people are actually running their furnaces in July.  This is a gentle reminder that the fall and winter heating season is just around the corner... and with the heating season comes dry air.  You remember dry air; it gave you itchy skin and static shocks.  It may have made your hair stand on end (literally) or even made your nose bleed.  What a pain.

Humidification is the key
Aprilaire has the solution to dry air with a full line of whole-house humidifiers.  Unlike portable humidifiers that only add moisture to the room they sit in, Aprilaire provides relief-giving humidification throughout your entire home.  Proper levels of humidification provide a wide array of benefits: health, comfort, protection, and energy savings. 

Get ahead of the curve.  Call your local Aprilaire dealer and ask how you can improve your health and comfort this winter.  Install an Aprilaire humidifier today.

Aprilaire, humidifying your world for over 50 years!
 

Control Moisture to Prevent Mold

Friday, July 17, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know... The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an entire section on their website dedicated to mold.  They highlight the fact that people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold.  If you suffer from any of these ailments, you know that your health is at serious risk if you are exposed to mold.

The solution to preventing mold
The CDC also highlights the following statement; "Controlling moisture in your home is the most critical factor for preventing mold growth."  Sounds easy enough, and it is.  Simply call your local Aprilaire dealer and request installation of a whole-house dehumidifier.  Aprilaire dehumidifiers work in unison with your homes HVAC system to quietly remove excess moisture from your entire home. 

Aprilaire units are also easy to maintain, unlike portable dehumidifiers that take up space in your living room, make all kinds of noise, and have tanks to clean and empty.

Protect your family's health from the effects of mold.  Call your Aprilaire dealer today!
 

Bacteria and Humidity

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Bacteria - ubiquitous one-celled organisms, various species of which are involved in fermentation, putrefaction, infectious diseases, or nitrogen fixation.

Doesn't sound pretty, does it?  Bacteria are everywhere.  Some bacteria are good (can you say cheese and beer?).  But others can be quite harmful to your health (see putrefaction and infectious diseases above).  However, you can control or even eliminate the growth and spread of bacteria.

Proper humidity level is the key
Bacteria will not survive at relative humidity (RH) levels between 30% and 60%.  To control to this level is relatively easy.  Simply install an Aprilaire whole-house humidifier to add moisture during those dry winter months and an Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier to remove moisture during those hot, humid summer days.

Unlike portable appliances that only serve the room they sit in, Aprilaire units condition the air in your entire home.  So whether it's adding humidity in the winter or removing excess moisture in the summer, Aprilaire keeps your entire home’s RH in the optimum zone, protecting your family from the threat of bacteria and other harmful contaminants.

Aprilaire - protecting your family’s health for over 50 years!
 

Control Humidity to Reduce Asthma Triggers

Thursday, July 9, 2009 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you know....Approximately 1 in 15 people in the United States have asthma?  That's a whopping 17.4 million people.  Odds are, you have, or know someone who has, asthma.  While asthma cannot be cured, you can take steps to controlling the triggers that cause asthma symptoms to strike.

Controlling asthma triggers
Webmd.com lists a number of things you can do to prevent asthma triggers.  One of these is to control the relative humidity (RH) in your home to a range of 25 to 50%.  Why is this so important?  The reason is simple; asthma triggers such as fungi and mites cannot survive at less than 50% RH.  Eliminate the cause of the trigger and you drastically reduce your odds of having an asthma attack.

Reducing the RH in your home is easy when you install an Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifierAprilaire works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to remove moisture from your entire home, reducing asthma triggers from every room of your house.  Call your Aprilaire dealer today and schedule an appointment to get your whole-house dehumidifier installed.

Aprilaire - helping you breathe easier for over 50 years!