Best House Humidifier

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!
 

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!
 

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.

 

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.
 

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. 
 

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.
 

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!
 

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. 
 

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! 
 

As we move into the fall humidifier season, one question that gets asked a lot has to do with our advice on water temperature. When given the choice, why choose hot water over cold water to run to your Aprilaire humidifier
?

There are three main reasons. The first is performance. Our furnace-mounted humidifiers (except the drainless models) can get a performance boost by supplying hot water. We would recommend up to 140°F water to see up to 30% increased evaporation. For example, a model 600M humidifier on a furnace with 120°F air and 55°F water should evaporate 0.7 gal/hr for each hour it runs. By increasing the water temperature to 140°F, it boosts that 0.7 by 30% (.21 additional) for .91 gal/hr. Over the course of a heating season, estimating total usage at 600 hours, this translates to an additional 126 gallons of water put into the air.
 

The second reason is comfort. The more quickly the humidifier adds water to the air, the more quickly the air feels comfortable. This eliminates common complaints about too-dry air, itchy skin, dry, sore throats and static shocks.
 

The third is cost. This is often a sticking point. Does it cost more to heat the water with your water heater or to use the additional furnace and humidifier run time to increase humidity? Well, at 0.7 gal/hr, it takes the humidifier an additional 180 hours of furnace run time to create 126 gallons of evaporation. The water still needs to be heated so that it will evaporate. Is it more efficient to heat it with your HVAC system's hot air or with a water heater? Most likely it’s your water heater. Over the course of the humidifying season, the humidifier is evaporating the same amount of water, but by using hot water, it’s actually using less water to reach the same amount of soothing evaporative vapor.

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!

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.
 

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!
 

Aprilaire Sponsors Terre Verde Green Renovation Project

Control of indoor air quality at the forefront of “Greenovation”

Madison, Wis. – Aprilaire, manufacturer of products that provide whole-house solutions to indoor air quality problems, is sponsoring a massive renovation project in Florida by providing the latest technology in air filtration, humidity control and zoned temperature control systems.

The project is Terre Verde, a 1970’s Florida-style ranch home adjacent to the Ocala national forest in central Florida. The home has been virtually untouched with any improvements in its entire 40 years.

Dr. Anna Marie, health specialist for The Weather Channel and host of the syndicated better living show YOUR LIFE WITH DR. ANNA MARIE, is leading this green renovation project to transform this home into an eco-friendly, energy efficient and ultimately healthy home.

Part of the renovation will employ new building technologies to make Terre Verde much tighter in order to save energy. While good for the pocket book and the environment, these kinds of advancements lead to the increase of indoor air pollutants – houses that don’t breathe like they use to. 

Working with local Aprilaire representatives and indoor air quality specialists, Aprilaire has installed the latest in air cleaning technology with One Touch active control, allowing the homeowner to control when and how much air cleaning takes place based on their lifestyle and need. Also provided is Aprilaire high-capacity Central Dehumidification and Zoned Comfort Control; a system which provides for focusing temperature control in specific areas of the home only where and when it is needed.

“These products help save energy by providing comfort while running air conditioning less often, but that’s just the beginning, noted Dr. Anna Marie, “They also provide for a much healthier, more sustainable environment by dramatically controlling the growth of mold and mildew, and trapping airborne allergens and other harmful particles from the entire home. Aprilaire products work together to protect the home’s furnishings, materials and of course it’s inhabitants. And that’ll be me, eventually!”

“Aprilaire is committed to the project and to help promote sustainable living, said Tom Ruse, Marketing Communications Manager. “We’re excited to help showcase the latest technologies available to make homes healthier, more comfortable and energy efficient”.

Terre Verde will be showcased at the Lake County Florida Builder Association’s Parade of Homes in March 2010.  

Aprilaire (www.aprilaire.com)

Aprilaire has been a brand leader in the indoor air quality industry for over 60 years. The company designs, develops, manufactures and distributes whole-home indoor air quality products that provide comfort, health, energy efficiency, and the protection and preservation of the home. For more information on central air cleaners, visit www.aprilaire.com.

The other day I was doing laundry and happened to notice the Aprilaire humidifier control installed on my HVAC system was indicating the relative humidity was 60%. This seemed odd to me since I have never noticed the humidifier operating during the summer. Then I talked to my HAVC installer and found my humidifier control is wired to only operate the humidifier during a heat call. Even though the humidifier control will only control humidity up to 45% relative humidity, it will measure relative and display humidity up 99%. Since my heat is never on during the summer, the reading on the control is the relative humidity the last time the heat ran.    

Whether updating a home to be healthier, more energy efficient and  sustainable or building a new home and trying to achieve green certification, Aprilaire, a leader in the indoor air quality industry, offers homeowners a complete indoor environmental quality package that features the most innovative products on the market. Over the past several years, research and experience have improved the understanding of what is involved in maintaining good indoor air quality. Four key indoor air quality components that help ensure the sustainability and health of the home and its occupants are moisture load control, ventilation, air filtration, and energy efficiency.

Moisture Control

• According to LEED for Homes, “Control indoor moisture levels to provide comfort, reduce the risk of mold & allergens, and increase the durability of the home. In hot and humid climates, dehumidification can reduce the energy demands associated with air-conditioning.”

Aprilaire addresses high indoor humidity problems and/or concerns in the home with an innovative, effective and affordable whole-home solution – the Model 1750 Central Dehumidifier. The Aprilaire central dehumidifier provides 24-7 moisture control in two critical ways: first, it works independently from the central air conditioner to control excess moisture on days that do not require cooling. Second, it works in conjunction with the central air conditioner to provide the most efficient complete humidity control solution while maintaining an optimum home temperature. An Aprilaire Dehumidifier provides the ability to automatically control moisture levels through the whole home in order to ensure the sustainability of the home, as well as a more healthy and comfortable indoor environment.

The 90-pint/day Aprilaire dehumidifier is a whole-house unit that can be installed in attics, closets, crawlspaces, garages, basements, and in new construction or existing homes. Built-in intelligence provides automatic control for not only whole-home dehumidification, but also for fresh air ventilation, air cycling, and air filtration. Automatic air cycling allows for improved humidity and temperature balance throughout the house. The built-in automatic fresh air ventilation provides not only the control of fresh air, but also the dehumidification, if needed, of that fresh air upon entering the home. The fresh air ventilation control will meet ASHRAE 62.2 standards where and when required.

Just as important as removing excess moisture is adding the right about during the winter months is cold climates. The National Association of Home Builders’ Model GREEN Home Building Guidelines recognizes that controlled humidity is an important health element for those living in regions where furnaces are used during the winter season. As the innovator of controlled whole-home humidifiers, Aprilaire offers a full line of automatic whole-home humidifiers that provide just the right amount of humidity based on outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity. By utilizing an automatic whole-home humidifier, homeowners are protecting their health, preserving their home and saving energy. 

Ventilation

• According to the EPA’s Energy Star program, “Without mechanical ventilation to provide fresh air, moisture, odors, and other pollutants can build up inside a home. Mechanical ventilation systems circulate fresh air using ducts and fans, rather than relying on airflow through small holes or cracks in a home’s walls, roof, or windows. Homeowners can breathe easier knowing their home has good ventilation.”

Aprilaire’s innovative Ventilation Control System offers an affordable and effective means for not only mechanically ventilating homes, but to ventilate them to ASHRAE 62.2 when required. The system consists of a six-inch damper, controller and transformer. The system provides time‑based control with outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity operating limits. The control opens a damper with a fan or equipment call to meet a desired ventilation requirement that is set by the installer with the ventilation knob (0 – 60 minutes) and cycle time setting (1, 2, 3, or 4 hours). Once the ventilation requirement is met, the controller will close the damper. If the fan and equipment run times do not meet the ventilation requirement, the controller will turn the fan on and open the damper until the desired ventilation is met. 

Air Filtration

• According to the Sustainable Living Sourcebook “ Of concern from a health standpoint are small, invisible respirable-size particulate matter, having a high probability of penetrating deep into the lungs, where they may stay a long time and cause acute or chronic effects. Large particulate matter such as some molds, pollen, animal dander, and house dust allergens, do not penetrate as deeply, but may cause an allergic response. Health effects can range from irritation of the eyes and/or respiratory tissues to more serious effects, such as cancer and decreased lung function. Biological particles, such as animal and insect allergens, viruses, bacteria, and molds, can cause allergic reactions, infectious diseases, and/or can produce toxic products that may be released into the air.”

Aprilaire central air cleaners are attached to the heating and cooling system and permanently trap the airborne contaminants that can aggravate health and allergy and asthma symptoms. In a recent standard industry test, the Aprilaire 5000 achieved 99 percent efficiency against airborne particles. The unit captures and kills virtually all contaminants including those that most affect personal health—viruses, bacteria, spores and allergens 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Aprilaire also offers homeowners a one-of-a-kind air cleaner control that allows them to actively clean the air in their entire home based on personal preference and event triggers:

• Constant Cleaning: air cleaner is active for 24 hours a day seven days a week
• Automatic: air cleaner will run a minimum of 30 minutes per hour
• Event Clean: air cleaners will run for three hours continuously and then turn off
• Allergies: air cleaner will run continuously for 24 hours and then turn off

Installed next to the thermostat or on the air cleaning unit, the new control also provides validation the air cleaner is working by indicating through a sequence of bars that rise when the blower on the heating and cooling system is energized. It also indicates when the filter needs to be replaced based on blower run time.

Energy Efficiency

• According to the EPA, “Maximizing household energy use through serviced heating and cooling systems, leak-less ducts, and thermostats that are programmed to save energy at night or when residents are away, would prevent 169 billion lbs of greenhouse gas emissions per year.”

Heating and cooling costs are the #1 expense in most American homes. Energy Star states that the average home spends about $1,500 annually on energy bills. All of Aprilaire Programmable Thermostats are Energy Star Rated — and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a programmable thermostat can save you up to 30% on your energy costs.