Bad Air=Bad Health

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 by Justin Randall
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Aprilaire Humidifier End-of-Season Requirements

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Attention Aprilaire humidifier owners!  First of all, congratulations on making it through a grueling winter.  It was cold, snowy and nasty outside, with record-breaking low temperatures and record breaking snowfalls.  But thanks to your insight, Aprilaire protected your family and your home from the potential devastation of dry air.

Time to call it a season
With the end of the humidifier season comes a couple of simple tasks to perform.  First, be sure you are confident you will no longer require humidification, then follow these easy end-of-season tasks.  If you have a bypass-style humidifier, you need to close the bypass damper.  Simply turn the handle from the "winter" to the "summer" position.  If you have a fan-powered Aprilaire humidifier, no adjustments are required. 

Next, if you have an automatic control that is operating in the manual mode, or if you have the Aprilaire manual control, you need to turn the control knob to the "Off" position.  This will ensure your humidifier will not turn on during the summer months (when you already have more than enough humidity).  If you have an automatic control that is operating in the "Automatic" mode, there is no adjustment required.  The outdoor temperature sensor will prevent your humidifier from coming on whenever the outdoor temperature is 60 degrees or higher.

Also, don't forget to call your Aprilaire dealer this fall to perform the annual humidifier maintenance.  Your dealer will change your water panel, inspect the water delivery system, and replace any components that are fouled or worn.  This indoor air quality (IAQ) expert is trained to keep your Aprilaire humidifier operating at peak performance.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air! 

Aprilaire Dehumidifiers Solve Your Moisture Problems

Friday, March 12, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

It's March 11, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin.  The outside temperature is a seasonal 43 degrees, with an expected high of 53 degrees.  Not bad.  What is bad is that the relative humidity (RH) is a whopping 93%.  Wow!  That's what's going on outside.  How does that translate into what's going on in your home?  Chances are your indoor RH is rapidly rising, leaving you very uncomfortable and putting your home at risk from the dangers of mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses and more.  What can you do to eliminate these risks and concerns?   Install a whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire.

Aprilaire is your whole-house solution
An Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to efficiently remove moisture from every room of your home.  Also, unlike portable units that only remove moisture from the room they are sitting in, Aprilaire dehumidifiers have no messy tanks to empty and clean.  Aprilaire truly is the best dehumidification solution.

Call your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier.  End the suffering; call today.

Aprilaire - protecting you and your family for over 50 years!  

Spend Your Tax Return Wisely with Aprilaire

Thursday, March 11, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Did you suffer from the ill-effects of dry air this winter because you don't have a whole- house humidifier?  Did you have dry, itchy skin or get jolted by static shocks?  Did the woodwork in your home shrink and crack?  One more question; do you have a tax return coming this year?

Spend your tax return wisely
If you're tired of suffering every winter and you have a tax return coming your way, suffer no longer.  Aprilaire is the industry leader in residential indoor air quality (IAQ).  Not only do we have products that ensure proper levels of relative humidity (RH) throughout your entire home, we offer the best in whole-house air cleaners, thermostats, ventilation, and zoning.  Aprilaire is also viewed as the best IAQ value in the industry.  So much so that after you've paid for your Aprilaire humidifier, you'll probably have enough tax return dollars left over to buy that techno-gadget you've had your eye on.

Call your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today.  Getting your Aprilaire whole-house humidifier installed now will give you peace of mind going into next year’s heating season. 

Aprilaire - protecting you and your family, and providing peace of mind, for over 50 years!

Comment from Still Dry and getting Shocked!!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Aprilaire Team
Comment:
I have the same issue. I installed 600A last week. For some reason, the humidifier does not increase the RH above 30% even on the highest setting (7). Our home is 40 years old and only 1500 sq ft. It was installed for automatic operation with the outside air sensor. Any comment to fix this problem

Aprilaires' Response:
One of the most common reason for lack of humidity is lack of humidifier run time do to lack of runtime of the furnace. Another reason is the homes ability to hold the moisture. No matter how well a house is built it breaths. As air escapes from the house so does the humidity. The older a home gets the leaker it gets. So the trick is adding the humidity faster than it is escaping. In most homes the humidifier gets enough run time, but older leaky homes or new homes that are so well insulated that the furnace hardly runs, you will need to extend the humidifiers run time.

If the Model 600 humidifier runs every time the furnace comes on, runs whole time the furnace is on, and gets forced to turn off when the furnace goes off, it is added as much humidity as the furnace is allowing it to. If the humidifier could run longer it would. So if the humidifier is wired to run with the furnace fan, connected to hot water (140 Max), and if you run your furnace fan continually, the humidifier can add up to 16 gallons of water to the air per day.

Some people don't want to run their fan continuously, so another option would be to use the Aprilaire 4851 Blower Activation Relay. This relay will turn on the furnace fan and let the humidifier run as many hours a day as it need to without the fan running continuously.

Have a Happy Spring with Aprilaire

Monday, March 8, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you remember last spring when all the snow was finally melted and it got warm enough
outside to go without a jacket?  Do you also remember that it wasn't warm enough to turn on the air conditioning, but you still felt uncomfortable?  This happens every spring due to the high levels of relative humidity (RH).  The phrase "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" is all too true.  High RH levels can make it feel like it's 5 to 10 degrees warmer than it actually is.  One way to combat this is to turn on your air conditioner, as moisture removal is a natural byproduct of air conditioning.  But in order to remove the excess moisture, you need to cool the air to a level that makes you too cold. 

Aprilaire to the rescue
A whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to remove excess moisture from every room of your home.  Unlike air conditioning that is designed primarily to cool your home, Aprilaire removes moisture when AC is not required, efficiently removing moisture and providing the comfort you deserve.  Maintenance is a breeze with Aprilaire as well.  Unlike portable dehumidifiers that require you to empty and clean a tank on a daily basis, Aprilaire dehumidifiers only require an annual filter cleaning.  Hassle free convenience and comfort; that's what Aprilaire is all about.

Contact your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today and avoid all the discomforts you felt last year.  Your family will thank you for it.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.

 

Interested in installing a whole house humidifier...but which one?

Friday, March 5, 2010 by Aprilaire Team
Question submitted to Aprilaire:

I am interested in installing a whole house humidifier. Primary reason is to reduce crackin

Our house is 18 months old and has a conventional A/C system with ceiling mounted air vents. At the moment they are closed and covered with magnetic vent covers for the winter.

For heat we have a gas fired boiler providing hot water for an in floor radiant heat system "warm board".

Question: Would an Aprilaire system work in conjunction with this type of heat? I assume system would relay on using A/C ducts with a continuous air flow/fan to distribute moist air.

Aprilaires' response:

Thank you for contacting us regarding your interest in the Aprilaire humidifier product line. We are happy to assist you with questions relating to a humidifier recommendation for your application. Based upon the information provided it appears that your heating application consists of hot water radiant floor heat with no duct work required for that system. This type of heating application would typically require the use of one of our self contained humidifiers such as the 350 and 360 models. However, in your application it appears that you do have an air conditioning application that is currently utilizing duct work. Since you do have an air conditioning application in the home the air handler and duct work from this application could be utilized for the use of an Aprilaire whole home humidifier. When utilizing one of our duct mounted humidifiers on an air handler of an air conditioning application, it would require that the humidifier be utilized with hot water at all times and to work in conjunction with the fan operation of the air handler. This type of installation of the application will still allow the humidifier to provide optimum levels of humidification into the home during the driest time of the year. We have listed several questions below that will assist us in identifying the best humidifier for your application at this time.

1.The square footage of the home?
2.The ceiling height within the home?
3.The age of the home?
4.Any new renovations to the home such as windows, siding, and/or insulation?
5.The number of heating systems?
6.The type of heat? 
7.Is there access to a drain?

We would be glad to further assist you regarding a recommendation for your application. Upon receiving further information regarding your application, we can determine which product would be best for your application. However, the best individual to make the final decision on a product for your application is a Licensed HVAC contractor.  If you could please reply to this email at your earliest convenience, we would be delighted to assist you further.


Aprilaire - Your Cure for Dry Air

Friday, March 5, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

It's not too late!  You don't have to suffer the agonizing effects of dry air any longer.  Are you tired of dry, cracked skin?  Scratchy throat?  Static electricity?  Why have you been suffering when you could alleviate all of these problems and more by having an Aprilaire whole-house humidifier installed?

Whole-house is the key
Dry air is abundant throughout your entire home in the winter months when your heating system is operating.  This dry air wreaks havoc on both your health and your home and possessions.  Unlike portable units that humidify one room at a time, a whole-house humidifier from Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home's HVAC system to provide soothing moisture to every room in your home.  Maintenance is a breeze with Aprilaire as well, with no cumbersome tanks to fill every day (what a hassle).

Contact your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your Aprilaire whole-house humidifier today.  It's not too late to enjoy all the benefits that properly humidified air can bring to you and your family.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.
 

Smoking and air cleaners

Thursday, March 4, 2010 by Tom Ruse
No two ways about it, cigarette smokeis hard to avoid. Even with the best air cleaner on market. Alot of scammy makers of air purifiers will have you thinking you'll never smell or be harmed by 2nd hand smoke if you use their product.

I won't do that. Even our Model 5000, the best whole house particulate removal product, will not deter the harmful affects of 2nd hand smoke. It WILL help clean your air of all kinds of nasty stuff; virus-sized particles, allergens and other contaminants.

It's best just to properly ventilate, or maybe just don't smoke in the house. Go outside with the other 2nd class citizens!

Do You Have Moisture Problems?

Thursday, March 4, 2010 by Justin Randall
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Wood, guitars and humidifiers.

Thursday, March 4, 2010 by Aprilaire Team
Question submitted to Aprilaire:

I have what I was told is an April Air (looks like the 700) that came as part of my high end Carrier central AC/heating system a few years ago.  We had an Aprilair before and like this one, but, it's humidity is tied to the heating /AC and the wood in the house (and one guitar) are suffering from it being too dry in here. Everything is set right (humidity maxed out on the thermostat), I hear it go on all the time, and it works right, but we don't have your digital controls to get it up to about 50%.  How can I upgrade your system to get more humid air?  Luckily Fender fixed my guitar but I was told dry air caused the damage and it has never left this house and a new hygrometer puts the humidity at less then 40%.    If I need a new and better AprilAir fine.  If this one can be upgraded, that is even better.
Thank you


Aprilaires' response:

Thank you for contacting us regarding the Aprilaire product line. We are happy to assist you with questions relating to the operation and performance of your humidifier. Our humidifiers are designed to  provide and control up to 45% relative humidity. Our humidistat controls will only allow the humidifier to provide 45% humidity into the home before it will no longer initiate a call for humidity. If you are trying to maintain more than 45% humidity in the home, we would recommend working through your heating and cooling contractor for a 3rd party control that has a higher limit in regards to humidity control.

In order to get optimum levels of humidification within the home, we would recommend utilizing the humidifier with hot water as the water source, and also to allow the humidifier to operate with the fan operation of the heating system. By utilizing the humidifier with hot water as the water source this will help increase the evaporative capacity for the model 700. You will also get optimum use of the model 700 by wiring this unit to operate in conjunction with the fan for the heating application. What this allows you to do is to humidify the home essentially 24 hours a day. Basically, when putting the fan to the on mode you will be able to provide humidity into the home even though the actual heating system is not actually producing heat at the time. The heat from the water will provide the heat that is needed in the evaporation process. By utilizing the application with hot water and fan operation you will be optimizing the performance of our product and be providing a higher level of comfort within the home.

We would be happy to further assist you with any questions relating to the operation and performance of your humidifier. If there are any further questions regarding your application, please contact us at your earliest convenience.




Aprilaire Dehumidifiers - Your Solution to Musty Odors

Monday, March 1, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you ever wonder why your basement has a stale, musty smell?  Or why the temperature is only 70 degrees, yet you're sweating and uncomfortable?  The answer is high humidity.  Too much moisture makes you feel miserable and can lead to damage to your home from mold and mildew, neither of which is acceptable.  Do you ever wonder if there is a solution to excess moisture?

Aprilaire is the answer
A whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire solves your excess moisture problems.  It works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to quietly and efficiently remove excess moisture from every room of your home.  Maintenance with Aprilaire is also a breeze.  Unlike noisy portable dehumidifiers that take up space in your living room, Aprilaire dehumidifiers have no messy tanks to empty and clean.  Simply wash or replace the air filter on an annual basis.  That's it.  We call it "out of sight, out of mind."

Call your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier today.  Your family and your home will thank you.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.  

Aprilaire - Your Solution to Unsightly Dryness

Monday, March 1, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

"Seeing is believing" is a statement that rings true for most of us.  We won't believe something unless we've actually seen it with our own eyes.  Sometimes the impact of a situation doesn't really hit you unless you've actually seen it.  An example is the horrifying death of the Georgian luger at this year’s winter Olympics.

What is it that you're seeing lately: dry itchy skin, warped or cracked woodwork in your home, static electricity, nose bleeds?  Are you horrified to see this happening to you, your family, or your home?  Now that you've seen the effects of dry air, are you ready to take action?

Aprilaire is the answer
A whole-house humidifier from Aprilaire solves all your problems associated with dry air.  It works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to add soothing humidity to every room of your home.  This protective moisture improves your family’s health and preserves your valuable assets from the excruciating effects of dry air.  Call your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of an Aprilaire humidifier today.  Your family and your home will thank you.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.
 

HRV or ERV, that is the question!

Monday, February 22, 2010 by Aprilaire Team
Question submitted to Aprilaire:

HRV or ERV and  why?

Aprilaires' Response:

Aprilaire believes that ERV's are a better choice than HRV's.

HRV's only transfer heat energy so in the winter the moisture in the air that is exiting your house will all go outside. This can dry out your house too much. In the summer the moisture in the air that is entering your house can over humidify house. Too much humidity can cause mold and other problems.

ERV's transfer heat energy and moisture. In the winter 77% of the heat energy and 50% of the moisture from the air that is exiting the house will be transferred back into the house. In the summer 77% of the heat energy and 50% of the moisture from the air that is entering the house will be transferred back outside. This allows the ERV to run year around with out drying it out or over humidifying.



Is my drainless humidifier working?

Monday, February 22, 2010 by Aprilaire Team
Question submitted to Aprilaire:

This unit was installed and worked great for two years.  Then I turned it off in the summer and forgot to turn it back on for the last two years.  Now, I changed the filter and cleaned everything out.  However, it doesn't seem to work.  The humidity in my house is 10. 

I hear the water turn on for a few minutes at the beginning of the heat cycle.  Then it turns off.  When I look at the filter, it is only wet at the bottom 1 inch.  The rest is dry.  The water seems to go into the first float chamber, but doesn't go into the second chamber.  I don't see what is preventing the water from moving over. 

I had the technician, who installed it, come and look at it.  He suggested changing the filter and isn't sure what is wrong.  He hasn't been doing this humidifiers for a while.  He thought that it might be the water level sensor assembly.  However, no one seems to have this part in stock.  I will have to order it and get it installed.  Then, I might find out that is not what is wrong, and I will have paid more money to have the wrong thing fixed.  I already spent $85 for the technician and $45 for the filters.  I really want to get it fixed.  Can you make some recommendations?

Aprilaires' Response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to your model 400 Humidifier. Based on the information you provided, the humidifier is working properly. The water should fill from the top, trickle down across the water panel. Verify that you are using a Genuine Aprilaire Stock #45 Water Panel. The water will only raise the float in the right-hand chamber. The left float is an emergency overflow. Water should not fill that chamber unless the first fails to shut off the water. The fact that the water does shut off indicates that the sensor is working properly. The water panel should then wick water up from the reservoir and it will evaporate as it rises.
Water shouldn't rise very far before it evaporates, but most of the water will rise up through the center of the pad, as opposed to the outer layer of material. As long as the humidifier refills at the beginning of, or during, each heat cycle, the humidifier is working. For a test of how well it's working, please do an Evaporative Test. This can be done using a measuring container and a timer.
The evaporative rate of the Model 400 is based entirely on the temperature of the heated air and the amount of run time of your furnace. The performance values are based on 120°F air and 50% run time. This should give 0.70 gal/hr.
It's not clear from the information you provided how long the humidifier has been running with your home at 10% RH. Did it start at 10% and it hasn't changed, or was it higher and has since fallen, or was it lower and has since risen? Humidity can take a while to change, so we would look at the trend of the humidity over time, if it's going up, down, or staying the same. At this time, it doesn't make sense to replace the water level sensor from a troubleshooting standpoint.



Aprilaire Dehumidifies Your Entire Home

Friday, February 19, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Springtime is just around the corner.  Soon all of us will be able to turn off the furnace, open the windows, and let some fresh air in the house.  Or will we?  The outdoor temperature seems inviting, but how's that humidity?  When you open those windows, do you also open up the potential to bring in lots of moisture that can make you uncomfortable as well as damage your home?  You could keep the windows closed and turn on the air conditioner in an effort to dry out the air.  But now you’re too cold...and frustrated.

Aprilaire has your dehumidification solution
Aprilaire has a full line of whole-house dehumidifiers that provide all the health and comfort benefits that come with proper levels of humidification.  Aprilaire dehumidifiers work quietly in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to protect every room of your home from the downfalls of excess moisture.  This includes your health and comfort, as well as your personal property.  Maintenance is a breeze with Aprilaire as well.  There are no messy tanks to empty and clean.  Simply clean the filter once a year and you're good to go.

Contact your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today.  You'll immediately feel the difference.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.

Aprilaire - Your Whole-House Solution to Dry Air

Thursday, February 18, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

This winter's unseasonably cold weather has caused all of us to spend a lot more time indoors  than we are used to.  The only time most of us have ventured outside has been to clear the  driveway of the piles of white stuff that every state except Hawaii has been blessed with.  This extra time indoors has led many of us to ponder the quality of air in our homes, qualities including dust, temperature, and, in particular, humidity.  Lack of proper levels of humidity are immediately apparent in dry, itchy skin, static shock, dry and cracked nasal passages, irritated throats and more.

Aprilaire is the solution for dry air
Aprilaire whole-house humidifiers provide soothing, humidified air to every room of your home.  It conveniently mounts to your home’s HVAC system, operating quietly, out of sight and out of mind.  Except for the dramatic increase in comfort and health, you'll never even know it's there.  Aprilaire humidifiers are also known for ease of maintenance.  There are no tanks to fill or clean.  Simply change the water panel evaporator once a year to keep your humidifier operating efficiently and trouble-free.

Contact your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today.  Your contractor can recommend the Aprilaire model that is right for you and also recommend other Aprilaire whole-house products that can improve your health and comfort.

Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.
 

Green Inside and Out!

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Aprilaire Team


Aprilaire is going green one step at a time.  Indoor air quality is the key focus at Aprilaire with our whole-home air cleaners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and other whole-home product, but we also feel it is very important to protect the environment.  ENERGY STAR and energy-saving products are just the start, we also make environmentally concise decisions for our company's energy use.  Let's all find new ways to save energy!

Dehumidify Your Small Home with Aprilaire

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Dennie Plomedahl

Do you live in a small condo or townhome?  Are you tired of high humidity levels in your home?  Do you have a portable dehumidifier sitting in the middle of your home because you thought there was no whole-home solution?  Are you tired of the constant maintenance that portable dehumidifiers require?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, Aprilaire has your dehumidification solution.

The Aprilaire 1730A whole-house dehumidifier
The Aprilaire 1730A dehumidifier has a large 65 pint capacity. That's enough moisture removal power for a 3,600 square foot tight home.  Its compact size means that it can fit in spaces where others won't.  It also works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to quietly and efficiently remove moisture from every room of your home, with only annual maintenance required.  And its Energy Star rating means you remove that moisture without blowing up your electric bill.

Call your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today.  Your dealer can also recommend other quality Aprilaire products that will improve the quality of the air in your home.

Aprilaire - Fresh ideas for indoor air! 
 

Upon Further Review - IS Online retailer Cleartheairinc.com misleading the consumer? Maybe NOT!

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Tom Ruse
I posted the comments below on Friday and since then,  the kind folks at Cleartheairinc.com have... well.... cleared the air.

They assure me their intentions were never to mislead. I guess I'll never know that for 100% sure,  but I'm ready to give them the benefit of the doubt. After reading of my concerns they immediately took action to modify the language on their site and clarify what the consumer is buying.

I applaud their quick response and willingness to set things right.

Good luck,  and if you're happy purchasing filters for Aprilaire Air Cleaners that are not made by Aprilaire,  Cleartheairinc.com seems like a fair place to trade.


Tom



From Friday......

 
Don't buy from this site if you are interested in receiving the quality of product provided by the original manufacturer! THESE ARE KNOCK-OFFS!
 
Cleartheairinc.com is misleading you.  It describes knock-off replacement filters as Aprilaire and SpaceGard.  THEY ARE NOT MADE BY APRILAIRE!

The site tries to cleverly describe the filter as "Clear the Air's Aprilaire Spacegard replacement filter". They probably do this so that they could argue that legally they are calling it a "Clear the Air" brand and therefore NOT misleading the consumer into thinking they are buying an Aprilaire brand.

You decide. Take a look.  Would you think you were buying a filter made by Aprilaire or SpaceGard on this page?

They do this with other brands as well.

Sleazy.

If you have an Aprilaire or SpaceGard air purifier / air cleaner and you typically replace the flters yourself,  ask an Aprilaire dealer in your area. Often they will sell them to you off the shelf. And they'll be the real deal!

UNLIKE CLEARTHEAIRINC.COM, I'LL BE VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD WITH YOU.  Take a look at the estore on Aprilaire.com , just so you get an idea of what the real thing looks like.

Sure, you can buy them there. But that's not the point. I could care less if you buy from our estore. We're the manufacturer! We get the sale of Aprilaire product regardless of where you buy it. Just go there to see the pictures.  Then you'll know what the real deal looks like. Then. if you want to shop around, you can get them cheaper on other websites or from your local dealer. 

And at least you'll know what you're getting for your dollar.