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The Standard of Heating & Cooling Since 1930 |
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| Which indoor air quality product is right for you? Humidifiers Air Cleaners Humidifiers What is the driest place on Earth? The relative humidity of Death Valley is 25%. Pretty dry!!! The relative humidity of the Sahara is 23%. You might be surprised to know that the relative humidity of a home in the US on a 10 degree day, with a forced air furnace blowing can be in the single digits. Why do you get sick more often in the winter than you do the rest of the year?  Is it because there are more germs?No! There are fewer germs in the winter than during any other season. There are three ways to kill germs- Chemically, Heat, and Cold When the temperature outside is below freezing, all germs have been killed by the cold. So why do you develop colds in the wintertime? Without getting into the detailed science of it all, it is because we are trapped indoors with all the germs and dry air attracted to the wettest part of your body (your sinuses typically first). Those who suffer from sinus problems could benefit tremendously from installing a humidifier. But that is not all. Adding a humidifier can save $$$ on your heating bill. The drier the air, the more rapid the rate of evaporation of perspiration on your skin and the quicker the body cools. The normal response is to turn up the heat; however, the higher you turn the heat, the drier the air becomes, the more your body evaporates moisture and the cooler you feel. Vicious cycle, huh?! For every 1º F that you reduce your thermostat setting, you save approximately 5% in your energy consumption. What else can you install for less than $1,000 that will save that kind of money on heating costs, make you more comfortable and extend the life of your home and furnishings? Back to Top Air Cleaners Think your indoor air is safe? Think again. We spend 90% of our lives indoors, where the air quality is frequently 25 times more polluted than the air outdoors. Indoor air can be littered with respirable dust, pollen, mold, spores, bacteria, viruses, and more. A cubic foot of indoor air can have as many as 30 million pollutant particles- particles than can trigger allergies, cause headaches, lung irritation, and contribute to the spread of infectious disease. The EPA has reported that indoor air quality can be up to 100 times worse than the air outside. In fact, the American College of Allergists states that 50% of illnesses are caused or aggravated by poor indoor air quality. Pet owners are particularly vulnerable because pets give off hair and dander just walking around, and frequent vacuuming and pet baths only cut down somewhat on the problem. Allergy attacks can be triggered by breathing pollen, respirable dust, molds, spores, and pet dander. Some of these particles can be as small as half of one micron in size-too small to be caught by 1-inch disposable furnace filters. Your heating and cooling equipment also suffers, as do your energy bills. A standard 1-inch furnace filter has one primary function, to keep large objects from damaging your heating and cooling equipment. The dust and dirt that get beyond your 1-inch filter accumulate on the furnace and the air conditioning coil making the system less efficient, leading to potential increases in your energy bills and maintenance costs. Back to Top |