Clean Indoor Air Quality

The air inside your home could be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outside

It’s true, the indoor air quality in your home can be worse than that of the outdoors, creating health problems for you and your family. The air we breathe in our homes may be loaded with pollutants like pollen, lung-damaging dust, pet hair, dander, dust mites, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental risks to public health today.

Fortunately, there are ways to improve indoor air quality with whole-home air cleaners so that you can breathe easier! Whole home electronic filtration can remove up to 99% of these small allergy-causing particulates from your home.

Humidity control units, air exchangers, and germicidal UV lamps can reduce indoor contaminants and improve indoor air even more.

For decades, Joel Smith Heating & Air Conditioning has trusted AprilAire’s indoor air quality products to assist in creating a healthier, cleaner home environment for families like yours.

Whole-House Air Cleaners

When it comes to air cleaners, there are a lot of options on the market today: electronic air cleaners, HEPA air purifiers, and high-quality media air filters. A whole-home air cleaner not only removes particles from the air, helping to create a cleaner indoor environment, but it can also serve to protect your furnace from the buildup of pet hair dust, dander, and other particles that can interfere with its secondary heat exchanger or cooling coil.

For nearly 30 years we have put our trust in the AprilAire brand of air quality products.

We particularly love the performance of the AprilAire Model 5000 Whole-House Electronic Air Purifier. Its superior performance has been shown to outpace the competition according to an independent study

Another electronic air cleaner option we like is the LifebreathTFP3000hepa, which uses a HEPA filter.

If space is an issue there are also a variety of media air filters (non-electronic) that can do a very nice job of cleaning the air in your home as well. We rely on the AprilAire 2200 or 2400 series, which work with a variety of filters. They come standard with an easy-to-replace MERV 13 Healthy Home Filter, but you can choose to upgrade to a MERV 13+Carbon for extra odor control. For those who suffer from airborne allergies and asthma triggers, a MERV 16 is now available.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental risks to public health today.

HRVs (Heat Recovery Ventilators)

If you are feeling the effects of stale, contaminated air in your energy-efficient home, an HRV can greatly improve indoor air quality. Modern homes are often built so tightly that humidifier use, and even daily living, can cause potential problems from trapped moisture and stale, unhealthy air, leading to health problems for you and your family.

How do HRVs Work?

Air Exchangers/HRVs are designed to bring fresh air into the home and remove stale air and excess humidity during the winter months. By bringing dry outdoor air into the home and transferring humid air to the outside, they assist in maintaining balanced levels of humidity.

HRVs are also recommended for older homes with upgraded windows and siding, that have been moisture-wrapped in Tyvek, or that have added exterior foam insulation.

Some benefits of using an HRV include:

Improved energy efficiency and savings in heating and cooling cost
Enhanced indoor air quality
Extending the life of HVAC equipment
Relatively inexpensive costs to purchase and install

Our Recommended Air Exchanger/HRV

At Joel Smith HVAC we recommend the Lifebreath Max series HRV. This Energy Star-certified, powered air exchanger, is designed for our Minnesota climate. These units boast the highly efficient HEX core to aid in transferring air in and out of your home.

The Max series has an easy-to-use digital controller that lets you see real-time humidity in your home. The built-in fan interlock system will engage your furnace fan when the HRV is in operation, which allows your home to get the full benefit of air transfer when the HRV needs to run. Air exchangers from Lifebreath can help keep your home balanced and fresh.

Get in touch with us today for more information and to arrange an assessment of your home.

Germicidal UV-C Lamps for Healthier Indoor Air

Germicidal UV-C lamps installed in your central HVAC system work by producing a type of ultraviolet (UV) light that is specifically designed to kill airborne disease-causing airborne organisms and pollutants, such as mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. The UV light provides a continuous cycle of disinfection as it destroys the cells of the organic contaminants, rendering them unable to reproduce and spread throughout the environment. The UV light is also capable of clearing the air of odors, as well as sterilizing and killing airborne allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and pollen.

Our Recommended UV-C Lamp

At Joel Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we recommend the Reme Halo LED In-Duct UV light, a revolutionary energy-efficient UV-C LED that turns on and off with your HVAC system for a continuous cycle of disinfection. For even more optimal performance in trapping and fully removing these particles from your air, we suggest pairing it with the AprilAire 5000 air cleaner.

When it comes to feeling comfortable in your home, the old saying “it’s not the heat (or cold) — it’s the humidity” rings true. Other than ambient temperature, nothing affects a body’s perception of comfort more than the humidity level.

Humidity Control: Dehumidifiers & Humidifiers

It can be difficult to maintain balanced humidity levels in your home all year round. There’s a fairly narrow range between what is considered “too much” and “too little” humidity. Keeping your home’s humidity levels in the proper range can significantly improve the health and comfort of your home.

Dehumidifiers

Air conditioning can help to reduce moisture levels, but it is not designed to regulate the humidity in your home. During the cooler spring and autumn months, your air conditioner may not be running, but the humidity levels in your home can still be uncomfortable. In addition to causing discomfort to you and your family, high humidity levels can promote the growth of mold and mildew, which can cause damage to walls, ceilings, and other surfaces in the home.

A dehumidifier can help ensure that your home is always at the ideal humidity level. A system like the AprilAire Whole-Home Dehumidifier works with your existing heating and cooling system to keep your home's humidity levels balanced and comfortable. An onboard digital control makes it easy to keep an eye on, and adjust, the humidity setpoints for your home.

Humidifiers

Medical experts say low humidity makes you more susceptible to viral infections like the common cold, flu, and other upper respiratory ailments. You may also experience symptoms such as a dry nose, cracked and itchy skin, or sore throat. Dry air can exacerbate allergies and asthma symptoms by causing irritation and inflammation in the respiratory system.

Maintaining an optimal level of humidity in your home can help alleviate these symptoms and reduce the likelihood of developing respiratory infections. Industry experts recommend keeping your home’s humidity between 30-45%.

The right balance of humidity in your home can help prevent damage to your home and belongings. Have you noticed splitting or cracked wood floors, furniture, trim, or molding? Low humidity levels can cause wood to dry out and shrink, leading to cracks and splits in wooden items and furniture.

A whole-home humidifier like the AprilAire 600 can protect your family and your home from the unhealthy and damaging effects of over-dry air.

Let us help you have a healthier, cleaner home environment for your family

It's sure to be a breath of fresh air!

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