Lack of humidity in a home can be the cause of numerous respiratory ailments. Improper moisture levels can cause dryness in the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Respiratory infections, repeated attacks of winter colds and airborne infections can also stem from inadequate humidity.

How a humidifier helps

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to your home environment healthy and comfortable. All you have to do is install a whole-house humidifiers, which puts moisture into the air, making harsh, dry air easier to breathe. Water mist instead of hot steam is used, keeping the entire house at the desired humidity level.

A humidifier uses from 1.5 to 12 gallons of water per day—just enough to raise the humidity to the desired level, but not enough to make a difference on the water bill. And because a humidifier is installed in the ductwork, there is no need to carry one from room to room.

How to select a humidifier

There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting a humidifier, starting with size. A humidifier’s capacity, the amount of moisture it can dispense, should match a household’s needs. The capacity is measured in gallons per day of operation.

In terms of cost, consider the purchase price of the unit, as well as operating and maintenance costs. Some models consume more energy than others, so choosing a model that is right for your home and budget is extremely important.

Also, regular maintenance is necessary to keep your humidifier in top working condition. Installing a humidifier is simple when also replacing a furnace. But a humidifier can also be fitted to a current system with minimal labor since it is installed in the ductwork.

Installing a humidifier is simple if you are replacing your furnace. But you can also have a humidifier fitted to your current system with minimal labor, since it is designed for installation in your ductwork. It is also important to properly maintain your humidifier to avoid potential bacterial growth. Periodic cleaning and draining of the reservoir is strongly recommended.

Dry air in your home can make your throat feel dry and cause or aggravate respiratory ailments.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that you maintain a household humidity level between 30 and 60 percent. During extremely cold weather, your home loses humidity to the outdoors and the level may drop to as low as 10 percent. A humidifier adds moisture to your indoor air and can help relieve ailments related to dry respiratory membranes.

Health Concerns

One of the major causes of respiratory infections is inadequate humidity during cold weather. The start of the heating season each fall causes many people to begin having repeated attacks of winter colds. Winter weather is blamed for these problems, but the actual cause may be dryness, which develops in the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Relative humidity also has a significant effect on controlling the occurrence of airborne infections.

Other Concerns

Dry air can cause more than health problems. Static electricity is a direct result of very dry air. And houseplants can suffer from “winter drought” caused by low humidity levels. A humidifier can help keep the indoor air comfortably moist, despite conditions of low outdoor humidity.

There are a few factors you should take into consideration when purchasing a humidifier for your home:

Size

A humidifier’s capacity, or the amount of moisture it can dispense in a given time, should match your particular household’s needs. The capacity is measured as gallons per day of operation. One method that is used to determine the correct-size humidifier for your home is multiplying the total floor area in square feet by the ceiling height.

Cost

Consider not only the purchase price of the unit. but also the operating and maintenance costs. Some models consume more energy than others, so choosing a model that is right for your home and budget is extremely important.

Regular maintenance is necessary to keep your humidifier in top working condition.

With central heating, people are confined indoors with unnaturally dry air for many months each year. Humidifiers help to keep comfortable levels of moisture in the air, which is essential for your respiratory health.

Whole-house humidifiers work like old-fashioned room humidifiers: They put moisture into the air, making harsh, dry air easier to breathe. And whole-house humidifiers use water mists instead of hot steam, which keeps the entire house at the desired humidity level—no more carrying a humidifier from room to room in the winter.

At one time, it was possible to achieve natural ventilation in our homes by merely opening a window. However, with the concern for energy efficiency in recent years, we have been busy making homes “tighter” from an energy standpoint. Armed with weather stripping and caulk guns, we have eliminated air leaks from our homes. Unfortunately, that means contaminants have no way to escape.

Pollutants in your home’s air can cause poor indoor air quality, which in turn may cause dizziness and headaches, plus aggravate allergies and asthma. That’s why Lennox® offers ventilation systems that help remove contaminants by exchanging stale, recirculated indoor air with fresh, filtered outside air.

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) uses virtually noise-free fans that draw in fresh, cool outdoor air, while removing stale, heated indoor air. An energy recovery ventilation (ERV) performs the same function, but utilizes a rotary energy recovery wheel. In both cases, the units transfer the temperature and moisture properties from one air stream to the other, without allowing the two airflow streams to mix. Both units offer easy access for change of filters and necessary maintenance, making them not only energy efficient but also easy to use.

How do I determine if a heat recovery ventilation (HRV) or energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is right for me?

If you’re wondering whether you need to clear the air in your home, you might ask yourself these questions:

• When was your home built? If your home is new, chances are it was built “tighter” to be more energy efficient. This may mean concentrations of air pollutants in your home could be a concern.
• Have you upgraded your home to be more energy efficient? If so, it may need an additional source of ventilation.
• How often throughout the course of a year can you comfortably open your windows? Due to cold winters and hot summers, it is not always possible to have your windows open year-round. This means that you may not always have a constant controlled source of ventilation.
• Do odors tend to linger in your home? If this is the case, it is a sign of poor ventilation. There isn’t enough air being circulated throughout the home to dilute unwanted odors.
• Your home comfort should include products and accessories that improve indoor air quality. Your family’s health and comfort should be priorities, and working together, we can help you provide your family with a breath of fresh air.

It is now possible to exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air without compromising the energy efficiency of your home. Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) exchanging stale, recirculated indoor air with fresh, filtered outside air, and no energy is wasted.

HRVs and ERVs are electronically powered units that circulate air throughout your home using the existing forced-air system or specially installed ducts. These units pump stale air out of your home and replace it with an equal volume of fresh outside air. An HRV is a compact unit that conditions the temperature of the outside air, while an ERV is a packaged unit that conditions both the temperature and humidity of the outside air. Because these units condition the air before it enters the home, your energy costs remain stable.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels such as wood, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, coal and charcoal. It is caused by lack of oxygen or a disruption in the burning process.

Household appliances such as your furnace, water heater, stove, space heaters, charcoal grill and gas dryer can be sources of carbon monoxide, especially if they are not in good working condition or have been installed improperly. Vehicle exhaust fumes from attached garages, as well as improperly operating fireplaces, also can become carbon monoxide hazards, particularly if your home is well-sealed for energy efficiency.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a filtration system, starting with sensitivity to allergens. The more sensitive a person is to allergens, the greater the need for a high-efficiency filtration system.

Efficiency

The efficiency of the air filter should be a top consideration. Efficiency is based on the size of the particles captured by an air filter. The higher the efficiency, the more effective it will be. Look for the filter’s MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) number, a new industry standard for rating filters based on their performance. Residential filters typically have an MERV range of one to 12. Higher ratings indicate more efficient filters.

Higher filter efficiency not helps clear the air, but it also improves airflow. Generally, the more efficient a filter is, the less airflow reduction there will be.

Cost

Cost is another major factor—both in terms of the initial purchase price and expense of maintenance and upgrades. Purchasing a filter of reasonably high quality can save you money over the long term. Inexpensive filters may not provide the level of filtration you need and may also require frequent filter replacement.

Solutions

Among the many filtration systems available are pleated filters, which are constructed of fiberglass or synthetic fibers woven into a more dense material. The pleats are arranged in V-shaped forms to increase the area of the filter material without increasing the face area. This increases the particle-holding capability.

Germicidal lights use intense ultraviolet light to sterilize surfaces. Each solution removes particles, bioaerosols and chemicals, depending on the size of the allergen.

Electronic air cleaners (EACs) are highly efficient and clean the air by taking recirculated air and passing it through a prefilter that traps the large pollutants. Then, ionizing wires give a positive electrical charge to the remaining particles. A negatively charged collecting section collects the particles. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are also very effective at small-particle removal.

Activated carbon and microbiocide-treated filters can also purify your home’s air. Both the carbon and the microbiocide-treated filters remove odor and kill bacteria, but the carbon filters are more effective at removing odor, and the microbiocide-treated filters trap bacteria as the air is pulled through, which inhibits growth of biological contaminants.