The Expert

Air Quality Solutions for Severe Allergies

2010-09-16T10:17:31+00:00

Question: My son was recently diagnosed with severe allergies to mold, pollen, and pet dander. Of course our main concern is his health, but we also have two dogs that are incredibly important to our family. Our doctor suggested we ask a HVAC contractor if there are any products out there that might help our son but also prevent us from having to give up our pets. Any suggestions?

Many people suffer from this dilemma, and fortunately if you have a traditional forced air furnace heating and cooling your home, solutions are available. When people living in a home have major allergies, the most important thing you can do is treat every cubic foot of air in the home with some type of whole house air purifier. It is important to understand that a whole home air purifier and a portable room air purifier are totally different. Make sure you spend the money on a solution that will work, and portable room air purifiers don’t clean enough air to be effective. Many companies make air purifiers, but Carrier and Aprilaire make two of the best. These units never have to be washed and can be installed into almost any home. Take it from someone with pets and allergies, these products are well worth the investment.

Proper Home Ventilation

2010-09-10T20:32:47+00:00

We live in a five year old home with high quality windows. We have noticed ice and moisture on our windows during the winter months, and mold has actually started to grow on some of the frames. What is causing this and is there anything we can do?

Answer: The problem is most likely a lack of proper ventilation. New homes today are built and insulated very well. During the winter months, everyday activities like showering or boiling water introduces humidity into your home and the humidity becomes trapped because of the well insulated home. Renewaire is a company located in Madison, WI and they provide us with a product called an energy recovery ventilator. This product will remove all of the stale, humid air trapped in your home, and replace it with fresh, dry air that is re-heated inside of the ventilators core. This product has a 100% satisfaction guarantee and will protect your windows and air quality for years to come.

Whole House Humidifiers

2010-09-10T20:29:55+00:00

We own an older ranch home and for years we have continually dealt with static shock and dry skin during the winter months. We run room humidifiers, but is there a product available that can humidify the entire house?

Answer: If you have a traditional forced air furnace, whole house humidifiers are available and are commonly used to produce even humidity levels throughout a home. Carrier and Aprilaire make different units for all applications, and this product could solve the issues you are having. Proper humidity levels will improve comfort and allow you to feel warmer at lower temperatures, ultimately saving energy and money on your heating bill.