7 Ways Spring Weather Affects Your Indoor Air Quality

April 9, 2022

7 Ways Spring Weather Affects Your Indoor Air Quality Spring weather in St. Louis, MO can be a wild, unpredictable ride. With strong, gusty winds, ample rain, hail storms, and tornadoes, many residents aren’t eager to greet this often volatile season. Sadly, even when you’re nestled safely inside, there’s still the issue of greatly diminished indoor air quality (IAQ). The good news is that you have a far better ability to manage the environment inside of your home than you do the environment outdoors. The following are seven springtime IAQ concerns along with a few tips for mitigating them. 1. Dirty Air Filters, Vents, and Ductwork Spring in St. Louis often comes on the heels of severe winter weather and an extended cold season. It’s not uncommon for locals to see record-breaking snowfall in mid-March. When compared to locations with shorter and more temperate winters, this means far more strain on central heating systems. By the time that April arrives, your HVAC system is likely riddled with dirt, dust, pet hair, and other accumulated debris. If the weather stays cold throughout all of early spring, you may make the mistake of skipping or delaying your regular HVAC maintenance. One of...

View Article

Read More

Do I Need a Whole House Humidifier in My St. Louis Home?

April 25, 2017

Humidifiers control moisture to increase the indoor air quality of your home. A whole house humidifier can relieve many problems associated with winter weather such as dry and itchy skin. These units add moisture to the air inside your home, and help with sinus problems that are usually aggravated by dry air. In this article, we will discuss the various options available when it comes to choosing a humidifier for your home. If you and your family are facing problems such as sore throats, chapped lips, and seasonal colds and allergies because of dry air, then you should consider installing a humidifier in your home. The central humidifiers, also known as whole house humidifiers hook up directly to your HVAC systems along with the plumbing. Here are some types of central humidifiers available in the market: Steam humidification system: It uses less water compared to other types, and is an eco-friendly system. The unit adds an equal amount of amount of moisture to the air for each gallon of water used. These systems are approved for use in homes that up to 3000 square feet. Fan powered whole house humidifiers: These systems are also approved for use in home up...

View Article

Read More

Do I Need a Whole House Humidifier? – St. Louis HVAC

January 20, 2017

Whole House Humidifiers add moisture to the air inside your home and can often help with sinus problems, usually aggravated by dry air. A whole-house humidifier can relieve many problems associated with winter weather such as dry and itchy skin. In this post, St. Louis HVAC expert will discuss the various options available when it comes to choosing a humidifier for your home. If you and your family are facing problems such as sore throats, chapped lips, and seasonal colds and allergies because of dry air, then you should consider installing a humidifier in your home. Central humidifiers, also known as whole house humidifiers hook up directly to your HVAC systems, along with the plumbing. Here are some types of central humidifiers available in the market: Steam humidification system: It uses less water compared to other types and is an eco-friendly system. The unit adds an equal amount of moisture to the air for each gallon of water used. These systems are approved for use in homes up to 3,000 square feet. Fan-powered whole-house humidifiers: These systems are also approved for use in homes up to 3000 square feet. This humidification system can provide high moisture output. If your home is...

View Article

Read More

Choosing a Humidifier – Tips From St. Louis HVAC Expert

December 12, 2016

Do you find your house too damp in the summer and too dry in the winter? Your home should have a relative humidity level of 30-60 percent, depending on what time of the year it is. In winter, the use of heating systems can reduce the humidity by over 30-40 percent. On the other hand, in summer the humidity may be as high as 60 percent. If the relative humidity is below 30, you may want to invest in a humidifier to keep your family comfortable; however, if it touches 60 or more, you need a dehumidifier. You may need both a humidifier and a dehumidifier and use them according to the seasons. How Humidity Affects Your Health Extremes of relative humidity in the atmosphere can affect your health adversely. If the air inside your home is dry, you may experience dry skin and other types of dermatitis such as peeling, itchy skin, or chapped lips. These may be the first signs that you need to invest in a humidifier. Other health problems caused by dry air include dry sinuses, congestion, nosebleeds, a persistent cough, and sore throat. If the air is too moist, it can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. Your air conditioning system...

View Article

Read More

Solution to Humidity in Your Home: Energy Recovery Ventilators

August 31, 2016

An energy recovery ventilator can increase the comfort level of your home and improve air quality. As the temperatures in St. Louis continue to rise, even into September, so does the humidity. That can affect the inside of your home as well. This may be the perfect time to talk with your trusted HVAC company about installing an ERV, Energy Recovery Ventilator, system with your existing heating and cooling units. How an ERV Works As our homes are increasingly becoming tighter due to an effort to make our homes more energy-efficient, new problems start to arise. Indoor air quality can be compromised as the same stale air is constantly being recycled through the house. Higher humidity levels may become an issue as you have basically created an airtight environment with levels that fluctuate drastically and far from the 40% ideal range. Adding an ERV, or energy recovery ventilation, system to your homes HVAC system can take care of both of these issues. They are able to exchange the stale air with fresh, conditioning it first to match the indoor temperature of the house. In the summer the system is pre-cooling and dehumidify outside air as it is being brought into...

View Article

Read More

How to Choose between a Humidifier and a Dehumidifier

August 23, 2016

How To Choose Between a Humidifier and Dehumidifier If you do, a humidifier or a dehumidifier is what your home may need. Your house should have a relative humidity level of 30-60 percent, depending on what time of the year it is. In winter, use of heating systems can reduce the humidity by over 30-40 percent. On the other hand, in summer, the humidity may be as high as 60 percent. If the relative humidity is below 30, you may want to invest in a humidifier to keep your family comfortable, however, if it touches 60 or more, you may need a dehumidifier. So, you may need both a humidifier and a dehumidifier and use them according to seasons. How Does Humidity Affect Our Health? Extremes of relative humidity in the atmosphere affect human health adversely. If the air inside your home is dry, the residents may have dry skin and may suffer from other types of dermatitis. These may be the first signs that you need to invest in a humidifier. Other health problems caused by dry air include dry sinuses, congestion, nosebleed, persistent cough, and sore throat. If the air is too moist, it can aggravate allergy and...

View Article

Read More

Keep Your Home Warm Without Spending More Money – St. Louis HVAC

February 22, 2016

Keep your home warm and cozy without increasing your heating costs. Cranking up the furnace is one way to keep your house warm, but it could be costly in terms of energy expenses and environmental impact. We will recommend some simple ways to keep your home warm without increasing your energy bills. Weather Proof the Garage Doors You might be letting in cool air through the garage doors. Weatherstrip and insulate the garage doors and seal all cracks around the windows. Check the Furnace Filter Regularly Change the furnace filter every month during the winter season according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A clean air filter will improve the efficiency of your furnace and keep you warm even during the coldest of winter months. Check the Vents Make sure that your HVAC system’s vents are clean and not clogged with dirt or blocked by furniture. This is important to ensure that warm air circulates freely across the house. Prevent Cold Attic Air From Cooling Your House The attic access cover and staircase may be a source of cold drafts. Weatherstripping is a good way to counter this problem. Ask your St. Louis HVAC contractor for a ready-made insulating attic access cover. Minimize Heat Loss Through Windows Windows are a major source of heat loss. Use weather stripping and caulking to prevent heat...

View Article

Read More

Choosing a Humidifier for Your St. Louis Home This Winter

October 28, 2015

Reduce energy and save money by installing a humidifier in your home.   Humidity levels drop during the winter months because cold air holds less moisture than warm air. As a result of dry air, you may experience a number of problems in the winter months, including: dry skin and/or an itchy throat nasal congestion resulting in cold or flu static electricity wallpaper peeling at the edges hardwood floors separating out at the seams difficulty in growing houseplants Indoor air should have a humidity level of 30-35 percent, but during winter months, the humidity level in the air drops to 13 percent or lower. One way to resolve this problem is by using a humidifier to add moisture to the indoor air. Type of Humidifiers You’ll find humidifiers in a wide variety of shapes and designs, including furnace/heat pump mounted units, floor models, and table models. Furnace/heat pump mounted units work as by-pass, steam, wick, mist, and powered. You can mount some of these models to the duct or attach some of them to the furnace or heat pump. You can easily install a humidifier while replacing your furnace. It is also possible to have one installed to your existing heating system. It is important...

View Article

Read More

How to Manage Humidity Inside Your Home

August 15, 2014

Keep your family comfortable by avoiding extreme humidity levels inside your home. Humidity is a double-edged sword that can cause issues when it is too high or too low. It is essential for your home to have an ideal humidity range to ensure comfort for you and your family. People, books, and electronic devices have an ideal humidity range, which overlaps with each other. The Effects of Excessive Humidity Inside Your Home Excessive humidity will cause you to feel uncomfortable, making your skin feel damp and sticky. High humidity levels promote the development of mildew, molds, and dust mites. Molds, which develop in humid environments, can cause a number of illnesses, such as severe allergies and asthma. Humid environments normally have a relative humidity of over 60 percent. Safe humidity levels for people with asthma and other respiratory diseases should be limited to 50 percent. High indoor humidity may ruin furniture, books, clothes, and leather items. Since books are made of wood, they can degrade over a period of time. High humidity levels can damage books due to mildew and pests. Professionals recommend a relative humidity range of 30 to 50 percent and a temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Electronic devices are...

View Article

Read More

Warm Mist Humidifier vs. Cool Mist Humidifier

July 3, 2014

What are the differences between warm mist and cool mist humidifiers? Learn about the differences between warm mist and cool mist humidifiers. Then seek the recommendation of an HVAC professional to determine which type of humidifier should be used in your home. Warm Mist Humidifiers The distilled steam coming from warm mist humidifiers comes from the boiled water inside the unit. The steam is similar to a mild warm water spray rather than vapor and is more intense near the humidifier. The unit is normally utilized for medications that require steam. It also features a small section to store medication. Warm mist humidifiers produce minimal noise and come in small mobile units. However, it will be necessary to frequently clean the unit since the warm water in the unit promotes the growth of bacteria. A number of warm mist humidifiers may be risky to handle due to the presence of the heating element and hot water. Cool Mist Humidifiers Although cool mist humidifiers are noisier than the warm mist units, some units used in bedrooms feature a silent mode. The two basic kinds of cool mist humidifiers are the evaporative unit and the ultrasonic unit. The units move water along a...

View Article

Read More