Douglas Cooling & Heating Blog : Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

Indoor Plants Can Clean Your Air

Whether you like to work in your yard, garden or enjoy the natural beauty around you there’s something in common: plants. You trim vegetation, plant flowers or other greenery, or notice the assortment of plant life around your home. Before winter weather sets in, bring some plants indoors. Together with an efficient air conditioning system, you can improve the indoor air quality in your home.

Your home’s air is polluted every day by harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Did you know plants can reduce the number of VOCs in your house by absorbing them? There are some plants identified by scientists which enhance your indoor air better than others.

Air quality can improve with air conditioning maintenance tips too. Read on to learn how you can improve your home environment this fall for your loved ones.

Add Beauty and Purpose to Your Home with These Plants

Several different plants will absorb the VOCs in your house and leave you with fresh air throughout the day. These plants absorb airborne contaminants through tiny openings on their leaves, using their roots and the bacteria in the soil to purify the air.

Common plants to keep indoors for most improved air quality include:

• Snake plant, or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
• Areca Palm
• Money Plant
• Chinese Evergreen
• Flamingo Lily
• English Ivy
• Peace Lily
• Red-Edged Dracaena
• Florist’s Chrysanthemum.

Use plants inside your home to help control pollutants affecting your health. It’s likely you will notice fewer headaches, eye irritations, and respiratory problems.

Harmful chemicals are removed from indoor air using plants every day, such as:

• Xylene: Causes mouth irritation and headaches when exposed in small doses. Long-term effects will lead to heart, kidney and liver problems.
• Ammonia: This chemical causes throat and eye irritation and promotes coughing.
• Trichloroethylene: Exposure to this chemical causes nausea, vomiting, headaches, loss of consciousness and coma.
• Benzene: Exposure on a small scale produces eye irritations, confusion, accelerated heartbeat and headaches. High doses of benzene cause loss of consciousness.
• Formaldehyde: A wide range of problems, including irritations of the nose and mouth and swelling in the lung and larynx.

Clean Air Conditioning Filter Throughout the Year

Your air conditioning filter is responsible for trapping and eliminating allergens, dust and other pollutants. Check your filter every month for excess dirt. If you notice it’s dirty or clogged, replace it.

This avoids contaminants circulating around your home when your HVAC system operates. If you are unsure how to change your filter, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for help.

Our NATE-certified technicians will inspect your filter and replace it when necessary, including when maintenance is performed.

Air Conditioning Maintenance Key to Healthy Indoor Air

You can improve your indoor air quality by scheduling preventative maintenance on your air conditioning unit before and after summer. Preventative maintenance clears away dirt, dust or other debris accumulated inside the air conditioning equipment.

When a unit remains dirty, the buildup gets transferred throughout the ductwork. Then it continues to circulate through the vents into your home.

If you’ve felt your family can’t shake a virus, consider the airborne particulates repeatedly circulating through your air conditioning. Maintenance also ensures your air conditioning system:

• Operates safely by inspecting the air conditioning unit for irregularities indicating potential breakdowns later.
• Increases efficiency, so your energy bills are lower.
• Reduces the number of unexpected and expensive air conditioning repairs.
• Prolongs the lifespan of your air conditioning equipment. Service visits identify and can replace components which show increased signs of wear and tear.
• Improves the reliability of your air conditioning unit. You can rest easy when the heat and humidity rise.

Keep your home’s indoor air clean and healthy. Use plants and schedule maintenance on your air conditioning unit. Clean air is more than an air filter change every few months. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating today to schedule service on your air conditioning unit. You’ll be glad you did!

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Air Conditioner Versus Dehumidifier

Simply maintaining an ideal temperature in your home during summer months isn’t enough to keep you comfortable. However, creating a healthy environment is possible when you know the difference between your air conditioner and dehumidifier.

Each one helps by controlling humidity, and they work together to maintain optimum temperatures in your house when humidity levels are high.

What’s the Difference Between the Two?

Both an air conditioner and a dehumidifier circulate refrigerant through a continuous loop, switching between liquid to gas repeatedly. However, regardless of their similarities, both have subtle differences. The first difference is air conditioners move warm and cool air and dehumidifiers don’t.

An air conditioner has a fan system design to move air in a room over the evaporator coils, which cools the warm air. The leftover warm air is exhausted outside, so your home remains cool.

A dehumidifier uses a fan to pull in the moist air and deliver dry air back out. The warm air isn’t disposed of so it comes back inside, which plays an adverse effect on the cooling process in your home.

The next difference is moisture control. Both deal with moisture by condensing it on the cooling coils. However, the air conditioner pools the condensate in a pan, which drains. There might be a drip edge or drainage tubes, either way gets the moisture out of the house.

A dehumidifier pulls the water from the air, allowing it to accumulate in a water reservoir. A hose is attached to the reservoir for a dedicated drainage area. An automatic shutoff prevents spills.

Controlling Humidity with an Air Conditioner

Because your air conditioning system can remove some of the moisture from your home, it’s a great option for moderate humidity areas. However, if your current air conditioning system isn’t correctly sized for your house, it won’t effectively eliminate excess moisture.

If you live in Alabama, where the humidity is unbearable during the summer months, combining a whole-home dehumidifier with your cooling system will be the best option.

Benefits of a Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier works with your current air conditioning system to provide more moisture control and even temperatures in your home. The relative humidity in most homes needs to be between 30 percent and 50 percent. In Birmingham, an achievable level is closer to 45 to 55 percent. When humidity consistently goes above the 60 percent mark, you may experience:

• Increased mold and mildew growth
• Growth and spread of dust mites
• Damaged clothing and furniture
• Weakened immune system
• Health complications for those with asthma or allergies.

A whole-home dehumidifier offers many benefits besides controlling and maintaining your moisture levels in your home. Portable dehumidifiers require you to move them from room to room. Or they require you to buy multiple units to cover several spaces.

Whole-home dehumidifiers remove moisture from every room in your home by working with your current heating and cooling system’s ductwork.

This allows your air conditioning system to work less often because the lower humidity levels make the air feel cooler. A whole-home dehumidifier helps your air conditioner run more efficiently because it only has to work to cool the air and not dehumidify it.

Douglas Cooling & Heating – Your Dehumidifier Experts

A dehumidifier with your current HVAC system is more efficient compared to portable units and come in a variety of sizes. Douglas Cooling & Heating carries several dehumidifiers to choose, and our NATE-certified technicians will suggest the best option for your home. Concerned about expenses? We offer financing!

Using a whole-home dehumidifier with your air conditioner improves energy-efficiency in your home and keeps you feeling comfortable all summer long.

Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating if you are ready to take control of your Alabama humidity issues in your home. Our NATE-certified technicians are experienced and skilled to install a quality dehumidifier with your air conditioning unit.

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My House Feels Like a Swamp! How Do I Reduce This Humidity?

Alabama is known for southern hospitality and extreme humidity. Humidity doesn’t just affect you outside – it can seep into your home through your cooling system, leaks in your ductwork, and gaps throughout the structure.

The discomfort isn’t the only side effect of extreme moisture levels in your home. High humidity levels create complications for your health, especially those with respiratory illnesses or allergies and reduce the overall indoor air quality in your household.

If you are tired of battling the rainforest-like humidity, consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier. A dehumidifier working alongside your cooling unit offers many benefits besides humidity management. Douglas Cooling & Heating sells and installs a variety of whole-home dehumidifiers from which to choose.

The Effects of High Humidity

A moist environment is a prime breeding ground for microscopic organisms to grow and thrive, such as mold. Mold, mildew, and dust mites run amuck in humid atmospheres, which in turn increases the chance of mold spores and dust mites spreading throughout your home. The spores can travel through the air vents in your ductwork and infest your HVAC system. Excessive humidity further increases the chances of illness in your home by compromising your indoor air quality.

Extreme humidity will even damage your home if it’s not kept under control. You may notice paint peeling from the walls, wet spots forming on the walls and ceiling, and the foundation growing weaker because of too much humidity. Furnishings and doors will bend and swell when moisture is too high in a home, including wood floors and wooden furniture.

Perks of a Whole-Home Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier with your current HVAC system works to maintain ideal humidity levels in your home twenty-four hours a day. A dehumidifier offers more advantages to you and your home than just humidity control, such as:

• Fewer Allergens: There are a variety of allergens waiting to trigger an individual’s allergies or their symptoms. Dust mites, mold, and mildew are the most common allergens in your home. They thrive in moist environments, which means rooms with poor ventilation will yield higher allergens. Bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements are the most common areas.
• Pest Control: Moist environments also draw in nasty pests, such as roaches and spiders. A dehumidifier will help keep moisture out of your home and reduce the amount of creepy crawly things invading your home.
• Increased Comfort: Ideal humidity levels keep you, your family and guests comfortable regardless of the weather outside. You will enjoy lounging in your home while sipping a sweet tea as the humidity levels continue to rise outside with the temperature. A dehumidifier helps the air in your home feel cooler, so you can sit back and enjoy yourself and your company.
• Reduced Energy Costs: Surprised?It’s true! A dehumidifier helps your cooling system work more efficiently day-after-day. By removing excess moisture from the air, your air conditioner isn’t required to work harder to maintain ideal temperatures in your home. You save energy when your air conditioner works a reasonable amount, and your cooling system experiences less wear and tear.

Take back your home from the extreme humidity in Birmingham and throughout Alabama! Invest in a quality whole-home dehumidifier to control the moisture inside your house. If expenses are a concern – ask us about financing options. We care about your health and safety, as well as your comfort.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to learn more about our dehumidifiers and choose the right one for your family and your budget.

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While most people think about planting trees when Arbor Day comes around, there are other things you can do at home to promote a “greener” way of living. If you aren’t ready to plant trees, you can still examine your landscaping and home choices to see if any are doing more harm than good.

For example, your home’s heating and cooling system accounts for over half of your energy bill and impacts the quality of your indoor air. Calling Douglas Cooling & Heating to improve your HVAC system’s performance will help cut energy costs and promote healthier air around your home. Celebrate this Arbor Day by taking a look at your HVAC unit’s efficiency, your indoor air quality and your landscaping choices. You might be surprised by what you find!

Schedule HVAC Repair Service

Even with routine maintenance, your heating and cooling system needs to be inspected and cleaned to ensure there aren’t any issues. HVAC repair service will check your unit and its operation to determine if it’s performing at its highest efficiency. A heating and cooling system with damaged components or restricted airflow will operate harder than necessary to maintain an ideal temperature. By working harder, your system uses more energy, causing your energy bill to climb when the heat rises.

An obstruction in your air ducts or vents can cause your HVAC system to cycle on and off repeatedly throughout the day. Constant cycling can cause your cooling system to overheat, resulting in an expensive HVAC repair in the near future. Debris, dirt, and dust can build up on the components inside your unit, preventing normal operation.

By scheduling an HVAC repair with Douglas Cooling & Heating, our NATE-certified technicians will clean your system if any buildup is noticed and inspect your ductwork for any obstructions compromising the airflow in your home.

Improving Indoor Air Quality

Trees create fresh, clean air, and in your home, the air might not be so clean or fresh. Your indoor air quality is affected every day by what is pulled into your cooling system, both from outside and inside your home.

Scheduling HVAC repair service for your unit will help reduce the different particulates circulating throughout your home such as dust, dirt, pollen, and other allergens. If your air filter isn’t checked monthly, it can become clogged or too dirty to adequately filter these pollutants from the air in your home. The recommended schedule for replacing your system’s filter is once every three months, depending on the model. Remember,  if you have pets inside or live in a high pollen area, change the filter more often.

Along with maintenance and HVAC repairs, consider other options to improve your indoor air quality. If you install a programmable or smart thermostat in your home it will send you reminders when your heating and cooling system needs maintenance, an HVAC repair or a filter replacement. Advanced thermostats can now be controlled via Wi-Fi, and they offer more accuracy for climate control, reducing energy use on a daily basis.

Choose Your Landscaping Wisely

Evaluate how a tree’s location can affect your HVAC system. Any type of vegetation near your outdoor unit needs to be planted a safe distance away, typically 1-3 feet. Leaves, twigs, branches, and other storm debris can accumulate and affect the airflow performance of your unit, so include a quick check in your weekly yard work.

Before you plant a new tree, consider if it has a disruptive root system, how close it will be to your outdoor unit and if it will provide any shading for the unit. When the heat rises, and the sun is high, your outdoor unit gets extremely hot, and without proper shading, it can overheat quickly. Overheating will result in malfunctions and breakdowns creating expensive HVAC repairs when you least expect them. Additional shade from a new tree or shrub will allow your outdoor unit to operate with ease while trying to keep you cool indoors.

Whether you celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree or not, make a conscious choice to improve your indoor air quality and lower your energy use. Determining the right choices for your home, yard, and HVAC system can be overwhelming, but relax, Douglas Cooling & Heating is here to help! Call Douglas Cooling & Heating today.

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Flowers are blooming, Little League is in season, and people are starting to roam outdoors as temperatures start to rise. Spring is a time of renewal and growth, along with the spreading of pollen, dust and other allergens.

To escape these allergens, homeowners seek refuge indoors. Without proper protection to combat the allergens from overrunning your home, you will still deal with allergies, asthma issues and other health problems due to allergen exposure.

A Clean Home Equals Improved Indoor Air Quality

Routine HVAC service, UV filters and media air cleaners are excellent options to improve your indoor air quality. However, routine cleaning, such as vacuuming, sweeping and dusting, keep the dirt, dust and other particles in your home low.

Allergens don’t stay suspended in the air. They float and settle on different surfaces in your home, building up if they aren’t dealt with on a regular basis. Eliminating the dust and allergens by cleaning will increase your indoor air quality and help keep your HVAC system clean longer between maintenance calls.

Schedule HVAC Service

Before the heat and humidity hit your home this spring, call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule service for your heating and cooling system. During the fall and winter, different particulates build up in your HVAC system. Dirt, dust and debris accumulate within your HVAC unit and the ductwork. As spring starts up more dirt, debris, and pollen are circulated into your home on top of whatever has built up over the winter months, compromising your indoor air quality.

Seasonal maintenance on your cooling system reduces the amount of pollen, dirt and dust, keeping it clean during the hottest months. A clean system will function more efficiently, and your air won’t be contaminated with allergens as it circulates throughout your unit and ductwork. Besides a healthy, cleaner indoor air quality, you will have lower energy bills when your equipment is kept clean year-round. A dirty unit is forced to work harder to maintain ideal temperatures throughout your home, which continuously wastes energy.

Media Air Cleaners

A media air cleaner works hand-in-hand with your cooling system to trap and eliminate particulates affecting your health and reducing your indoor air quality. An air cleaner offers peace of mind knowing your entire home’s air is kept clean every time your unit is running. Installation of a media air cleaner has two options, a duct-based unit or a filter-based unit. Both offer the same benefits and keep you and your family breathing clean air day and night.

High-Efficiency UV Filters

High-efficiency UV lights are great for protecting your indoor air from pollutants and allergens. The UV lights can sterilize two different ways. You have the option to use the UV lights 24/7 to sterilize the air handler coil or have the UV lights operate only when the HVAC system cycles on, sterilizing the air as it blows through the air handler. The ultraviolet light eliminates condensation and mold from developing in your unit and your home. The extra protection against mold and mildew provides you with higher indoor air quality from the start.

Reduce Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew reduce your indoor air quality and are a common problem for people with allergies and asthma. Spring brings lots of rain and increased humidity, resulting in the growth of mold and the spreading of mold spores throughout your home. Your cooling system doesn’t eliminate moisture, and with the help of a whole-home dehumidifier, you can maintain healthy humidity levels indoors. A dehumidifier reduces the excess moisture your home and in your HVAC system. By controlling the humidity and condensation, you will have cleaner air and avoid health issues due to mold and mildew.

Control your allergies this spring by taking preventative steps to improve your indoor air quality. With on-going training, our NATE-certified HVAC technicians are always up-to-date on the latest advancements in the heating and cooling industry, including efficient indoor air quality products. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule routine maintenance or to learn more about the variety of indoor air quality products we offer.

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Filters for gas furnaces and other HVAC equipment are vital for your system to operate efficiently during the winter. You should take the time to discover the furnace filter location and what types of furnace filters are required for your gas furnace or heating system. Knowing the filter types and their location will help you make informed buying decisions in the future and stay on top of changing them.

Find Your Furnace Filter Location

In general, the filter for a furnace is located inside the blower compartment but every location can vary. Below are the typical places for furnace filter location based on the installation of a unit:

• Horizontal Furnace: Check to see if your furnace has a slide-in furnace rack, built into the furnace where the filter is housed.
• Upflow Furnace: With air moving upwards, the filter will be located in the blower compartment next to the cold air return. Remove both the top and bottom door to access the furnace filter location.
• Downflow Furnace: The air is moving downwards, which means the filter will be located in the upper blower compartment. If you have a V-shaped filter system, you will need two filters for your system. Both filters are up in the plenum in a V-shape.

Types of Furnace Filters

There are several different filters used for furnaces, such as:

• HEPA filters
• Pleated filters
• Electrostatic filters
• Polyester filters
• Fiberglass/Synthetic filters

Signs Your Furnace Filter Needs Changing:

Your gas furnace or other HVAC system exhibits signs that indicate it’s time to change your filter. Below are signs:

• If you notice your filter is gray
• Dirt or dust is visible around the unit
• Gas furnace is cycling longer than normal
• Extremely dusty home

The most prominent sign your filter needs replaced is if it’s been awhile since you remember changing it! Schedule preventive maintenance seasonally with Douglas Cooling & Heating, and we will replace your filter before it affects the performance of your system.

Why Change Your Furnace Filter?

• Enhanced comfort: Filters are responsible for removing contaminants from your air supply and keeping the airflow smooth. A clogged filter restricts the airflow and prevents air, warm or cool, from moving throughout your home effectively.
• Improved performance: A clean filter allows air to move easily through your system, without forcing your unit to work overtime. Clean filters also reduce the buildup of dust and debris inside your HVAC unit, which compromises its performance. When a filter becomes clogged or dirty, and the airflow is restricted, your system has to work harder to control the temperature in your home, resulting in breakdowns.
• Healthier indoor air quality: Your indoor air will become polluted and cause health issues for your family when the filter isn’t changed regularly. The filter is responsible for removing airborne contaminants from your indoor air before circulating the air throughout your home. You will suffer from viruses, bacteria, mold, pollen, dust, and other debris when your filter is dirty.
• Increased energy efficiency: A heating system can only function efficiently when it’s not over-stressed. A clogged or dirty filter forces your system to work harder, which results in higher energy use. A clean air filter requires your system to use less energy and increases the energy efficiency of your entire system.

How Often Do I Need to Change My Furnace Filter?

Depending on the types of furnace filters installed in a unit, the recommendation of how often to change them varies.

• Standard efficiency filters: If you have a low MERV rating on your filter, you need to change it more frequently than high-efficiency filters, about once a month.
• Check the packaging: The packaging your filter comes in should have a recommendation from the manufacturer for when to replace your filter.
• System use: The filter should be changed before and after you use your system. Before winter, schedule maintenance on your furnace to have the filter replaced and following winter, change the filter once more.
• Higher pollutants: If you have pets or someone smokes inside your home, your indoor air quality is reduced more than homes without pets or smokers. Pet dander, pet hair, and smoke contaminate your filter and air quickly. Consider changing your filter more often to keep your indoor air quality healthy longer.

Locate your furnace filter and know which filter is best for your home. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule maintenance and have our NATE-certified technicians replace your filter before it compromises the performance and efficiency of your unit or your indoor air quality.

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Nowadays, it seems like everyone is conscious about their impact on the environment. As a homeowner, you can make a difference with your heating and cooling system. There are several ways you can help the environment with your current system, but you might want to consider purchasing a new HVAC unit. Below are ways you can positively impact the environment and save money! Douglas Cooling & Heating offers high-efficiency HVAC replacements and skilled technicians to install your new HVAC unit. We will maintain your current system to boost energy efficiency throughout the year!

HVAC Replacement

The most significant way you can help the environment is with an HVAC system replacement. Older heating and cooling systems weren’t designed with energy efficiency in mind. They use far more energy than newer models and are money pits when it comes to energy waste. Using your HVAC system past its suggested life expectancy leads to extreme energy waste and expensive repairs.

If your air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old, a higher efficiency system could reduce your energy costs up to 20% yearly. Furnaces and boilers that are over 15 years old should be replaced with high-efficiency systems to increase energy savings up to 15% annually. When buying an HVAC system replacement, look for units that offer a high seasonal energy efficiency ratios (SEERs), energy efficiency ratios (EERs), or heat seasonal performance factors (HSPFs).

Another indication a system offers high-efficiency performance is if it meet ENERGY STAR requirements. ENERGY STAR products ensure the consumer that they meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you don’t see a high SEER, EER, HSPF rating, or the ENERGY STAR label present on your HVAC system replacement, you won’t get the savings you want or help the environment!

Regular Preventive Maintenance

Homeowners can easily forget to maintain their heating and cooling systems as the season changes. A well-maintained system with preventative maintenance allows the equipment to run smoothly and efficiently year-round. When equipment is dirty or worn down, its performance is hindered, leading to damaged parts or eventual failure of the entire unit. A unit with compromised performance uses more energy, affecting your impact on the environment.

Our NATE-certified technicians at Douglas Cooling & Heating will clean dirt, dust, and other debris from your air ducts, your system’s components, and change the filter. We offer preventative maintenance plans and will keep your system operating longer while reducing your monthly energy bills.

Reusable Air Filters

Reduce your HVAC system’s energy usage by replacing the air filter once every three to four months. If you want to save even more money, consider using air filters in your HVAC system that are reusable or permanent. Reusable filters are cleaned with water to clear dirt, dust, and debris, which keeps your system operating optimally, using less energy to control the temperature in your home.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Your thermostat plays a significant role in how your HVAC system consumes energy. If you have an older thermostat, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat to boost energy efficiency and energy savings. Programmable thermostats offer more control of your temperature settings when you are away, home, asleep, or on vacation. If you decide to invest in a new HVAC unit, there are recommended thermostats that can boost your new system’s efficiency even more. Ask Douglas Cooling & Heating which thermostat is best for your HVAC replacement and our technicians will determine which is best and where the best location is for your new thermostat.

It’s time to make your HVAC system more environmentally friendly! Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to have your current unit maintained with our preventative maintenance plan or invest in a new HVAC unit that is more energy efficient. We will help you conserve more energy while saving you money year-round!  

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Is dry air messing with you and your loved ones? An HVAC system humidifier will help add moisture to your air and alleviate health issues, reduce damage to property, and improve the comfort of your home.  Small, portable humidifiers are fine if you just want to add a little moisture to a single room, but with a whole-home humidifier, the moisture is added directly to your air supply via your HVAC system. Know the differences between HVAC system humidifiers, and you will make the best choice for your home.

Whole-Home Humidifiers Are the Answer

The best way to improve your air quality is to invest in a whole-home humidifier. When you install a whole-home humidifier for furnaces or other heating equipment, it uses the air sourced directly from your duct system. It then infuses moisture into your air, and it’s circulated throughout your entire home.

A whole-home humidifier for your home is connected directly to your HVAC system, allowing you to use a smart thermostat to control the humidity level circulated throughout your home. Humid air is better at transmitting warmth and will help your heating system operate more efficiently. Humidity controlled year-round is beneficial for reducing:

• Sore throats
• Cracked, dry, and itchy skin
• Nosebleeds
• Allergy symptoms
• Damage to property
• Infections and illnesses

Best HVAC System Humidifiers

• Bypass Humidifier:

A common humidifier for furnaces is a bypass humidifier, which adds moisture to warm air via its water panel. The humidifier is installed on a bypass duct, where air travels through its water panel and moisture is added to the warm air. Bypass humidifiers don’t have a blower motor, so they rely on your furnace’s blower motor to operate. Since the bypass humidifier doesn’t have a motor, it won’t operate unless the furnace is running. However, without a blower motor, they create less noise than other humidifiers, and they experience fewer breakdowns due to fewer moving parts.  Bypass humidifiers for furnaces are good options if you have extra space to install the bypass duct for the humidifier.

• Fan-Powered Humidifier:

A fan-powered humidifier operates similar to the bypass humidifier, except the fan-powered humidifier has a dedicated blower motor. This means even when your furnace is off, the humidifier is still able to operate and add moisture to your indoor air. You get more humidity control when your home needs it without running your furnace or heating equipment unnecessarily. This humidifier doesn’t require bypass ducting, which makes installation easier if space is limited to your current heating equipment. Fan-powered humidifiers do use more energy since they operate their own motor and run even when the furnace is off, but the flexibility to install them in tighter spaces, like a utility closet, can make them more convenient.  

• Steam Humidifier:

A steam humidifier for furnaces operates differently than a bypass or fan-powered humidifier. It moisturizes the air by producing steam that is circulated through your home to the indoor air. The steam is created from boiled water and dispersed through the ductwork by the system’s blower motor. A steam humidifier can operate whether the furnace is on or off. It knows when moisture is needed for your indoor air and will turn your furnace’s fan on low to disperse the steam when necessary if it’s not currently on. Installation is flexible for a steam humidifier similar to a fan-powered unit. A steam humidifier for your home increases the humidity level faster than any other humidifier!

Enhance your indoor air quality with a whole-home humidifier for your home! Douglas Cooling & Heating offers several whole-home humidifier options, and our NATE-certified professionals will install your new equipment quickly and correctly. Call us today and feel the difference a whole-home humidifier can make in your home.

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Homeowners deal with varying humidity in their home year-round without even realizing it. Runny or stuffy noses and watery or itchy eyes are a common occurrence in homes where the humidity level is extremely low. Normally your HVAC humidifier controls the moisture in your home, but if the water panel becomes clogged, it cannot properly provide moisture to your indoor air. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for help with your humidifier this winter and keep dry air away from your family.

What is an HVAC Humidifier?

Your humidifier emits water vapor into your home to increase your humidity levels. During the winter, furnaces and other heating equipment dry your air out, leading to health issues, static electricity, and poor indoor air quality. Your HVAC humidifier alleviates dry skin irritations, chapped lips, nose bleeds, and snoring.

There are different types of humidifiers, such as:

• Warm Mist Humidifiers:

These humidifiers produce a soothing, warm mist that is visible and you can feel it. They are utilized to treat colds or the flu. They are quiet during operation and are great for soothing a dry area in a home. The downside is they require frequent cleaning, which is difficult to do.

• Cool Mist Humidifiers:

By using a filter to trap minerals and other impurities, the cool mist humidifier produces a cool invisible mist that evaporates into the air. They can be used in larger areas and are easier to clean, but they work best in warmer climates. They are noisier and require more maintenance for their filters.

• Ultrasonic Humidifiers:

By using an ultrasonic frequency to vibrate a metal diaphragm in the ultrasonic humidifier, water droplets are created. The water droplets are then filtered into the air by a fan. This humidifier is quieter and easier to maintain compared to warm and cool mist humidifiers.

• Whole Home Humidifiers:

This humidifier is recommended for use with your heating and cooling system. It covers a much more significant area and is easier to maintain compared to warm and cool mist humidifiers. Whole home humidifiers also offer quiet operation when in use.

Where is My Humidifier Water Panel?

Before we track down your water panel, let’s discuss what the water panel is. The humidifier water panel goes by a few different names, such as evaporator pad or humidifier/water filter, but they are all three the same thing. The water panel is considered the heart of your humidifier. It generates the humidity necessary to keep your home comfortable during the heating season. Where is my humidifier, you might be wondering? Well depending on what kind of humidifier you have, it can be a stand-alone unit, or it can be attached to your heating and cooling system.

When do You Change Your Water Panel?

Since you now know where your humidifier water panel is, you can determine if it’s time to change the panel. Manufacturers recommend you replace your water panel at least once a year. The air that is forced through the water panel carries particles, like dust, which can clog the holes in the water panel when they are mixed with water. Restricted airflow is common when your water panel is clogged. If you have hard water, you may need to replace your water panel more often than once a year.

Every humidifier is different so attempting to change the water panel yourself can be tough. Contact the professionals at Douglas Cooling & Heating to replace your whole home humidifier’s water panel quickly. When your water panel isn’t replaced properly, you and your heating and cooling system will suffer:

• Increased allergies for you and your family
• Mold growth inside your heating and cooling unit
• Increased bacteria in your home
• Expensive mechanical failures for your HVAC unit
• Reduced performance of your heating and cooling system

Know when it’s time to change your humidifier water panel to keep your indoor air quality at its healthiest. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers affordable, quality humidifiers that work with your current heating and cooling system for optimum efficiency. Contact us today to find out more!

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