Healthy Humidity | Family |

Why a Humidifier is a Must-Have For Babies

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Diapers, bottles, wipes, and everything else your baby needs is ready. But there’s one item that is often overlooked: a humidifier.

Your Baby’s Best Sleep

Hoping your baby will sleep through the night? Babies are much more susceptible to congestion than you are and are too young to take medicine to help relieve their symptoms. One of the major benefits of a humidifier is protection from dry air, especially in the chilly winter months when babies often become ill. A humidifier will let your baby breathe easy and help get rid of pesky mucus build-up.

Bye-Bye Bugs

Everyone knows that come winter, the dreaded cold and flu season arrives. The reason for this lies invisible in the air we breathe. Dry air is a host for bacteria and viruses, which multiply and linger for days. In humid air, these particles remain dense and sink to the floor. By maintaining a Relative Humidity level of between 30-50%, you can keep baby healthier by preventing the spread of those pesky illnesses.

Dry Skin Be Gone

Comfort is the key to your baby’s happiness. One great benefit of a humidifier is relief from dry, irritating skin. Your baby’s skin is sensitive to dry air and can become red and chapped without proper humidification. Even the best lotion is no match for a humidifier, which keeps baby’s skin clear and soft, just as it should be.

A Gift For Everyone

When considering a humidifier for your baby, a whole-home humidifier is your best option. Portable humidifiers only treat the air in a small portion of your home and chances are, if your baby’s room is dry, the rest of your home is too. If your home has central HVAC, you can take advantage of these benefits of a whole-home humidifier:

  • Less maintenance
  • No noise
  • Energy efficient
  • Out of sight
  • Out of reach

Aprilaire helps keep your family healthy and comfortable with whole-home humidifiers that automatically maintain proper moisture levels throughout your house. And that’s the truth, baby.

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How-to Change Your Water Panel

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Proper maintenance of your humidifier is essential to avoiding dry winter air in your home. The majority of our humidifiers require a water panel change once a year, right before the heating season.

The Basics

The basic procedure is to turn off the water, remove the cover of the humidifier, pull out the old water panel and drop in a new one. Regardless of the age of your humidifier, it will take one of four Aprilaire Water Panels: 10, 12, 35, or 45. See the chart below to determine which is correct for your humidifier. You can also view the owner’s manual on our website or order one at our e-store.

The Technicalities

Each humidifier does have some unique steps you many encounter.  The best way to make sure you’re installing it correctly is to use the instructions printed on the back of the carton. These detailed instructions are just one more benefit to using genuine Aprilaire parts. The instructions are also in the manual, along with our maintenance recommendations.

The Solution

Remember, if you have any concerns or simply don’t want to, Aprilaire has a network of partner dealers who can do it for you. Some dealers will even change the part as part of their annual clean and check of your heating system. Now, that’s easy!

Healthy Home |

Uncovering 5 Common Household Myths

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You may not realize it, but you could be driving up the cost of living in your home. By practicing what these common household myths suggest, you are using more energy, not less. The good news is that you can easily adapt with these solutions.

Myth 1: Cranking Up the Heat

Myth 1: Cranking Up the Heat

Unfortunately, blasting your heat isn’t going to increase the temperature in your home any faster. Doing so wastes energy and cash. Try doing this instead:

  • Close your blinds and drapes at night in the winter to keep heat in and cold out.
  • Keep warm air registers clean and free of barriers, such as furniture and drapes.
  • Use reversible fans in the winter to circulate warm air.

Myth 2: Space Heaters Save Money

Myth 2: Space Heaters Save Money

Thinking of saving money on your heating bill by using a space heater? Think again. Space heaters use tons of energy and cost more than using a gas furnace. They can also be dangerous if used incorrectly. A better way to save money is by using a WiFi Thermostat to keep your rooms cozy and comfortable, anytime, anywhere.

Myth 3: Closing Vents and Registers Saves Energy

Myth 3: Closing Vents and Registers Saves Energy

This age-old trick has actually been costing you money. By closing off vents, your HVAC system is actually using more energy than when vents and registers are properly positioned. To save energy and money, set your thermostat a few degrees higher in summer and lower in winter, but avoid drastic increases and decreases.

Myth 4: Appliances Don't Use Energy When Turned Off

Myth 4: Appliances Don’t Use Energy When Turned Off

It’s time to get into the habit of unplugging. Even if you turn your appliances off, they will still use energy if you leave them plugged into an outlet. The more appliances that are plugged in, the more electricity you’re using.

Myth 5: Ceiling Fans Cool Rooms

Myth 5: Ceiling Fans Cool Rooms

Fans circulate the air in our rooms, which makes us feel cooler. They don’t change the temperature of the room. Turn fans off when you leave the room and save on energy costs.

Looking to save money on heating and cooling costs? Try our WiFi Thermostat. 

Healthy Humidity |

Find the Right Humidifier For Your Home

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Best Humidifier for your home

This time of year, it’s often obvious that your home’s air is thirsty — but what’s the best way to give it a drink? We have designed and manufactured many different humidifiers to help you battle dry air in your home. We have solutions for numerous  applications based on the size of your home, how you heat your home and what type of control you want. The best part is, our network of skilled HVAC partners do most the work in selecting the best product for your needs.

What makes humidifiers different?

The HVAC contractor analyzes many factors when choosing the best solution for your home. Some humidifiers need a power source while others simply rely on the HVAC blower fan. The contractor understands when to use one versus the other. As a result, the solution ultimately installed is the one that works best with the home’s HVAC system.

Whole-home humidification is available to you no matter how your house is heated. In addition, with our steam humidification solutions, even homes with boilers, mini-splits or baseboard heat can enjoy humidified air in every room of the house.

How do I personalize my humidity control?

There are important recommendations for the amount of humidity your home needs. Whole-home humidifiers allow you to monitor your humidity and adjust it based on need. To ensure the best operation, our humidifiers are available with an automatic control options. Now you’ll never need to worry if your humidity is at the right level.

All of our humidifiers are compatible with our line of Wi-Fi Thermostats with IAQ Control. You can manage the humidity level in your home from anywhere with Wi-Fi control. It’s the easiest way to protect your home and your family’s health from dry air.

If your house is hanging you out to dry this winter, contact an Aprilaire dealer today.

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5 DIY Jobs Better Left to Professional Contractors

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5 DIY jobs better left to contractors

Every now and then the King of the Castle may get the urge to repair a squeaky draw bridge himself. In the modern era of DIY superstores and internet how-to videos, many homeowners actually enjoy spending their Saturdays under the sink or putting on a coat of paint.

DIY dangers

It takes more than the right tool to do some jobs.

However, it’s important to know when DIY could spell disaster. Tradesmen spend years honing their crafts. When working on parts of your home that could place you on the wrong end of 240 volts, the city sewer system or a natural gas line — consider calling a pro. Here are five weekend warrior jobs best left to the people who do it Monday through Friday.

1. Remediation of Potentially Toxic Materials

Mold, asbestos, lead and radon are just some of the scary substances that homeowners may encounter. While removing these materials may seem straight forward enough, the tools and training are expensive and complicated. Special vacuums, safety suits and testing equipment are just some of the items required. In many cases, improper remediation by a homeowner is a greater threat to family health than doing nothing.

2. Cutting Down Trees

Falling trees is the most deadly of the dangerous jobs out there. Trees are often much taller than they look from the ground. You may think you have plenty of room — only to land General Sherman on your neighbor’s new car. Climbing in trees also requires caution and no matter how easy it seemed as a kid, just one fall can be life changing. Power lines and the inherent dangers of chainsaws also make this a task you should never tackle DIY-style.

3. Messing With the HVAC System

Your home’s HVAC system is not only important to your comfort and health, but also dangerous to work on. Furnaces and air conditioners draw large amounts of electricity and may connect to the gas line as well. Even comfort and health solutions, like Aprilaire air purifiers and humidifiers, require a trained HVAC technician. Equipment can operate incorrectly, damage other parts of the system and fall out of warranty if installed by anyone except a recognized expert.

4. Digging Up the Yard

It’s certainly okay to put a shovel in the ground in your own backyard, but you should be aware of proper protocols before you dig. All states have locating agencies that will come out and map cable, electric and gas lines on your property. This helps ensure you don’t send a pick-axe through a utility — potentially causing extensive damage and severe bodily harm.

5. Anything You’re Not Comfortable With

Everyone likes to save money by turning their own wrench now and then. However, it takes practice to do things safely and correctly and you might not want to experiment on your own house. Also, make sure doing the job yourself will actually save you money. Voiding warranties, the purchase of special tools and difficulty finding parts are main reasons that even having the knowledge might not be enough. For every job you can think of, there is likely a contractor who can help.

If you plan on working on your house this weekend, just remember to call an expert if the job warrants it. Also keep in mind that all Aprilaire products are sold by and installed by a network of HVAC dealers who understand exactly how your unique HVAC system works. Use our dealer locator to find an expert near you.

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Portable Dehumidifier Recall: Is there a fire hazard in your basement?

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Portable Dehumidifier Recall: Am I at risk?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 5.6 million dehumidifiers in two nationwide recalls due to a potential fire hazard. The dehumidifier recall includes over 60 different brands of retail dehumidifiers built over a 10-year period.

Recent media coverage shows just how real the concerns are. Hundreds of units have caught fire and resulted in $24 million in damages to homes, according to news reports. If you have a portable dehumidifier in your home, you need to make sure it’s safe.

dehumidifier recall

Recalled dehumidifiers have caught fire in hundreds of homes over the past few years.

What Should I Do? 

Unplug your dehumidifier and check the brand. Next, check the links below to see if your dehumidifier is impacted by either the 2013 or 2016 recall. After confirming your brand is in the recall, check the model number and serial number of your specific appliance. If your dehumidifier is in the recall, follow the instructions on the website for a refund or return.

Dehumidifier Recall Resources

There are two separate recalls, so please be sure and check both links. Regardless of when you purchased your dehumidifier, it could be on the list as some models date back to 2003.

 Importance of Dehumidification

Homeowners shouldn’t forget that dehumidification is still essential to a healthy, comfortable home. Excess humidity that builds up in the basement can cause mold, mildew, insect infestations and even damage the integrity of the home.  Aprilaire offers high-capacity dehumidifiers in freestanding and ducted models to help keep indoor RH in check.

If you currently own a product involved in the dehumidifier recall, be sure to replace it before humidity levels buildup in your home.

Find a Professional to Review Your Situation

An Aprilaire dealer can help install the high-capacity solution that is right for your home. Contact one today for a safe, effective solution to smelly, moldy basements!

Healthy Home | Healthy Air |

Energy Savings Cheat Sheet

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There are many things a homeowner can do to improve energy savings. Improved energy efficiency has many benefits including lower utility bills, extending the life of some home appliances, and a positive impact on the environment.

Try some of these energy savings tips to lower the burden on your checkbook this year.

Turn Off Lights and Appliances 

A simple, and often overlooked, way to control energy costs is to be more mindful of when and where you are drawing power. Unless you’re sitting in a room, there is no reason to have the light on. If family members have a hard time remembering to shut off lights, try a motion sensing switch. Devices like TVs and computers should also be turned off when not in use. Not only does this save energy, but may expand the life of the device.

Dress for the Weather — Even Indoors!

You and your family should be comfortable in your home. However, don’t rely just on the thermostat to warm up. You can keep your home at a more energy efficient temperature by wearing socks, long pants, and a long-sleeve shirt indoors when it’s cold out. If it’s not shorts and t-shirt weather outside, then it shouldn’t be inside either. Using a whole-home humidifier ensures that your home is properly humidified and even allows you to feel warmer at lower temperatures.

Use a Programmable or Smart Thermostat 

A heating and air conditioning schedule ensures you aren’t paying to improve comfort in an unoccupied space. Our Wi-Fi thermostats are a great option for many homeowners as they provide control from anywhere with your mobile device. Programmable thermostats provide $180/year in savings compared to non-programmable counterparts. They also allow peace-of-mind, because you can monitor humidity and temperature conditions in your home even when you’re not there.

Replace Furnace Filters with High-Efficiency Solutions

Air conditioners and heaters need to work harder to pull air through filters that have passed their prime. Conversely, too little filtration can also freeze coils and clog blower motors, damaging equipment and using more energy. Whole-home air purifiers with high-efficiency media can help save money on heating and cooling all year.

Use Energy Savings Settings

Dishwashers and laundry equipment often have energy efficiency settings. Don’t overlook these features. Swapping hot water for cold in the washing machine or skipping the ‘heated dry’ option on the dishwasher can add up overtime.