visualizing hope

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Visualizing Hope – First Of Its Kind Humidity Control Plan Unveiled

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Dr. Jeff Gusky has been at the forefront of the conversation around using humidification to combat COVID-19. Dr. Gusky, who also works as an emergency room physician, first made headlines when he started measuring humidity in indoor space throughout the Dallas area nearly six months ago.

Visualizing Hope to Help Visualize Healthy Air

His most recent initiative, Visualizing HopeTM, is the first of its kind in the United States. Roma, Texas, a small border town, has installed sensors inside several municipal buildings and businesses to measure the real-time absolute humidity. Dr. Gusky, who works in Dallas, collaborated with local physicians in the county to initiate this project.

According to the city’s website, residents can also check the absolute humidity levels on their smartphones and decide to visit places with safer air.

Absolute humidity measures the total amount of moisture in the air and unlike relative humidity, it does not take temperature into consideration and ranges from 0-30. Good, indicated by green on the above map, ranges from 10-24.

Relative humidity on the other hand, which is a measure of the percentage of water vapor in the air, does take temperature into consideration. The optimal range for relative humidity is 30-60 percent.

Dr. Gusky’s hope is that by helping people visualize Healthy Air with a color-coded map, they will be encouraged to be more aware of air quality and the important role that it plays.

Dry indoor air is a catalyst for transmitting airborne viruses. The body’s immune response and its initial defense system which consists of cilia and mucous membranes in the nose decreases in dry air. In addition, airborne viruses in dry air are smaller and lighter than their humidified counterparts. This means they are suspended in the air longer and can travel farther distances. They are also harder to detect and stand a better chance of getting past your body’s natural line of defense.

From his research, Dr. Gusky found that absolute humidity “turns on cell-mediated immunity in our lungs.” This activation involves white blood cells, which help the body fight disease and improve the body’s immune response.

“The answer as to why hundreds and millions of people in the poorest places on earth have an immunity to the virus is because there is a different kind of herd immunity, said Dr. Gusky. “There is another branch of immune system that doesn’t have to be educated by either a vaccine or becoming infected…It’s called cell-mediated immunity.”

Keeping your home’s air properly humidified is important in restricting the transmission of airborne viruses.

Products to Humidify Your Home

An Aprilaire humidifier can help make sure the air in your home is properly moisturized. With a myriad of offerings to fit your needs, you can easily combat dry winter air. For added convenience, our humidifiers come with dual sensors to monitor the humidity inside the home and the temperature outside so you can set the humidity you want and forget it. Each humidifier is designed and manufactured in the United States and comes with a 5-year warranty.

For the most effective virus protection, consider investing in a whole-home Aprilaire Healthy Air System™. The Healthy Air System offers a three-part award-winning approach to virus protection complete with humidity control, fresh air ventilation, and air filtration. The system also has a suite of applications beyond virus protection to help make the air inside your home healthy.

To get started, contact a Healthy Air Professional in your area and let them know you want Healthy Air Solutions in your home.

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Healthy Humidity |

FAQs: Aprilaire Dehumidifiers

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What size unit do I need for my house?

The sizing chart below will help you determine which Aprilaire dehumidifier is best for your home, but please consult with a Healthy Air Pro before making any purchases. 

Sizing recommendations are based on homes with tight envelopes and forced air systems that complete 0.5 ACH (air changes per hour). In regions with high humidity, homes will require dehumidifiers to remove more moisture from the air. This will require the use of a higher-capacity Aprilaire dehumidifier. Please contact your local Healthy Air Pro to help you find the right dehumidifier for your home. 

Crawl SpaceSmall Home/BasementWhole-Home/BasementWhole-Home/Basement
Up to 2,800 Sq. Ft.*Up to 3,800 Sq. Ft.*Up to 5,200 Sq. Ft.Up to 7,200 Sq. Ft.
70 Pints/Day70 Pints/Day95 Pints/Day130 Pints/Day
18201830 18501870
*The maximum square footage associated with the Model 1820 pertains to just the area of a crawl space and not the whole home. 
How often do I need to change the filter?

The filter does not need to be replaced. It is a cleanable filter and should last the lifetime of the Aprilaire dehumidifier. After installation, the air filter should be cleaned every six months. The CLEAN FILTER service reminder will display on the on-board control screen every six months as a reminder. 

If the filter is damaged, you can purchase a replacement at our shop.

Filter Cleaning Procedure 

  1. Turn the ON/OFF switch OFF. 
  2. From either side of the dehumidifier, remove the filter access door.
  3. Slide the filter out of the dehumidifier. 
  4. Flush the filter with warm water and a mild detergent solution. 
  5. Shake off the excess water from the filter. 
  6. Place the newly cleaned filter into the unit, making sure the filter is secured in both the top and bottom filter rails.
  7. Replace the filter access door. 
  8. Turn the ON/OFF switch ON. 
  9. Press the UP and DOWN buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds to clear the service message.

Display Codes on Your Aprilaire Dehumidifier

Please note: When your dehumidifier is displaying a code, it has stopped working. Please contact your installing Healthy Air Pro to remedy all display codes except E8.

I’m seeing an E2 on my dehumidifier’s display. What does E2 mean? 

An E2 code means high refrigeration temperature. There are several reasons for an E2 code, but high refrigeration temperature generally results from poor airflow through the dehumidifier which could be a result of a dirty filter, restricted air ducts, or a fan experiencing some kind of mechanical issue. To remedy this issue, please contact your installing Healthy Air Pro. 

I’m seeing an E3 on my dehumidifier’s display. What does E3 mean? 

It means that your Aprilaire dehumidifier has been configured to look for a Model 76 Digital Wall Mount Dehumidifier Control and it cannot locate one. Either the setting is wrong or the Model 76 is not reachable. To remedy this issue, please contact your installing Healthy Air Pro.

I’m seeing an E4 on my dehumidifier’s display. What does E4 mean? 

This means your Aprilaire dehumidifier is having a difficult time reaching its desired set point. To clear this code, turn off the power to the dehumidifier using the ON/OFF switch, which is located near where the power cord enters the dehumidifier. You can also unplug the dehumidifier. If the problem persists, contact your installing Healthy Air Pro. 

I’m seeing an E7 on my dehumidifier’s display. What does E7 mean? 

It means that the float switch safety is reading a fault mode (open). Check the float switch connection at the control board. If you are not using a float switch, verify the jumper is between float switch terminals on the dehumidifier control board. To remedy this issue, please contact your installing Healthy Air Pro

I’m seeing an E8 on my dehumidifier’s display. What does E8 mean? 

It means that the incoming air conditions are out of range for dehumidification. It is self-correcting. The E8 code will display if the incoming air temperature is below 50°F or above 104°F. The code will also display when the dew point is below 40°F. When the incoming air is within the acceptable range, your Aprilaire dehumidifier will resume operation.

Does my Aprilaire dehumidifier come with a drain hose? 

Aprilaire models 1820, 1852, and 1872 come with a 10-foot drain hose.

Can I run my Aprilaire dehumidifier in the winter?  

Yes, if the air temperature is 50°F or above. Otherwise, you may see an E8 code display. 

If I install the unit myself in a crawl space where no extra wiring is needed, will it void the warranty?

Due to the professional nature of our products, the warranty is void if a qualified Contractor does not install the product and there is a defect related to the installation. Our heavy-duty, professional-grade dehumidifiers are designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. by Aprilaire and warrantied to be free from defects in materials or workmanship. Full warranty details and limitations are found here. If you have any further questions about your warranty, feel free to contact us at support@aprilaire.com or by calling 1-800-334-6011.

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AA Homepage Articles | Healthy Humidity |

Resolving Flooded Homes from Winter Weather

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Unusual winter weather stretched across much of the country in February 2021 leaving many without water or power for days. For some, burst pipes can lead to flooded homes. No matter the season, floods can cripple a home as the rushing water can destroy furnishings and damage the home’s foundation. Even after you’ve cleaned up your home from the resulting damage, lingering moisture inside your drywall or insulation can lead to major health problems primarily from mold and mildew outbreaks.

Health Risks Due to Flooded Homes

Sensitivity to these allergens varies from person to person, but for those with respiratory issues like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma, a mold outbreak can lead to severely impacted breathing. For others with milder symptoms, you may experience wheezing, coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes. 

Excess moisture is also an invitation for pests and rodents due to newly formed cracks in your foundation. These critters are notorious for creating damage and are carriers of the disease. 

Airborne viruses, like COVID-19 and influenza, and bacteria also thrive in excess moisture leading to poor Indoor Air Quality inside your home. Air that is too moist can lead to higher transmission rates inside the home. 

Leftover excess moisture may be hard to spot. In fact, your first clue that something is wrong will be the smell. Musty odors are a typical sign that your home has excess moisture. 

How Aprilaire Can Help

Getting a Healthy Waterproofing expert into your home to check on damage is a must to make sure that any cracks in your foundation are sealed.

Secondly, an Aprilaire dehumidifier will help remove that excess moisture inside your home remedying any poor Indoor Air Quality issues resulting from flooding. Maintaining Healthy Humidity inside your home will help remove those airborne pollutants like mold, mildew, pests, and airborne viruses leading to Healthy Air throughout by helping you maintain humidity in the ideal range of 30-60%.

Healthy Humidity Plays a Key Role in Wellness
Breathe Healthy Air no matter when or where.

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Additionally, an Aprilaire fresh air ventilation system can also help dilute harmful airborne contaminants in your home’s air by bringing in fresh air from the outside. This system can also help with any excess moisture inside your home.

To make sure your home’s humidity is properly maintained and there are not any resulting humidity issues due to a burst pipe, find a local Aprilaire Healthy Waterproofing expert today. 

Healthy Air Is on the Way

Find an Aprilaire professional near you.

State of the Air

For more information on maintaining Healthy Air inside your home after a weather event, check out our State of the Air website. 

 

 

 

AA Homepage Articles | News |

Experiencing the Fight For Air Climb

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Before the Fight For Air Climb

Entering the US Bank Center for the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb was a rush of energy.

This seemed less like an arduous trek up 1,000 stairs and more of an indoor festival. There were volunteers ready to greet you and pump you up for the ensuing climb and people from different companies sitting at tables ready to hand out souvenirs.

They were probably also there to distract you after you just got done instinctively looking up toward the top of the 47-story US Bank Center in downtown Milwaukee becoming a little uneasy at the prospect of your journey upward.

Before you made your climb, you gathered as a team and took several escalators down to the basement level before getting warmed up with a quick aerobic routine. Then you took a long and winding tunnel where you greeted by more volunteers who were cheering you on. It was hard not to feel inspired and excited.

During the Fight For Air Climb

One-by-one people took off up toward the top of the US Bank Center to begin their Fight For Air Climb. I, like most, started off confidently and quickly. I took the first six flights easily, but then by flight eight, I began to fight for air. I now understand why they title this climb just that. My mind and my body were at odds. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to continue at the same pace to get it over with as quickly as possible or to slow down and feel better. I went with the former.

Everyone in the stairwell was trudging onward with the same dilemma. We all were gasping for air as we kept pushing up each step and each flight toward the top of the Fight For Air Climb. At several points, I wondered if I was actually making any progress.

Every 10 flights there was a group of volunteers handing out cups of water and words of encouragement. Both were sorely needed to help push me along.

With each passing flight, I kept a tally of how many flights I had left. Twenty flights down, 27 more flights to go; 30 flights down, 17 flights to go; Ok, 40 flights down, 7 to go. By the time I got to the 40th floor, I knew I could make the last push to make it to the top of my Fight For Air Climb journey.

After the Fight For Air Climb

Eventually, I reached the top after 9 minutes and 31 seconds. At the top of the stairwell, I was met by volunteers who were cheering me on and by other climbers who were also catching their breath and taking in the picturesque views of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan afforded to us by the tallest building in Wisconsin.

As I grabbed a water and walked around soaking in both the views of the city and my accomplishment, it was really cool to watch teams taking pictures together or greeting other climbers with high-fives and smiles. There was a certain camaraderie found in a common struggle.

Despite the lingering soreness, I cannot wait for next year’s climb. No matter if I beat my time from this year or not, it’s about fighting for air together and helping those impacted with lung disease.

To join an upcoming climb in a city near you, visit www.lung.org/aprilaire.

Healthy Air | News |

Aprilaire Partner Contractor Joins Fight For Air Climb

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“What can you do or say when your family is suffering such losses? It’s devastating,” said Christopher Ciongoli, HVAC salesman/estimator with Aprilaire partner Whalen & Ives.

Chris is participating in the NYC American Lung Association Fight For Air Climb on April 4, 2020. When he heard that Aprilaire was the national Healthy Air sponsor of the event he signed on to the Aprilaire team.

“An opportunity to make difference just appeared to me on Jan 10th in an email from Aprilaire informing me about the Fight for Air Climb. This was it. This is how I would help make a difference and support my wife as well as so many others that are impacted by lung disease”.

Lung disease became an all too familiar fixture in Chris’s life last year when his brother-in-law, mother-in-law, and father-in-law all died from lung disease.

As of February 7, he’s raised 90 percent of his fundraising goal. Not only is Chris excited to help raise funds and awareness, he told us he’s already reaping the benefits of training for the 849-step climb.

“My blood pressure has dropped, my pants are getting loose, and my dog Crosby is getting back in shape too!”

Every morning he goes out with dog Crosby and strengthens his legs and increases his stamina to make sure he can make it to the 44th floor of the 1290 Avenue of Americas building in New York City.

Read more of Chris’s incredible journey by going to his page. Thank you for your efforts, Chris and we cannot wait to hear more.

For more information about the Fight For Air Climb and to find an event in your area, go to https://www.lung.org/aprilaire. To learn how to train for your own climb, head to our page where we share training tips to help you prepare for your own Fight For Air Climb.

It’s Time to Care About Healthy Air
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flights

AA Homepage Articles | News |

Experts Say Flights Can Resume, But Bring Increased Risks

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Air quality experts say that it is safe to resume flying, but travelers must take advanced precautions before traveling like taking shorter flights when possible, wearing masks, and social distancing. 

In an opinion piece for The Washington Post, Joseph Allen, an assistant professor of exposure assessment science at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, makes the case that airplanes do not make you sick. In fact, airplanes have comparable levels of air filtration and fresh air ventilation to a health care facility. 

Flights May Be Less Comfortable With Recommendations

He argues that airlines should continue disinfecting high-touch areas such as armrests and tray tables, stop in-flight food service, mandate mask-wearing, and ask patrons to keep their above ventilation fan on throughout the flight. While these adjustments make flying less enjoyable, they can help reduce in-flight virus transmission. Masks are currently required on public transportation. 

Allen is not the only one saying it is safe to resume flying. 

‘Safer Than Eating At A Restaurant’

Linsey Marr, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech, in a CNN article writes, “When HEPA ventilation systems are running on a plane and everyone is masked, the risk of Covid-19 is greatly reduced and makes air travel on a big jet safer than eating at a restaurant.”

Activities Create Biggest Risks

She and Allen argue that the biggest risks in airline travel stem from activities like the pre-flight boarding process or when a flight is delayed and people are stuck on the plane. Marr, who has been wearing an air quality monitor when she travels, said CO2 levels are elevated during these aforementioned activities and are indicative of a lack of fresh air ventilation. 

Marr told CNN that “A CO2 (carbon dioxide) level of 3,000 ppm means that for every breath I take in, about 7% of the air is other people’s exhaled breath…like drinking someone else’s backwash!”

The airport also presents other problems for travelers.

Allen suggests airports create more touchless experiences, upgrade their HVAC system, and require masks. Some updates have already been implemented in some airports or will be implemented in the future. 

Other experts suggest carrying your own personal hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and sticking to shorter flights. 

Even though there are risks to flying, Marr and Allen say you are clear for takeoff this summer.