Humidifier Maintenance III: Using tap water for your Humidifier

Many people ask the question: Can I use tap water in my humidifier? According to the Federal government, using tap water does not lead to serious health risks. However, using tap water may lead to the release of minerals into the air. The minerals in tap water may also increase the development of crusty deposits or white dust that may irritate the consumers using these devises.

To avoid the white dust, there are other options:
• Use “Distilled” water. While distilled water still contains some mineral content, it will likely contain lower mineral content than most tap water.
• Use “Purified” water. Water demineralized, but would be expected to contain a higher mineral content than distilled waters.
(Be aware, however, that not all bottled water is produced using demineralization processes. Bottled waters labeled “spring”, “artesian” or “mineral” have not been treated to remove mineral content.)
• Consider using demineralization cartridges, cassettes, or filters if supplied or recommended for use with your humidifier. This may be slightly more expensive than distilled water.
• You can also use highly recommended water tablets that will help to ensure that your humidifier emits clean air and works efficiently. Visit FiltersUSA for more information on the humidifier tablets.

Humidifier Maintenance Part II

Now that you know you know you should maintain your humidifier, here are some directions on how to do it for an Aprilaire humidifier!

1. Turn Humidifier Control setting dial to the “OFF” position.
2. Disconnect electrical power and turn off water supply.
3. Unlatch humidifier front cover assembly from base assembly at the bottom of the cover, lift, and set aside.
4. Pull out the water panel evaporator assembly by grasping at the top and tipping out.
5. Unsnap the distribution tray (4) from the scale control insert. Follow the instructions below depending upon the type of distribution tray in your humidifier:
• For trays with a synthetic fabric liner: Lightly scrape out or brush off any mineral deposits, being careful not to stretch or loosen the synthetic fabric liner. Soaking the tray in vinegar or a lime-removing agent is helpful when trying to remove stubborn mineral deposits.
• For trays with granular coating: Do not scrape off the granular coating, but lightly scrape out any mineral deposits and clean the “V” notches. This textured surface helps ensure even water flow for maximum performance. See page 2 if removed.
6. Slide the Water Panel evaporator out from the scale control insert. Clean the scale control insert of mineral deposits. Replace the Water Panel evaporator with a new Genuine Aprilaire Water Panel. Slide the Water Panel evaporator back into the scale control insert with the colored spot up and snap the distribution tray back into place.
7. Inspect the plastic feed tube by gently flexing it and looking for cracks or signs of wear.
Replace tube if it is cracked, brittle, or has been damaged.
8. Reinstall the Water Panel evaporator assembly into the humidifier by fitting its drain into the round receptacle at the base of the humidifier. Push the assembly in at the top between the retaining ribs that hold the assembly in place in a vertical position.
9. Remove the drain line from the bottom of the humidifier. If applicable, flex it to loosen any mineral deposits or blockage. Then flush it with water under pressure. If it does not clear, replace it. Slip the drain line back onto the drain fitting. Make sure the drain line has a constant downward slope and is not flattened or blocked.
10. Reinstall front cover assembly by hooking at the top of the base assembly (2) and latching at the bottom.
11. Reconnect electrical power and turn on the water supply.
12. Check system operation.
• Humidifier Control: (Automatic or Manual) Check system operation and reset change water panel indicator by setting the knob to “Test/Reset”. With furnace blower operating and furnace calling for heat, humidifier will operate for one minute. DO NOT LEAVE IN TEST MODE AS HUMIDIFIER WILL NOT OPERATE.
13. Set Humidifier Control to its original position.

Humidifier Maintenance Part I

As we are approaching cooler months, it is important to make sure that you have regular maintenance on your humidifier. Don’t worry, you do not need to bring it in to professionals. Maintaining your humidifier can be simple. In this post series, we will discuss how and why to maintain your humidifier.

Most models, for example the Aprilaire Humidifiers, are equipped with a water delivery system. Within this system includes a water tube, strainer and orfice. These are the parts that need to be inspected and cleaned periodically to ensure the quality and efficiency of your machine.

Cleaning your model should be done at least every 1-2 weeks. If you see “white dust,” you will need to inspect your humidifier more often. The dust is a byproduct of minerals found naturally in water, which can sometimes be released into the air during the humidification process. White dust is not harmful, and may settle on surfaces and furniture near the humidifier.

Benefits of Using Refigerator Filters for Your Water

1. Refrigerator filters provide better tasting and better smelling drinking water by removing harmful mineral and bacterial contaminants.
2. These filters can also remove lead from drinking water prior to consumption, thus preventing this harmful substance from entering the body.
3. The purchase of a new filter every 30-45 days results in a source of clean, healthy water that costs much less than bottled water.
4. Drinking clean, filtered water protects the body from disease and leads to overall greater health.
5. A water filter provides clean, healthy water for cooking, as well as drinking, at the convenience of your own refrigerator tap water.
6. Refrigerator water filters offer the last line of defense between the body and the over 2100 known toxins that may be present in drinking water.
7. By using your own filtered water instead of bottled water, you can help the environment by limiting the amount of pollution from plastic bottles.

Without you could be spending a lot of money on bottled water or even worse, risking your health by drinking contaminated water. By simply purchasing refrigerator water filters regularly, you can ensure that you have an efficient source of water that benefits everyone.

Water Filters Save You Money

Did you know that you know how important refrigerator water filtration is for your home or office? Water filters have the task of delivering clean, fresh-tasting water straight to your glass and some may even reduce lead, sediments, and chlorine taste and odors from the water.

By simply changing the filters every 3 months, you could have an efficient water cleaning system. Wait any longer and you may find that it takes much more energy and time to filter your drinking water.
Refrigerator water filters can also save you money. Stop purchasing water bottles or water jugs when you can have fresh and clean water straight from your refrigerator.

Using refrigerator water filters is a no brainer to save money and stay healthy.

End of Summer Allergies – Use Allergy Zone Filters

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, seasonal allergies affect more than 35 million Americans. Allergies that occur in the end of the summer during the months of August and September are often due to pollen and molds.

Plant and Tree Pollen
Various plants, including flowers, and trees pollinate in August and September and in some warmer climates the pollinating season can last year-round. Pollen is often transported in the air through insects and birds, which helps to fertilize the plants. Other types of flowers and tree produce colorful petals with dry pollen that is spread by the wind.
Weed or Grass Pollen
Grass and weeds produce pollen that is airborne, and this type of seasonal allergy is commonly called hay fever caused by the ragweed pollen. This pollen is carried into the wind to fertilize other plants and land elsewhere. These pollens often enter the indoors through open windows, pets or simply being carried in through clothing after being outside.
Molds
Mold spores can be found indoors as well as outside. Common outdoor sources of allergies include fungi species found naturally in the environment, molding soil or rotting wood. Inside, mold can grow in any warm climate that provides moisture as well. As soon as temperatures increase, mold can begin growing and emitting spores into the environment. Climates that are warm year-round aggravate individuals with mold allergies

Although the season’s symptom causing pollens and molds are inevitable. You can help to keep the air fresh in your home with the help of Allery Zone filters. Allergy Zone Filters produces high quality filters that help to remove the harmful bacteria in your air. These filters are exclusively designed and recommended by leading allergy & asthma physicians and are 500% more effective than fiberglass filters.

Remove Indoor Air Pollution With Portable Air Cleaners

Did you know that indoor air, not just outdoor air, can be polluted? Just because you’re inside of your home or business doesn’t mean you’re safe from unhealthy air particles, such as pollen, dust and dander to name a few. In order to have clean air, a home must have a portable room air cleaner to help remove unwanted air particles.

What benefits are there in buying a portable room air cleaner?

Benefits Of A Portable Room Air Cleaner
Portable air cleaners can reduce the effects of unhealthy solid or liquid particles in the air such as dust mites to bacteria in the air. Portable room air cleaners can also remove other types of small particles such as those of tobacco smoke.

How it Works
Air purifier and cleaners generally have a built-in fan which serves to circulate the air in a specific room of the home and include a filtration system which captures and destroys the various pollutants in the air that is passed through the filter. To clean the air, the room air is drawn into the air purifier and cleaners and is trapped through the use of air filters. Clean air is then returned to the room once it has been refreshed.

There are a variety of portable air cleaners available for purchase. Remember to check your room size that you would like to clean to ensure that your air cleaner works at its highest efficiency.

Staying Cool without Breaking the Bank

Are you beating the heat with air conditioning this summer, but facing high-priced utility bills. Did you know you could save 30% on your bills by following a few easy rules to live by.

Change your air filters each month

When air filters become dirty, your air conditioning system does not maximize its efficiency. Although your system may appear to be working, dirty filters will restrict the air flow in your cooling system. The dirty filter will contaminate the system causing strain on your system’s air flow. This contaminated and restricted air flow will cause the system to take longer to cool your home. It will also require more energy to run, in effect, raising your utility bills.

By changing your air filters every 30 days, your air conditioning system will be most efficient. You will save the time to cool your home and lower the price of your bill.

Change your ceiling fan direction to cool down a room

In the summer months, your fan should be set in a counterclockwise motion, pushing the air downward. By setting the ceiling fan in a counterclockwise motion, you will create a direct draft on the room below. This will create a breeze of air to cool the people in the room.
Don’t forget to turn off the fan when you leave the room!

Keep you blinds and windows closed

By keeping your blinds closed in the summer time, you can block the heat from coming into your home. Although your windows and doors will help to keep the outdoor air out, sun will radiate through the window into your home, heating it up.

In addition, keeping your windows closed and locked will help to prevent any hot air creeping inside your home. When the heat slips into your house, you a/c system will work harder to cool it down.

Suffering from Allergies? Try Updating your Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner!

Air purifiers convert dirty air into fresh and clean air, freeing the air from pollutants and contaminants. If you have allergies or suffer from asthma, chances are you need an air purifier such as the Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner.

If you have a Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner that doesn’t work well, you can convert it to a HEPA system that accept a Honeywell media filter as an efficient and affordable alternative! HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air, which means that it filters the air at a high efficiency.

STEP 1: To avoid injury or death, TURN OFF THE POWER! It is the switch in the front of the Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner. Remove the cover and slide out the electric cells.

STEP 2: Remove the prefilters by sliding them out.

STEP 3: Remove the electronic cell guide screw in the middle.

STEP 4: Slide in a Genuine Honeywell HEPA filter. To find your HEPA filter size, put both cells together and measure. Replace the cover. Leave the power to the unit in the OFF position.

Looking for HEPA filters for your system? FiltersUSA.com sells a variety of affordable filters at http://www.filtersusa.com//whole-house-filters/index.cfm?refsrc=blog.

Aprilaire Upgrade Kit – 2200 & 2400

Do you know how important it is to keep the air in your home and office fresh and clean? On average, a person can breathe approximately 35 pounds of air everyday. Unfortunately, the American Lung Association and the Environmental Protection Agency rates indoor air pollution among the top environmental health risks, since people spend about 90% of their time indoors.

If you already have an Aprilaire 2200 or 2400 Air Cleaner in your home, you’re already on the right track to keeping your indoor air clean. However, did you know that there’s an upgrade kit to make your system even more efficient? Not only will it help clean your air better, but it will help to increase the life of your system.

It’s an easy upgrade that can be appended to your existing system that will remove more dust, pollen, pet dander, and invisible particles such as smoke and viruses from your air. The upgrade is simple an will only take you a short amount of time to implement.

Purchase your Aprilaire Upgrade Kit today and see the effects of your more efficient system immediately.