Aside from clean air, good indoor air quality involves controlling humidity levels in the home. Too much humidity can create an environment conducive to the growth of mold. Not enough humidity can cause serious respiratory problems.
During the cold season, more than 25 million Americans use humidifiers to make dry household air more comfortable. Make sure you're getting safe, clean humidity by following these simple guidelines:
1. Choose an evaporative type humidifier. Don't use one that creates tiny water droplets. Scientific tests prove that furnace-mounted, evaporative humidifiers do not emit bacteria or contribute to mold growth.
2. Clean your humidifier regularly. If you use a portable humidifier, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends cleaning the reservoir regularly to prevent possible mold or bacterial growth. If you use a furnace-mounted humidifier, contact your local heating and cooling contractor for an annual maintenance check and to replace the water panel.
3. Make sure your humidifier has an accurate control system. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping indoor relative humidity at 30 to 50 percent. Too much humidity can create condensation on cold windows and encourage the growth of mold and dust mites; too little causes damage to your home and furnishings.
One effective way to maintain a healthy level of humidity is by using a whole-house humidifier that fits right into your existing ventilation system.
Proper humidity levels can be achieved safely and conveniently with the Aprilaire Whole-Home Automatic Humidifier, the world's first completely automatic humidifier. The advanced computer technology measures the outdoor temperature and indoor humidity more than 86,000 times a day and continually adjusts the indoor humidity to optimum levels. This feature allows homeowners to effortlessly control humidity at the levels recommended by the EPA.
"People today expect safety, precision and convenience in their home comfort systems," said Bruce Darkow, humidifier product manager for Aprilaire. "The scientific evidence shows that when humidity is in the form of a water vapor rather than suspended droplets, homeowners can safely enjoy the wintertime comfort a humidifier provides."
