This information can clarify and help answer soome questions.
Heating basics: Forced air systems have become increasingly
energy efficient in the last decade. If your system may have cooled
better days and nights years ago, you may want to consider having
it completely replaced. If your service professional is tying into
an existing system, the older system's age will help determine its
compatibility with the newer system.
Air cleaners: Broadly, air cleaners work by mechanical
filtration, electrical attraction or a combination of the two techniques.
Mechanical or "media" filters strain dust from the air
as a fan propels the air through the filter membrane. Electrical-attraction
cleaners use a principle similar to "static cling" they
charge particles in the air or a collection device in the filter
(or both) to create a magnetic attraction between particles and
filter.
Electronic air cleaners, which can extract 30 times as much dust
as ordinary filters, cost a lot more. In fact, a professionally
installed air cleaner costs $500 to $750, including installation.
While this is a substantial amount of money, it's worth every penny
if it offers significant breathing relief to one or more people
in your household. But if the price is too steep for you, portable
units can be purchased for far less. Of course, the smaller units
clean just the air in one room - much like a window air conditioner
cools only one room. Electronic air cleaners only need to be cleaned
once a year or so because they incinerate the trapped dust.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) certifies
some portable air cleaners with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR).
This measures how many cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air is cleared
of a certain size particle. Three particle sizes are rated: smoke
(minute), dust (medium) and pollen (large). The higher the CADR
rating, the less time the unit needs to remove a given quantity
of certain particles from a specified room size. AHAM-certified
models are marked with CADR data.
Air filters: The spectrum of air filters and cleaners are
differentiated in a number of ways.
Here's a closer look at the main types:
HEPA, which stands for high efficiency particulate accumulation,
is a highly effective filter originally designed for removing radioactive
particles from air. Today HEPA filters are used in military, industrial
and scientific applications and in some portable and room-size residential
home air filters. Unfortunately, high replacement cost is a real
disadvantage to HEPA filters they generally must be replaced once
every year to 18 months, depending upon use, and they typically
cost from $75 to $135. And because the filters are so dense, they
require a strong blower to move air through, racking up higher energy
costs (though typically less than 10 cents a day). The larger the
surface area of a HEPA, the better so find out it's square footage
before buying one.
"HEPA-type" filters are not HEPA filters, but some of
the pleated types are almost as effective. A filter with this label
means that it has not met the rigorous standards of a genuine HEPA.
Most range from 25 percent to 95 percent effective at microscopic
particle removal. Before buying one, be sure you know how good it
is at blocking respirable-size particles. With continuous use, HEPA-type
filters must be replaced every year at a cost up to $450.
Thermostats: Whatever kind of heating system you have,
don't be shy about upgrading to the most modern thermostat available.
Look for one that is versatile and easy to operate. You will want
a unit that is sophisticated enough to automatically turn your heating
or cooling system on and off based on your lifestyle and work schedule.
A humidifier helps ease skin and nasal irritations and can prevent
dry-house problmes, such as shrinking wood joints. But if not kept
clean, humidifiers can spew bacteria, mold, and mineral dust into
the air. One of the safest types is the wicking-filter evaporative
unit with disposable floating filters kept wet and a fan that distributes
the vapor evaporating off them. You must periodically replace the
filters and clean the tank with an antibacterial solution..
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