Fall 2011
Humidify For Your Health
Winter is approaching, and that means dry air. Aside from causing itchy, dry skin and chapped lips, air that is too dry presents other health concerns. Keeping the air in your home moist with a humidifier can counteract these effects and help keep your family healthy. The result is an effective, low cost contribution to your family’s health and comfort.
Benefits of Humidification
Keeping the air in your home at a properly humidity level provides several health benefits, such as:
- Increased energy levels. Your body has more trouble transferring oxygen to the blood from dry air, which can make you feel tired or fatigued. Humidification helps the oxygenation process.
- Reduced chance of infections. By keeping mucus membranes moist, humid air reduces your body’s susceptibility to cold, flu and other infections.
- Relief of cold and sinus symptoms, as well as shorter recovery time from these ailments.
- Reduction of asthma symptoms.
- Facilitates sleep, especially for infants and young children.
- Helps prevent nosebleeds.
- Reduces levels of airborne dust and allergens.
In addition to all these potential health benefits, moist air can also extend the life of wooden floors and furniture, as well as reducing static electricity.
Please note that while humidifiers have health benefits, they are not meant to cure, treat or diagnose any illness or ailment. Humidifiers can help keep you from getting sick, and help relieve symptoms, but you should still seek professional treatment from a doctor if you or anyone in your family is feeling ill.
Finally, keep in mind that humidifiers are not without risk. Air that is too humid can create water damage, and the hot steam from a humidifier can cause injury.
Humidifying the Whole House
Much like air conditioners, humidifiers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can get a small model for a single room, such as a nursery or bedroom. You can also get a humidification system which covers your entire home.
A whole house humidification system is incorporated into your HVAC system to deliver moist air throughout your home in winter or any other dry times. These systems can be particularly helpful if you live in the desert or any area with a dry climate.
Whole house humidification requires professional installation, so consult with a licensed contractor in your area. He can help you choose the right model for your needs, which will help keep your family safe and comfortable year round.
$1.2 million available to all Montgomery County Residents
In an ongoing effort to keep our clients informed on what is happening in your neighborhood, Tuckers A/C & Heating is excited to share with you a new Montgomery County , Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program. The Program offers incentives to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, heating and cooling systems, and appliances. Owners of single family properties and condominiums can apply for up to $3,000 of funding per residence. The minimum rebate size is $500 (typically a $2,000 to $3,000 project). The program has $1.2 million available and expects to serve approximately 300 to 500 residents.
In order to be eligible, each applicant must have an energy audit from an auditor participating in the Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR or a utility (e.g., Pepco, BG&E, Potomac Edison) program. Homeowners are also encouraged to use these funds in concert with other incentives available from utilities, the Maryland Energy Administration, Manufacturer Rebates and others. Funding will be available on a first come, first serve basis until funds are exhausted. Detailed information on the program, audit requirements, as well as links to other sources of funding is located on the website www.mcenergyfunding.com.
Montgomery County homeowners are working to improve energy efficiency through projects that are partially paid for by the county. Eric Coffman, senior energy planner with the county’s Department of Environmental Protection, said the rebates are part of a federal grant that also has paid for $2.5 million in improvements to county government buildings. The final county rebate to come from the federal grant will provide an additional $1.2 million to homeowners who agree to complete energy-efficiency projects in their homes.
Coffman said the county already has approved 69 applications for projects, totaling about $150,000. Homeowners can apply for rebates of as much as $3,000 for projects such as HVAC equipment. He said the average homeowner in a single-family home could save between up to 40 percent annually on energy costs by completing such a project in conjunction with other projects.
“This program is allowing homeowners to look at their homes as an entire envelop. A properly insulated home, along with high efficiency heating and cooling systems can dramatically change utility usage,” says Ken Tucker, Owner of Tuckers Air Conditioning and Heating.
Coffman said the county’s focus on energy efficiency is part of its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. He said his office is in the process of analyzing how much progress the county has made toward its goal.
If you have any questions regarding this Montgomery County program or any other comfort concerns please give our sales department a call @ 301 670-0034.
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