Air Intelligence by Field Controls

We all live in separate environments every day. There’s the air outside our homes. Then, there is the air inside our homes. On this episode of the AirIQ Podcast, Tim Begoske, Midwest Regional Manager for Field Controls, sat down with Sean Heath to discuss the need to pay close attention to the air we allow into our living spaces.

There is a general knowledge gap when it comes to HVAC systems from the homeowner’s perspective, Begoske said.

“We have several exhaust systems in our homes,” Begoske said. “What takes place is that you have a pressure differential in the building, so the building is slightly negative compared to outdoors. What happens, then, is that air migrates into the space from places that may not be so friendly from a healthy perspective, such as the garage when you open the door and walk in.”

Properly monitoring and managing the air as it enters the home has multiple benefits, Begoske explained.

“Adding air from a known source that is far less likely to have contaminants in it and then also driving that through the HVAC appliance to heat it, cool it, humidify it, dehumidify it, filter it and then bring it into the space is far more healthy for the occupants," he said. "And the house, visibly, actually gets cleaner.”

John Cotton, Tech Support and Project Coordinator at Field Controls, returned to the AirIQ podcast to talk about the importance of proper installation and service of power venters. Power venters are a cost-saving alternative to traditional chimney exhaust systems.

“Gas and oil-fired appliances, such as furnaces, boilers, and water heaters, use power venters,” Cotton said.

“If the power venter is properly set up and adjusted, it’s going to keep the efficiency of the appliance up to where it needs to be,” he added. “It will also pull a consistent draft every time.”

If someone has a degraded chimney and does not want to go through the process and expense of rebuilding that system, Cotton recommended power venters as a cost-saving alternative.

Proper setup and adjustment of the power venter are required to maintain the efficiency of the system.

"At the back of the power venter there’s a manual butterfly damper used for the rough draft setting. The appliance needs to run a good five minutes to establish the correct draft," Cotton said.

He continued to walk through the necessary steps for the setup process, recommending the solution for a well-running power venter: maintenance.

“The power venter should be cleaned and lubricated annually,” he said. “If the appliance the power venter supports is serviced, the power venter should be as well.”

John Cotton, Tech Support and Project Coordinator at Field Controls, spoke on this episode of AirIQ about the benefits of installing an indoor steam humidifier. Indoor heating systems draw moisture out of the air and adds personal discomfort, drying of the skin, and static build-up that can cause damage to electronics.

Cotton recommended the installation of a steam humidifier to solve dry-air issues. Steam humidifiers deliver a regulated flow of humidified air, which provides comfort, and prevents wood from drying out.

“The proper installation of a steam humidification system is important,” Cotton said. “People need to ensure there is the correct-sized ductwork set up, so the humidifier doesn’t restrict the airflow of the system, and cause poor airflow.”

Cotton recommended 20x19 ductwork for the steam humidifier to perform effectively. There are different steam humidification units available, depending on the size of the home.

Each steam humidifier comes with a regulator that a person can control the humidity output levels. The unit shuts down when it reaches the optimum humidity level. For steam humidification maintenance, Cotton said the unit self-drains water build-up every 24-hours to reduce mineral growth inside the unit, and there is a zinc anode inside that draws the minerals to it.

Cotton recommended replacing the zinc anode annually. Use a vinegar/water cleaning solution to clean the unit as necessary.