Are you looking for the best air filter for your home? It may seem that choosing the highest efficiency option would be best, but that may actually restrict airflow too much. At the same time, choosing air filters with an efficiency that is too low may fail to capture airborne allergens very effectively. What you need is to find the ideal middle ground for your furnace and your family.

The bitterly cold Massachusetts winters and stifling summers keep home comfort systems humming nonstop all year long. If you're not replacing the HVAC air filter when it's dirty, you could be causing the premature failure of your heating and cooling equipment. Clogged air filters restrict airflow and cause the system to overheat and shut down. They also allow dust to build up on interior components. Even a very thin coating of dust will reduce system efficiency. And don't forget, the air filter is your first defense against poor indoor air quality, removing harmful pollutants and allergens from your air.

Humidification, the process of manipulating the amount of moisture in the air for optimum health and comfort, is an important aspect of your total heating and cooling household operations. Here at Rodenhiser, we know how to help you achieve the best percentage of humidity for you and your home.

A whole-house humidifier, as a part of the heating system, has multiple benefits. It reduces dry, indoor air, eliminates static electricity inside the home, keeps our sinus and respiratory membranes from getting too dry and makes our winter heat feel more comfortable. A humidifier also saves us money by allowing us to cut the thermostat down a degree or two. Moist air feels warmer than dry air and the added moisture offers more comfort with less energy usage.

Dry air in the home can cause discomfort as well as respiratory problems for occupants within the home. Ideally you’ll want to strive for a 30 to 50 percent humidity level. This is where humidifiers enter the picture to help maintain that ideal humidity, particularly in cold, dry Massachusetts winters.

You'll never hear people mention ideal relative humidity in the summer months. The warmer air naturally has more moisture in it, and if anything, we'd like to be rid of some of the stickiness that comes with higher temperatures.

When it comes to your home comfort, air quality is just as important as air temperature, if not more. In fact, if anyone in your home is in poor health or suffers from asthma, maintaining an excellent level of air quality in your home is extremely important. Along with air filter replacement and keeping your ducts clean, humidification systems can make an impact on your home's air quality.

Indoor mold in our New England homes has the potential to be either a problem or a threat. Mold spores come inside and can reproduce into colonies only with the proper conditions. Moisture is one of them.

Leaks in roofs, under sinks and in damp basements create an environment where mold can grow and spread. Areas of high humidity such as laundry areas or bathrooms can also provide the necessary humid areas for mold growth.

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that the air inside their homes may be up to 10 times more polluted than the air outdoors.  When it comes to indoor air quality, UV light (ultraviolet light) works to destroy the DNA of micro-organisms that can be harmful to your family's health.

With a long, cold Boston winter upon us, it's time to start thinking about ways to combat colds and flu. Eating right, exercising regularly and keeping hands clean are all good options. But what if you're ready for something more? Something that will make a difference inside your home?