The first thing is to keep the windows and doors shut. Your house may get too hot, but that is where an air conditioner can help. There are some other options available for those who would like to let their house “breathe”. The first is to put your furnace fan on “circulate”. Most houses these days have a “summer fan switch” or a “circulate” option on their thermostat. This will circulate air throughout the house and eventually through the furnace filter. This brings us to the most important thing to catch allergens - having a good filter. Filters usually have a MERV rating, which is based on the size of particles they will trap. Most 1” pleated filters will be in the range of about MERV 6-8 and do a decent job at collecting allergens, provided they are changed monthly. With all of our new furnace installs we typically include a 5” pleated filter with a MERV 10 rating which will offer more protection and only needs to be replaced every 6-12 months. For more protection, Lennox offers its PureAir system. This combines a MERV 16 (hospital-grade, HEPA filtration is MERV 13) replaceable filter with UV lights to kill any germs and viruses. The filters have the same life span as the 5” filters, but the UV bulbs should last approximately 2 years. Regardless of your filtration level, your furnace fan must be running. G.M. Mechanical can help improve your indoor air quality using air purification and air filtration systems. We also provide HVAC services in the Foothills which include air conditioner installation services and furnace replacement services. Please feel free to contact G.M. Mechanical for more information.

This often has less to do with the outdoor temperature and more with the air quality in your home. Your furnace likely hasn’t run for months, leaving a place in your ductwork for bacteria to thrive, waiting for the furnace to turn on and circulate this “bad” air throughout the house. Adding an efficient air cleaner/filter can remove harmful bacteria or, in the case of the Lennox PureAir system, even viruses. Something as simple as having regular maintenance done to your furnace can also help.

For more information, please contact G.M. Mechanical at 403-652-1282.

This depends on the filter. Typical 1” filters should be cleaned or replaced every 1-3 months. 5” high-efficient filters only require replacement once per year or twice per year if you have air conditioning. Please feel free to call G.M. Mechanical for more information at 403-652-1282.

During the cold winter months, many ailments may become pronounced due to the cold, dry air. The heating systems in your home and office tend to dry the interior air, which may lead to problems for many. Here are seven benefits that come along with using a humidifier in your home or office during these cold winter months.

1. Helps prevent the spread of airborne viruses. Studies have shown that raising indoor humidity levels to at least 43% had a dramatic effect on approximately 85% of airborne viruses, rendering them virtually ineffective.

2. Helps prevent snoring. By using a humidifier to add moisture to the air, you create a more favourable scenario that may help soothe the tissues at the back of your throat.

3. Prevent dry skin. Because 50–60% of the human body is made of water, dry conditions may pull moisture out.

4. Helps your home feel warmer. Humidified air feels warmer than dry air. This can be attributed to the fact that with more water in the air, sweat evaporates more slowly, leaving people feeling warmer.

5. May relieve allergy symptoms. Allergy sufferers tend to feel more comfortable with heightened humidity, as it may help soothe the tissues in the throat and nasal passages.

6. Prevents static. This electricity can be annoying when associated with your laundry or frizzy hair. Even worse, built-up static can even damage sensitive electronics.

7. Prevents damage to wood furniture and flooring. As always, if you have any questions or need our help, please call G.M. Mechanical at 403-652-1282 or visit www.gmmechanical.ca.