Whole-Home Humidifiers

A whole-home humidifier is designed to add moisture to air that is too dry, maintaining a proper balance of between 35-50% humidity. Some of the main benefits of adding a whole-home humidifier to your current HVAC system are:

Health improvements: home furnace humidifiers have been shown to improve lung health, alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms and lessen instances of illness. Adding humidity to the air also helps prevent dry and itchy eyes and nasal passages, helping to provide relief from unpleasant symptoms

Healthier skin: eczema, dermatitis and dry itchy skin are conditions that worsen dry, cold air. A whole-home humidifier adds moisture to the air in your home and helps your skin hold its natural moisture. Winter weather causes drier outdoor air, so keeping your indoor spaces warm and moist is essential to healthy winter skin.

Lower utility bills: installing a whole-home humidifier may also increase your home’s energy efficiency. Proper humidification of the home can make the space feel warmer with lower temperatures. The minimal amount of energy used by a furnace humidifier leads to great savings in energy consumed by the heating system.

Home protection: dry air wicks away moisture from any porous material such as wood. Hardwood floors, tables and chairs are all more prone to crack and split in drier environments. Doors and window frames can suffer, too. Installing a whole-home humidifier not only cares for your body but also your belongings.

For any additional information or to schedule a free estimate to see if adding a whole-home humidifier is right for you, get in contact with our team at Parkbay Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning. We also offer repair, service/maintenance and replacement of all whole-home humidifiers.

UV Lights

Ultraviolet lights (UV lights) work with your HVAC system to disinfect the air you breathe and at the same time reduce energy consumption. Adding a UV light to your HVAC system can eliminate carbon-based debris and improve your system’s efficiency and your health. UV lights can reduce up to 99.99% of bio-contaminants in the airstream. Some of the benefits of adding a UV light to your current HVAC system include:

Reducing illness and disease: Arguably the main benefit of UV lighting in your HVAC system is that it helps reduce disease transmission. Many illnesses and microorganisms can easily be spread by your HVAC system. With the correct placement and strength, a UV light can kill or eliminate the majority of pathogens and other microorganisms that would normally spread because of your HVAC system.

Reduce allergies and asthma: UV light systems eliminate allergens from your HVAC unit in the same way that they kill germs. Dust, dust mites, mould and mildew can all be controlled through the proper placement of a UV light system.

Improve HVAC efficiency: As an HVAC system ages its capacity is reduced due to dirt, germs, pollutants and other debris that build up throughout the system and on the coils. Installing UV lights in your HVAC system can help clean your system and remove buildup. Adding a UV device to your existing HVAC system can reduce your home’s overall energy consumption by as much as 35 percent. Increased efficiency means reduced energy costs and it also means your system may require less maintenance over the long term.

Increased airflow: Airflow is one of the most important factors when it comes to keeping your home cool without putting excess strain on your air conditioning system. A UV light reduces the contaminants that build up in your ductwork. By reducing contaminants, biofilm growth and other organic materials inside your HVAC system, heat exchange and airflow are both dramatically improved.

If adding a UV light to your HVAC system is something you’d like to learn more about or you are looking to schedule a free no-obligation quote, call Parkbay Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning. We also offer repair, service/maintenance and replacement of all UV lights in your HVAC system.

Air Filtration Systems

Air filtration and purification systems are designed to work with your central heating and cooling system. They improve the air throughout your entire home, not just in individual rooms.

Furnace Filters: If you have a forced-air furnace you’ve already got a very basic air filtration system, a fibreglass filter which should be changed once a month. When it becomes clogged with dust, dirt or other debris, it stops working and can cause the furnace to overwork. These basic filters aren’t meant to block the microscopic particles that are most irritating to lung tissue. Parkbay offers furnace filter replacement and can upgrade your current fibreglass filter to a pleated one. Pleated filters, which pack more material in the same amount of space, cost slightly more than the fibreglass ones but they do a better job of trapping particles and allergens such as pollen and pet dander. The effectiveness of an air filter can be measured by its Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). MERV ratings range from 1 to 16, the higher the MERV rating the fewer particles and other contaminants can pass through the air filter.

Extended Media Filters: These filters are about 8 inches thick and contain an accordion-like pile of filtration inside. media filters can provide more benefits than standard filters with high MERV ratings. Extended media filters provide the same level of filtration as a high-MERV filter, but they do it without the negative consequences of airflow or static pressure. Instead, media filters have a greater surface area, which successfully prevents significant static pressure while providing better filtration. Extended media filters are very easy to maintain and great for filtering bacteria and other small airborne pollutants. The filtered dirt is sealed into the filter, preventing it from being expelled back into your home. Media filters are also sturdy and cost-effective, needing to be changed as infrequently as once or twice a year. These are much more effective than regular furnace filters but will require professional installation because they must be plumbed into the ductwork. 

Electronic Filters: These are high-tech units that are also sometimes referred to as electrostatic precipitators. Much like an extended media filter, these are professionally installed into your ductwork. As air passes through, a high-voltage current electrically charges the particles if filtering and on the other end of the unit, an oppositely charged collector plate grabs the particles like a magnet. Electronic filters work especially well on smoke particles which are often too small to be trapped by furnace filters, something that can be very beneficial here in the Okanagan during the summer fire season. Unlike the other furnace filters, electronic filters never need replacing, the collector plate does require gentle cleaning every few months.

If upgrading your current air filtration is something you’d like to learn more about or you are looking to schedule a free no-obligation quote, call Parkbay. Not only do we offer installation service for air filtration systems, but we also repair and service/maintain them.