subject: What Air Systems Are Available For New Homes [print this page] There are lots of options available to a person who is looking to purchase a new home. Since you are getting a new house, you want everything to be the best possible. And, since you are spending all of that money to build a house, why not spend a bit more money and get state of the art systems in your house that will increase the value later on? Some of these systems might be expensive at first, but if they are energy efficient or help to keep the air that you breathe a little bit cleaner, then why not check into them a little further and see if they will be worth your money?
Radon Elimination
Radon is a gas that naturally seeps into your house through the basement. Some areas of the country have more natural radon than others, so you need to check on the levels in your region. For example, the east coast has heavy deposits of the gas in the rocks, so many more houses need a radon system in their house. What a radon system does is put piping in the floor of your home and remove the radon contaminated air out of the house through a ventilation system that goes up through the roof.
Electronic Air Cleaners
Electronic air cleaners can be units for the entire house or ones that are meant for a room. The device works by creating a chemical reaction between the particles in the air. The particles will connect to each other and then fall into a filter or a storage basin where they can be emptied out or thrown away. Electronic air cleaners usually run in the background of any room without any noise and are undetectable unless you know it is there. The air will be cleaner, but you might not realize that unless you are an allergy sufferer and notice that you don't sneeze in that area of the house anymore.
Humidifiers
Houses that are built in dry areas of the country may need a boost to the indoor air quality they have. Dry air is good for your health at times, but too much can also be harmful. A whole house humidifier will keep the air at a certain humidity level where it is easier for you to breathe in. The humidity level is not only good for you, but for everyone else who lives in your home. There will be less static energy, meaning less shocks when people touch or if you go to pet the cat or the dog. They don't like to get shocks either, and will appreciate a humidifier!
Fireplaces
Fireplaces might not be recognized as HVAC systems, but they are because they heat the house. They also have ducts that need to be checked regularly in order to make sure it is properly functioning. Fireplaces also have a few more options than just being run by wood. There are fireplaces that never use a log, but burn by natural gas or even propane. The gas lines might need monitoring or the fireplace itself might need a repair, and the HVAC technician will usually be trained on working with fireplaces as well.
