Cooling · Indoor air quality
Better air, without the gimmicks
Ohio swings from bone-dry January air to swampy August air, with pollen in between. A few well-chosen upgrades to your heating and cooling system can make your home noticeably more comfortable. We'll tell you which ones are worth it.
Signs your indoor air needs attention
- Winter static shocks, dry skin, cracked lips, nosebleeds, and wood floors or trim that open up gaps. Indoor humidity is probably below 30%.
- Summer clamminess, musty smells, or condensation on cold-water pipes. Humidity is too high.
- Dust that comes back a day after you clean.
- Allergy symptoms that are worse indoors than out.
- A musty smell when the AC first kicks on, sometimes from growth on the indoor coil.
- Cheap filters that clog every few weeks, or a filter slot that's never been the right size.
What we do on the visit
- Ask about the household. Allergies, asthma, pets, smokers, a new baby, a home office. What bothers you, and when.
- Measure. Temperature and humidity in several rooms, and a look at your filter, ductwork, coil and furnace.
- Recommend, honestly. Often the best first step is the cheapest: the right filter in a slot that seals, and a thermostat setting change. If equipment would help, we quote it in writing.
The assessment is free when booked on its own, and our technicians will always point out filter or humidity issues during a regular tune-up.
Options and posted prices
| Upgrade | Installed price | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-house humidifier | from $795 | Adds moisture through your furnace in winter, controlled automatically |
| Media air filter cabinet | from $395 | A 4- or 5-inch pleated filter that captures far more than a standard filter and lasts 6 to 12 months |
| UV coil light | from $650 | Keeps mold and bacteria from growing on the damp AC coil |
| Whole-house dehumidifier | Quoted on site | For damp basements and homes where the AC can't keep humidity down |
| Smart thermostat with humidity control | Quoted on site | Lets your system manage humidity, not just temperature |
Comfort Club members get 15% off indoor air quality repairs. Equipment from all major manufacturers; installations are covered by the K&D Promise.
Winter: the case for a humidifier
When it's 20°F outside, the air coming into your house holds very little moisture, and your furnace dries it further. Indoor humidity in a Central Ohio January often drops into the teens or low twenties. That's drier than a lot of deserts. A whole-house humidifier keeps it in a comfortable 30 to 40% range, which most people notice in their skin, sinuses and sleep within a week. It also helps protect hardwood floors, trim and instruments, and 68°F feels warmer in moist air, so some folks turn the thermostat down a notch.
We set the humidifier to adjust automatically with the outdoor temperature, so windows don't fog or frost on the coldest nights.
Summer: humidity, filters and the coil
In summer, your air conditioner is your dehumidifier, as long as it's sized right and the coil is clean. If the house stays muggy at 74°F, the fix may be a system adjustment, not new equipment; we'll check the fan settings and airflow first. Basements are the exception. Many Central Ohio basements need a dedicated dehumidifier to stay below 50% and avoid that musty smell.
A better filter helps all year. We often find a 1-inch filter that doesn't fit its slot, letting air bypass it entirely. A media cabinet seals properly and catches finer dust and pollen.
How long it takes
An assessment takes about 45 minutes. Media filter cabinets and UV lights take one to two hours to install; a whole-house humidifier usually takes two to three hours, since it needs a water line and a drain. Many customers add these during a tune-up or a new system installation.
What you can do right now
Easy wins today: check your furnace filter and replace it if you can't see light through it. Make sure it's the right size and the arrow points toward the furnace. Run bathroom fans during showers and for 20 minutes after. Keep the kitchen hood on while cooking. Pick up an inexpensive humidity gauge and see where your rooms actually sit. And test your carbon monoxide alarms; if you have gas appliances and no CO alarm, put one on every floor.
Questions about your air? Call (614) 555-0187 or text (614) 555-0199.
Indoor air quality questions
Do I need duct cleaning?
Usually not. Unless there's visible mold, a pest problem or construction dust, duct cleaning rarely makes a measurable difference. A good filter does more. We'll tell you honestly.
Do humidifiers cause mold?
Not when they're set right. Problems come from running humidity too high. We set yours to adjust automatically and replace the water panel once a year during your tune-up.
What about those air purifiers that promise to kill everything?
Be wary of big claims. We install proven filtration and UV, and we'll explain plainly what each one does and doesn't do.