Heating

Coal trucks have disappeared from residential streets; tanker trucks no longer pump oil into tanks in backyards. Today, we have the cleanest and most convenient way to heat our homes.  Unlike the days when the rooms of houses could either be too hot or too cold, depending on how close they were to the heat source, today’s homes maintain constant temperatures throughout.  Our thermostats allow us to decide on the exact temperature setting that makes our families the most comfortable.

So what is the Downside?

Forced air heating has a way of drying the air out and lowering the overall humidity in the home.  The colder it is outside, the drier it can get inside.  This can adversely affect not only the humans in a home, but also wooden furniture and other wood in a home.

Are the rungs on your wooden chairs are loose or popping out?  Have you noticed that your wooden musical instruments are showing cracking in the finish?  Are your furniture finishes and woodwork dry and cracking?  All of these are signs that your home is crying out for more humidity.

But furniture and musical instruments are not the only things that need humidity.  Humans may need it even more.

Chapped lips, dry eyes, dry skin, and static electricity that make your hair stand on end or give you a shock when crossing the carpet are all annoyances that can be alleviated by humidification.

Even more, your health could be compromised by an indoor environment that is too dry.  Asthma and allergies can be exacerbated by dry air.  Coughs and sore throats increase in a dry atmosphere.

Even if you get a cold, humidity can help you heal faster.  Keeping nasal passages lubricated can speed the healing process.  Keeping nasal passages lubricated can also help prevent nosebleeds.  A bonus for married couples—moisturizing the air can keep the throat from drying out and can relieve the intensity of snoring sounds.

The Answer is Whole-House Humidification

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: “Humidifiers are commonly used in homes to relieve the physical discomforts of dry nose, throat, lips, and skin. The moisture they add to dry air also helps alleviate common nuisances brought on by winter heating, such as static electricity, splitting

woodwork and cracks in paint and furniture.

Why a Whole-Home Humidifier?

A whole-home humidifier delivers the perfect amount of moisture to your home, making you more comfortable. Humidity also makes your home feel more comfortable at lower thermostat settings. This saves you money. In fact, the EPA states that for every degree you lower your thermostat, you will save about 4% on your total heating bill.

Because too much humidity can be as much of a problem as too little, whole-home humidifiers continually monitor relative humidity levels and deliver the perfect amount of moisture. Because these units are fitted to your furnace, they deliver the moist air through existing ductwork to the entire home.

TR Miller Heating and Cooling carries AprilAire humidifiers and can install the perfect unit to your existing equipment. Call today to improve the health of your furniture,  your home and your family.  (630) 357-4373.

Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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