If your family is experiencing the damaging effects of dry indoor air — stuffy noses; sore throats; dry, itchy skin; static electricity; cracked and warped furniture and woodwork; wilted plants; and a host of other problems and discomforts — it's time for an HVAC check-up.

Fall is the best time to do a humidification, filtration and ventilation check of your heating system and your Skuttle indoor air quality products. Replace elements in humidifiers and filter media in air cleaners, if needed.

If you do not have a humidifier, now is the time to ask your contractor about installing one. When properly installed and functioning as designed, Skuttle Humidifiers:
• contribute to comfort and a healthy environment
• reduce dangerous bacteria and viruses
• diminish harmful ozone levels
• help protect millwork, antiques, artwork and musical instruments
• reduce heating costs

To combat stale indoor air filled with household contaminants, replace filter cartridges in Skuttle high-efficiency air cleaners. Skuttle’s five-inch, deep-pleated filters trap substantially more particles than the standard one-inch, flat filters found in most American homes and protect furnaces by keeping coils, heat exchangers and fan packages cleaner.

Skuttle recommends contacting a qualified HVAC professional to evaluate all components of your humidifier and air cleaner. In fact, have the technician inspect your entire heating system: fans, heat exchanger, air flow, amperage on motors and compressors, voltage levels, electrical connections, controls, ductwork, condenser coils, refrigerant, pumps, drains, ventilation and other components you might have.

Ask for recommendations on winter settings and set up a date for follow-up or the next seasonal checkup.

The nominal cost of a service call before extreme weather hits will save you money and your family will breathe a little easier.