Charlie:
Welcome to Comfort on Porpoise, sponsored by Dolphin Cooling and Heating who have been providing 24/7 Comfort on Porpoise since 1998.
Charlie:
Hey there, this is Charlie McDermott. I am back in the Dolphin studio here with the Comfort on Porpoise podcast and fortunately, I have Lauren here. Lauren, how are you doing?
Lauren:
Good. How are you today, Charlie?
Charlie:
I’m doing great, but it’s something invisible out there. It’s this air thing and I’ve heard more and more, maybe it’s a COVID phenomenon or just the fact that Southwest Florida in summertime, let’s face it, we spend a lot of time indoors. What are you hearing? What are you guys doing when it comes to improving air quality inside the homes and businesses, for that matter?
Lauren:
That’s a great question, Charlie. There’s actually been a bunch of research done from some of the big brand manufacturers out there, such as Lennox, LG, Carrier, Trane, and Rheem. And recently I was actually reading an article and with regard to homeowners, there’s been a 60% increase in homeowners prioritizing their indoor air quality over the last year. And a lot of that actually has been brought on by COVID. With people, both working from home more and just being indoors more due to social distancing, the lockdowns that we saw, it really became a very large priority for people.
So there are a few different options out there. There are upgraded filter cabinets. We talked about filters last time we were together. But there are some other products that we offer that have gained quite a bit of interest over the last year. And we’ve seen personally here at Dolphin, an increase in the sale of them. And that’s UV lights, those are coil lights.
With those, they actually get placed inside the air handler typically either above or below the coil, depending on how it’s set up. And that is the indoor unit just for anyone listening, if you don’t know what the handler is, that’s the unit found inside your home, typically in an attic, garage, mechanical closet. That coil light sits in there and it emits UVC rays and it’s designed to kill microbial growth and keep the coil clean as well as the inside of the cabinet. Essentially anywhere the light shines, it helps to keep that area clean. All the air inside your home flows over that coil. So if there’s stuff growing on the coil or inside the cabinet itself, as the air passes through there, it can pick up some of that and those contaminants such as dust, allergens, and other things can get carried through your home. The coil light helps diminish that.
Also, surprisingly, it helps with the efficiency as far as air flow. If the coil is clean, air can flow much more freely through the system, less resistance. So those have been really popular. They’re not super expensive but they do very well. We’ve installed several of them. Customers have been very happy with them. And with that bulb typically most models are designed to have the bulb replaced annually. So once a year, during your maintenance, we would replace the bulb for you. And the reason for that is since the light’s stationary, any dust, cause obviously there’s still dust in the air, it would settle on top of the bulb. It decreases the efficiency of that UVC light and therefore the potency gets diminished over time. So they do recommend they be replaced annually.
The other product that we have is made by Halo Remi and it’s actually an induct air purification system. It uses UV light with this specific setup. It goes inside your duct work typically either on a supply or return side. So again, all the air, because all the air inside your home cycles through your system several times as it’s running, so all the air comes in contact with it. The one difference between this and your UV light, or two actually, big differences. One is that it is actually air purification, the UV coil light isn’t considered air purification. It’s more for cleaning, which helps with air quality. This kit that goes inside the duct work is designed for air purification. It does eliminate microbial growth, allergens, and other indoor air quality pollutants. It helps to kill all of those. And it also helps with any smells. So it can remove potential smells from the air as well. And with this system it’s designed to only be on when your system is actively running. So when your system is not running, the light turns off. When the system comes back on, the light turns on.
With the coil light, it’s on all the time. It doesn’t turn on or off. It’s just constantly admitting UVC inside that air handler. With these Halo Reme systems specifically, there’s been a big uptick in people’s interest in that because it does serve as an air purification. They’re pretty easy for us to install. It doesn’t take several hours out of the day. It’s typically just a couple hours. We can come out and get them in for customers. And with those, the bulb, the set up that’s inside the duct work only has to be replaced typically every four years. So it’s not something that you would replace annually like the UV light kit. But it does make a big difference. We’re all at home a little bit more than we used to be, even though life is starting to return to normal.
But statistically, right now it’s showing that with the more people that went to work from home during the pandemic most are wanting to either stay home or at least work from home part-time moving forward into the future. So that means, again, we’re, we’re going to be at home more. And I think if anything, 2020 taught us how important indoor air quality actually is. So we’re really hopeful and we’re happy to have these products for our customers and people have been very excited about getting them in and we’ve definitely, like I mentioned, seeing an uptick in the popularity and interest.
Charlie:
Wow. So I would imagine, just from a health standpoint it’s something we probably don’t give a whole lot of thought to. And again, I’m with you, maybe the COVID thing and putting a mask over our face and all that. I remember Michael Jackson, you’d see pictures of him when he was in China, covering his face because of the impurities in the air and it’s those invisible things that we don’t see. I would imagine this is going to help folks who suffer from things like allergies. I mean, heck I’m thinking here, we’re on the island. Red tide, when nine hit two years ago, I felt it. Windows are closed, but you still get some slight eye burning and things like that, it’s in the air. So wow.
Lauren:
It’s true. Even for me being in the industry, we’ve learned a whole lot more over the last year about IAQ products, which are indoor air quality. That’s what that stands for, because it’s becoming more of a need. People paid attention to it before, but not on the level they are now. There’s definitely been a shift since COVID happened last year.
Charlie:
Yes. Now how about someone who’s listening and they’re thinking, “Well, I’ll probably do a new system in a couple of years. Maybe I should wait.” Because if you guys were to come in and install the duck type, what was that? Halo?
Lauren:
Yes, Halo Reme. Yes.
Charlie:
And then two years later I need a new system. Does that Halo Reme system connect to the new system and it all works together?
Lauren:
That’s a great question. No, with the Halo Reme where it’s in your duct work, unless you’re ripping out all of your duct work no, what’s there will still work for you. Even with the light kit itself that goes inside the air handler. Even if you had one installed now, if you replaced the system say in a year or two or three down the road, typically, unless the ballast dies on that kit and that needed to be replaced, you could actually use, we can install on the new system, your pre-existing light kit and just replace the bulb.
So for anyone listening, if you are concerned like, “Well,I might have to make that significant investment in a few years, why would I do it now?” Having better air quality now isn’t going to hurt you. And in most applications we can use the products you’ve already purchased on your system.
The other thing to consider too, is maybe instead of waiting for the new system, get a new system and now have these parts installed from the very beginning. And then everything’s clean moving forward. So you’re starting right off the bat in the best position you can be to have optimum air quality.
Charlie:
Yes. I’ve often thought about that, especially now, I work with businesses from all walks of life and in a lot of them are beginning to feel the, I don’t know the best way to that bottleneck of people, whether it be those who have been out of work that aren’t coming back to work, maybe as soon as we had hoped and other countries that supplied parts and, and to not wait until, oh my God, Lauren, Greg, this system is finally cooked.
Lauren:
Yes, that’s a really good point, actually. Just a little word of advice to anyone listening, our customers, any consumers out there if you know that your system is up there in age, you know that eventually replacing it is something you’re going to need to do. I would recommend doing it sooner rather than later right now.
Charlie:
Do it on your terms, not the system’s terms, right?
Lauren:
Yes, yes, exactly. Exactly.
Charlie:
I’ll tell you, Lauren. I don’t go to bed any night without thanking God that I have air conditioning. I can make it in the daytime, whatever, I’ll get a fan. But if I don’t have air conditioning at night and fortunately we have you guys, but the last thing I want to do is call you at 10 o’clock at night and say, help! And still it’s going to take time to get the system installed and all that.
Lauren:
That is true. Yes. Be proactive. Don’t be reactive with your AC, especially here in Southwest Florida. It’s not a fun experience.
Charlie:
Well, Lauren, appreciate the insight and, man, this is really good information. So thank you. I know our listeners are thanking you as well in their own way. If anyone has any specific questions about those systems, air quality, they can get in touch with you?
Lauren:
Yes, they can call us. They can call our office (239) 596-9044. Or they could email us at info@dolphinacnaples.com.
Charlie:
Well, terrific. Well, we’ll talk again. You have an awesome day over there.
Lauren:
You too. Thank you so much, Charlie. Talk soon.
Charlie:
Thanks for listening to Comfort on Porpoise to learn more about our sponsor Dolphin Cooling and Heating visit www.dolphincooling.com or call 239-596-9044. That’s 239-596-9044.