Showing posts with label Heating And Cooling. Show all posts

5-reason you need a whole-home Humidifier this winter

With the winter season arriving, the humidity in the air decreases. The chill dry winter can cause health issues so to avoid this, people look for humidifying devices. With the advancement in technology, humans have found ways to nurture their health with changing the surroundings according to their requirements. The humidifier is an innovation that changes the air quality around you. The whole-home humidifier can be integrated with the HVAC so you can keep the whole house at optimal humidity level. These humidifiers are easy to maintain compared to portable ones, as they do not require consistent refilling. They are durable and can be cleaned along with the HVAC, making them more effective. Here are some reasons why you should get a whole-home humidifier this winter:

Reasons to Install a Whole-Home Humidifier this Winter

- Primarily, it can help you to keep your skin moisturized. For people with dry skin, the winter seasons becomes annoying as the skin flakes and dryness makes the skin crumble and wrinkle. With a humidifier, the skin will be moisturized and will glow, giving you a shiny clear appearance.

- With dry air the respiratory system does not work as smoothly. Most people’s breathing gets effected as the trachea and nasal passages get dry. The breathing allergy and flu can hit you which might lead to fever, asthma, or even a sinus attack. With a whole-home humidifier you can keep the humidity at optimal level across all the rooms to make you feel comfortable.

- Quality sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. In winters, the dry weather can cause difficulties in breathing and hence, leading to poor sleeping patterns. You might wakeup multiple times through the night and have coughing problems. With a whole-home humidifier you can have better air quality which aids to deep sleep.

- Furthermore, home furnishings can also get affected by dry air. The wooden furniture or wooden floor can crack with a lack of humidity in the air. The wood requires an optimal level of humidity to keep it durable. The flooring could split or door frames could have gaps, overall making the appearance of your house look poor. With whole-home humidifiers, you will have the peace of mind that your furnishings will not get affected.

Deciding the Size when purchasing a Humidifier

Just like it is important to purchase the right size of Furnace and Air Conditioner, the size also matters when it comes to purchasing a Humidifier. Too large and it will constantly run and overly humidify while also wasting lots of water. Too small and the installation or no installation makes no difference. The area is one prime factor on the basis of which Humidifiers are purchased and it is therefore that the Humidifier units clearly define in their features as for what area requirement they are ideal. If you would like to make the most of a Humidifier, don't simply purchase a unit instead consult a professional and then make a purchase.

Looking for purchasing a whole-home Humidifier?

Here you go;

Affordable Whole-Home Humidifiers

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A homeowners 101 guide to HVAC Parts Warranty

Lack of sufficient knowledge about HVAC warranties, as we always mention, is the primary factor behind homeowners experiencing frequent warranty claim rejections. HVAC warranties can not only save you bucks on repairs and maintenance, but they can also be of great use if a unit fails to perform or manifest production faults. However, neither replacement expenses nor repair dues is paid by the company if a homeowner knowingly or unknowingly voids his warranty. The unit no more remains covered even if the initial warranty offered 10 or 15 years of warranty. So the point lies in ensuring that the warranty remains valid. And this is only possible when a common homeowner is equipped with sufficient knowledge about HVAC warranties.

This blog is dedicated to discussing some basic know-how about the HVAC parts warranty. How a unit replacement is ensured and what factors need to be proven to get a replacement unit or replacement parts.

The must-know conditions for Parts Replacement

- In order to claim a part replacement or unit replacement, a homeowner is necessitated to contact a certified HVAC contractor who inspects the units and proves that the problem has arisen as a result of the manufacturing fault. The claim is then made to the company proving the fault in the unit. Depending on the situation, a part or unit replacement may take place.

- Regarding the parts warranty, note that some parts of the unit have relatively more warranty than the unit itself or the other parts. For example, the critical parts like compressor, heat exchanger in Furnaces and coils in Air Conditioners usually have more warranty. The part must be claimed within the offered duration; 5-10 years.

- Replacing a unit from one place to another without professional help voids the warranty; however, if it is the homeowners who change places and a new homeowner comes to the house, he can still claim the warranty.

What happens after the conditions are met?

As mentioned, in order to claim a parts warranty, a certified HVAC contractor must inspect the unit. Once the problem is proven, the defective part is then purchased from a certified dealer and is replaced. During the inspection, if other parts are also found to be problematic and are not covered under warranty, the homeowner has to pay for such parts.

Will you have to pay for labor costs?

The certified HVAC contractors, when they first install the unit, offer a one year of installation warranty which means any issues in the installation will be covered for free within the given time. Covering all service costs within the duration of one year is now a common practice. Although there is no hard and fast rule, in most cases, you will not have to pay for the labor cost as long as the unit or the parts that need to be replaced are covered by warranty.

Have you ever experienced a scenario in which a unit or part replacement was made because of the manufacturer's fault? If yes, was the experience smooth?

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Easy way to solve water leaking from a mini Split AC

It is indeed a frustrating situation when your indoor unit of mini-split Air Conditioner system starts leaking. This is because the inside wall unit has a coil that aims to pull moisture from the air as it cools. When the drain pipe gets clogged with the dust; it makes condensation to drip down and far away from the unit. The issue not just affects the home comfort but leads to water damage that no homeowner wants to deal with!

Luckily the problem can be solved with a little HVAC know-how. Read on to learn the basic steps to get out of this problem.

What causes leaking from the mini-split system

Out of many reasons for mini split AC leaking, the most common is blockage in the drainage pipe. The dust that has accumulated in the condensation tray, blocks the right direction of water, therefore, causing water winding up on the floor.

Item needed- Screwdriver
- Electrical tape
- Bucket
- Vacuum

Method
You can unclog the drainage in your pipe with seven simple steps! Luckily, the process is easy to execute and falls under the do-it-yourself category.

1. Turn the air conditioner off: Before doing anything, make sure the AC unit is turned off.

2. Remove the AC filters
Remove the filters by simply opening the front panel. If you see any debris, it is good to clean it right away either with a vacuum or a wet cloth.

3. Remove plastic cover
Remove the front panel by removing screws with head screwdriver. Once you safely take it off, keep the plastic cover in a safe area.

4. Access the drainage pipe
You can see two AC snaps inside the AC unit! When you press them simultaneously, it will lift the bottom up, and you can access drainage pipe. This drainage pipe is more likely to be sealed with the grip tape.

5. Drain the pipes
The next step is more crucial, take off the joint that holds drainage pipe standing! But before grabbing the bucket to catch all excess water. Allow both sides of the pipe to drain completely.

6. Remove the excess duct
Once the pipe has completely drained, make sure to clean the extra dust with the hose of a vacuum. Since the debris will be wet so use wet vacuum to remove the particles.

7. Reattach the drainpipe with electrical tapAt this point, the job is almost done. Just reseal the joints with the help of electrical tape. Reattach the front panel and air filters and turn on the AC and test for water leaks.

Conclusion
Besides a drain pipe leakage, there can be some other issues like excess dirt in system, kinked hoses, burnt drain pipe, the tubing within the AC not having the right size etc.

The above is the easiest way to fix the mini AC split system water leaks. Solving the problem isn’t a big trick yet if you lack the necessary knowledge or if in doubt, call a professional!

Need help? Call us today 1-855-245-4328.

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Guide To Air Purification, Installation And Cost

Many contaminants like formaldehyde, retardants, tobacco smoke, radon, dust mites, pet dander, and combustion smoke exist in a home. These pollutants make our home five times more polluted than the outdoor environment. Keeping floors fresh, making home no-smoking-zone, testing the radon and not to mention ventilation that moves fresh air in and stale air out can significantly make the air cleaner and healthier to breathe! But still, some home requires air purifiers to get rid of stubborn contaminants.
Walk through our in-depth guide and learn more about air purifiers, installation, repair cost, and maintenance tips.

Installation of Air Purifiers:

Portable air purifiers are readily available at home improvement stores and online sites. When making a purchasing decision, choose the right size that can fit well to the space you wish to treat. Homeowners can easily install portable air purifiers, but whole-home air purifiers require skills and knowledge of HVAC equipment.

Installation and Repair cost for air purifiers:

Portable air purifiers are the most economical option for air cleaning in the home. You can save bucks on the installation process as you set it up yourself. Though their performance isn't as satisfactory as whole-house purifiers, the average cost of portable air purifier ranges from $40-$120 – depending upon the model you choose.

Each unit of whole-house air purifier costs you $1000 plus a few hundred for installation. Though the actual price is directly contingent upon the model and spec you choose for use at home.

How does UV air purifier work?

The purifier uses a UV light bulb that gets installed within an HVAC system targeting the ducts and coils. During air circulation, the UV-C energy (light emitted from UV light bulb ) neutralizes airborne particles such as bacteria, mold, viruses and more. The UV-C power inhibits the growth and reproduction of microbe and doesn’t let them to spread across your home.

How does filter air purifier work?

The filter air purifier uses a range of filters type to remove the contaminants for your benefit. These filters such as HEPA( (high-efficiency particulate air) delivers the most satisfying performance in terms of elimination of the contaminants and purifying the air. When the air flows, the filter will trap even the smallest contaminant, ensuring the safest indoor environment. The built-up contaminants will stick to the filters; therefore, it is essential to change the filters regularly.

Air purification maintenance tips:

For whole-home air purifiers that use a filter, make sure to change the filters timely to get the optimal performance. Otherwise, the contaminants will stick to the filter, and make it to act as a germ reservoir. The process of changing a filter is simple, locate the filter, remove the old one, and insert the new filter to continue better functioning.

The portable air filters come up with the reusable air filter that can be easily washed and placed back. However, you should follow the instruction manual for the exact cleaning process and guidance regarding how often you should clean these filters?

UV air purifiers have a long service life, and the bulb is more likely to last 2 to 3 years.

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How to choose a reliable Duct Cleaning Service Provider

All duct cleaning service providers are not equally responsible and trained. Talk to different companies and get the written statements before choosing a company. Ask them to come up with relevant state license, and whether they have experience on a system like yours. Make sure not to hire cleaners who assert unsubstantiated claims about health benefits and don't go for those who urge you to have cleaning as the routine part of the heating and cooling system. Here we present SUGGESTIONS for choosing a reliable duct cleaning service provider and ways to determine if the service provider did an excellent job.

What to Expect from a duct cleaning service provider:

- Duct cleaner should open ports and doors to ensure the every part be cleaned and inspected.
- Before thorough cleaning, ensuring there are no asbestos-containing materials. A heating system containing asbestos-containing particles like register boots insulation requires specialized procedures that can only be executed by the trained technician.
- The technician should employ the HEPA (high-efficiency particle air ) if the vacuum exhaust into the living room or use ordinary equipment to exhaust outside the home.
- They must own well-controlled brushes to dislodge dust particles
- Stricktly follow the NADCA’s rules and standards during air duct cleaning.

Can we prevent duct contamination?

Whether you are inclined to hire a duct service provider or not, but it is mandatory to follow the preventive maintenance program to mitigate the chances of duct contamination.
Here are the proven ways to stop dirt from entering the system.
- Replace air filters regularly.
- If the filters become clogged, change, or clean them more frequently.
- During construction or renovation, consider sealing off return registers and supply of the system.
- Promptly repair leaks or water damage.

How To Determine if cleaner did a good job?

If a cleaner cleans the ducts, you may not know how to determine if he did the right job. Thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of the system - all part of the system should be visibly cleaned, and there should not be debris visible with the naked eye.

We recommend providing a post-cleaning consumer checklist to the cleaners. The checklist will have several questions that the service provider answers after completing the job. If they answer “NO” to any of the questions on the list, this shows that have not performed a satisfactory job.

Sample Template of Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist

Questions	YES	NO
Did the service provider thoroughly clean air ducts, air pans, fans, and humidifiers?
The exchange heat surface has thoroughly been cleaned?
Both sides of the cooling coil have no visible debris?
Coil drain pan is clean and drains water properly?
Does the return air plenum possess no visible debris?
Has internal ductwork professionally been cleaned?
Registers, Grilles, diffusers are attached again to the walls, fans or ceiling?
Is the system working correctly after cleaning in both heating and cooling modes?

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7 Common Furnace mistakes that could cost you money

There are several common furnace mistakes that most of the homeowners make. A wise homeowner like you can become aware of these mistakes to sidestep any cost. The efficient working of the Furnace doesn’t assure you will always get the same out of your heating system. You can be fooled if you fail to think, that a furnace is tricky equipment and has many technicalities. This article deep dived into the seven common furnace mistakes that could cost money to homeowners.

Cloggy Air filters can spike up the bills

You can encounter many difficulties if the air filters are not timely cleaned. The airflow issues will disturb the heating pattern. Moreover, the accumulation of various microbes, dirt and airborne particles clog the proper intake of heat. The system will start requiring more energy. Thus, keep using cloggy air filters will spike up your heating cost.

Keeping Furnace for too long

Keeping the furnace for long can cause sudden problems, which can be an indication of moderate to high danger. You should start looking for a new furnace once a furnace ages 20 or past the expiry date. Make sure to switch up to the new one, which is energy efficient and a better system for your place.

Closing supply registers:

Closing supply registers will eventually cost you. The home Heating systems are designed to effectively warm the entire home. Once you restrict the flow of air, it impedes the proper air flow, which ultimately increases the pressure on a system that can cause the furnace to wear out before time.

Increasing temperature of a Thermostat:

Never set the Thermostat above the desired temperature. Sadly, a furnace does not work on this principle. It will simply excel the energy consumption. The best way is to set a moderate temperature and wait out. Meanwhile, you can look for other ways to keep yourself cosy.

Not Buying the right size:

The size of the home and furnace should match to offer homeowners the best experience. You can get assistance from the heating and cooling company about the appropriate size of the furnace to warm up the entire home. The wrong size won’t offer the desired outcomes and you might have to replace it with a new furnace for a nicer upshot.

Running Furnace All day:

No doubt! The winter has every day a freezing-cold day, and you always find ways to keep yourself warm and cosy. But it is not mandatory to run the furnace, all day long. You can reduce the cost to a significant extent, once you ensure to turn it off when you are out for work and kids are not at home.

Prioritizing price only:

Choosing a furnace based on the price is not worth considering. There are other paramount aspects you must consider i.e. energy efficiency, appropriate sizing, and durability. Don’t turn a blind eye to the rest of the important factors else you'll have to spend on repairs what you are now saving on the purchase.

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Cleaning thick Evaporator and Condenser Coils

As long as the home comfort appliances are kept with care and regular maintenance, not only do they complete their life expectancy but often times exceed it. Contrary to that, lack of maintenance and following wrong HVAC practices lead an appliance to costly repairs and early replacements. Talking in particular about Air Conditioners, it has been observed that a common reason of Air Conditioner break down or early replacement has a root in systems' evaporator and condenser coils. The coils need to be cleaned properly for the system to function properly but since most people choose to perform DIY cleaning, loopholes are left and the dirt and debris that penetrates even more into the system (due to wrong cleaning) begins to hinder the system's efficiency. Many times when people think their system needs replacement all it needs is a comprehensive cleaning. Today, let's help you explore some myths about compressor and evaporator coil cleaning and teach you the right cleaning methodology.

Here's how homeowners clean Evaporator and Condenser coils:

Before we explain ''HOW TO DO'', let's explore, ''HOW YOU DO'' the cleaning. A majority of homeowners use a high-pressure water and rinse the coils only briefly. The coils from the outside are rinsed and an all clean appearance make homeowners believe they're done with cleaning. The truth, however, is; the pressure of water does rinse some of the outside dust but pushes the rest of the dirt, sludge and the build ups of moulds etc towards inside. The dirt and debris that is inside the coils never find a chance to get rinsed with pressured water. As a result, the coils might appear clean, they are not. All these sludge then hinder the efficiency of the system. Now you know why your cleaning never improved your system's efficiency?

The right way to clean Evaporator and Condenser Coils:

So we've just discovered why is using a high water pressure, not a good choice. What then is a good combination for cleaning the delicate and hard to reach parts of Air Conditioner's evaporator and condenser coils? The right formula is;

Low Pressure

and

High Volume

Unlike the high-pressure water, the low-pressure high volume water reaches the coil bed and the consistently pouring water loosen the build ups which then, along with the water flow move easily from the other side. The high-pressure water has low volume and even the high pressure after passing through the upper layers of coils lowers. So there neither remains a high pressure nor a high volume and this is why this commonly followed formula never cleans the coils properly. Also, if some cleaner is used and a high-pressure water fails to clean the cleaners effects, the residue will only contribute to causing rust and dints.

High Pressure might damage the coils

There are numerous instances when homeowners use an excessively high pressure which results in damaging the coil bed's fins badly that are extremely delicate. There are high chances that in an effort to clean the coils, you could totally damage them and would have to replace the coils or the system altogether. And this is particularly true for thin evaporator coils. The recommended way for both thick and thin evaporator coils is by using the same formulae as mentioned above. If you've a hard time choosing what pressure and volume range should you be using exactly, consider consulting an HVAC professional.

At Cosmopolitan Mechanical Services Inc. we offer maintenance as well as repair services for Air Conditioners and a variety of other home comfort heating and cooling appliances. If you'd like to have your coils professionally cleaned, contact us at 1-855-245-4328

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Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until Summer To Buy Your New Air Conditioner

Smart people make smart choices. They pre-plan things instead of waiting to take action at the eleventh hour. When it comes to home comfort heating and cooling appliances, most homeowners prefer purchase of appliances as their season begin. This too because spending a season without the relevant seasonal appliances is hard and also because the sales are on right in the beginning of the seasons. But is it really a smart choice to purchase an appliance right at the time when its season begins? Let's talk about Air Conditioners in particular and discuss why should you think of purchasing Air Conditioner now than in early or mid-Summer.

Avoid Installation delay

As the Summers begin, the HVAC professionals get busy since they have a whole lot of customers to serve and deal with. If you purchase your AC right in the beginning or in the very midst of Summer, chances are that you'll have to wait for a couple or more weeks to get it installed. And well, to be very frank this delay is a time that never ends when the climate is getting hotter and hotter outside. To avoid this kind of unease and discomfort, it is suggested that you purchase Air Conditioners before the Summer actually begins. Spring is the best option to be very precise.

Replace than Repair

If you're dragging a years old Air Conditioner, arriving Summers surely give you goosebumps as the Summers remind you of the repair that your Air Conditioner requires. And who knows better than you that this time it is going to be heftier than ever before since the system is older than it ever was. So, why not purchase a new unit than dragging the same and regretting a sudden breakdown later in the mid of a scorching Summer day? Uncover your AC, analyse it with a test run and also quick calculate its age. If the AC is making freakish noises, giving improper air flow or is showing serious repair signs while the age is equal to or above 15 years, pomp pomp pomp! Better go for a replacement and this is the best time to do that.

Appliance research for best purchase

What do you think, if your AC faces a breakdown right in the middle of Summer, would you be doing a lengthy research on what to buy? 90% chances are that you'll purchase a unit abruptly without doing a proper research. We suggest our customers to always seek a professional's opinion and do an individual research before making costly purchases. Buying an appliance randomly could be risky since it might prove to be an unfit product for your home. One reason why we call Spring the best time for AC purchase is that you can have enough time to search and decide while can also take some professional's opinion. A carefully researched purchase will not only help choose a perfectly fit product but will also last for longer, giving supreme efficiency. All that you want!

Bottom Line

Purchasing Air Conditioners before the cooling season actually begins is a smart choice that smart people make. Not only this preseason purchase helps avoid sudden breakdown scenarios but also benefits in the form of in time installation and in the purchase of quality products. And therefore we and all HVAC professional say, BUY NOW! It's the best time!

Looking for purchasing an Air Conditioner?
Connect with us now: 1-855-245-4328

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Here's why you should install a Heat Recovery Ventilation system

Before we move on to the reasons of why it is benefiting to install an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) system at home, it is imperative to learn what actually an HRV system does. So let's explore how a Heat Recovery Ventilation system works.

The main purpose of an HRV system is to keep the home ventilated without wasting energy. In Winters, people prefer to keep doors and windows closed so that the indoor heat doesn't get wasted. Similarly, in intense Summers, the house is kept tightly packed to not let the outdoor heat enter the home. This is not a bad practice as far as capturing of warmth or losing it is concerned. But unfortunately, we need something more than warmth. A properly ventilated home is what brings a home like experience. Today, homes are built tightly packed. Then, insulation adds to the packing and there is left little to no room for ventilation. Unventilated homes can not only cause suffocation, odor, production of molds and spores but can also promote a totally unhealthy environment. To sit fit with homes of the millennium, HRV is a device that helps. It makes ventilation possible without any loss of heat, that too without opening any windows and doors.

In a heat recovery ventilation unit, there are two ducts.One duct is for carrying cool and fresh air from the outside towards inside of the home. While at the same time, the other duct carries warm and stale air from the inside of the home towards the outside, a bit similar to the exhaust fan. Both these ducts amalgamate at a point where the inside air shifts its energy to the incoming air, making it warmer. This particular unit is the primary part of an HRV where the most important function takes place and is called a heat exchanger. Once the energy is shifted, the incoming cool air automatically becomes warm to give a soothing indoor experience. This way, not only that the warmth does not get wasted but also the home gets proper ventilation.

Benefits of HRV system

Now that you know how the system works, it is the time to discover the benefits of it. Ready steady, here we go!

Recycles Energy

Recycling is a wonderful thing. Recycling wastes little to nothing and the thing/source is utilized in an equally effective manner again. In the case of HRV systems, the heat gets recycled and is recovered back to home, this time with an amalgamation with fresh and healthy air. One reason to go for HRV system installation is its effectivity to keep the home warm in all seasons, minimizing energy bills and a limited use of heating/cooling appliances while also providing sufficient ventilation.

Counters excessive humidity and its consequences

In addition to providing fresh air, an HRV system by providing proper ventilation reduces the excessive moisture and condensation in the home that can contribute to the production of molds and spores and also affect the home's interior. There are several homeowners in Toronto who come up with problems of excessive humidity or moisture due to basement flooding that they fail to combat. For such people, installing HRV systems is the best option since proper ventilation throughout the home reduces all such consequences of moisture and combats excessive moisture too.

Counters CO poisoning

Our homes are tightly packed today while we're also using appliances like Furnaces, Gas Fireplaces and others that produce Carbon Monoxide as a by-product. Homes that are not properly ventilated fail to exhaust poisonous gasses in case they're produced as a result of pipe leakage or vent damages. This could be a serious threat and cause fire since the lack of ventilation let the gasses circulate within the home. HRV system reduces such accidental possibilities.

Bottom Line

Keeping in view the above-mentioned benefits, it seems convincing to install an HRV system particularly if you have a non-ventilated or well insulated home. Although the installation of an HRV system is costly, it's benefits are also enough rewarding too and help save in a long run.
So what now? Planning to purchase an HRV unit now? Here you go! Find out Lennox Healthy Climate HRV System.

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Reasons to Install a Whole-Home Humidifier this Winter

Deciding the Size when purchasing a Humidifier

The must-know conditions for Parts Replacement

What happens after the conditions are met?

Will you have to pay for labor costs?

What causes leaking from the mini-split system

Installation of Air Purifiers:

Installation and Repair cost for air purifiers:

How does UV air purifier work?

How does filter air purifier work?

Air purification maintenance tips:

What to Expect from a duct cleaning service provider:

Can we prevent duct contamination?

How To Determine if cleaner did a good job?

Sample Template of Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist

Cloggy Air filters can spike up the bills

Keeping Furnace for too long

Closing supply registers:

Increasing temperature of a Thermostat:

Not Buying the right size:

Running Furnace All day:

Prioritizing price only:

1. Air Conditioner Short Cycles

2. Air Conditioner Thermostat (Touch Screen) not working

3. Compressor Noises

4. AC fails to cool

5. AC needs continuous repairs

24/7 HVAC customer care

Avoid Installation delay

Replace than Repair

Appliance research for best purchase

Bottom Line

Benefits of HRV system

Recycles Energy

Counters excessive humidity and its consequences

Counters CO poisoning

Bottom Line

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