HEATING & COOLING HUMIDIFIERS & DEHUMIDIFIERS STUDY GUIDE MODULE 4of 6 PAGE 1 of 2 Basic Training Course in Hardware Retailing PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE TRAINING Learn the common features and uses of each product. PK DESCRIPTIONS 1. Ultrasonic Humidifier • Uses high-fre q u e n cy energy to break the water up into tiny droplets, wh i ch are then dispersed into the air by a small fan. • Quiet and use little energy. • Has the potential of leaving a sticky white dust around the house if used with h a rd tap water. • Can pose health risks if the unit raises the level of airborne particles in the air. • For best results and to prevent pollutants in the air, use distilled water with this type of humidifier. 2. Evaporative Humidifier • Uses a wick and high-volume air to return moisture to the air. • The wick is a honeycomb arrangement of cellulose paper with a large surface area. • Operates by partially submerging the wick in the water while a fan forces air to pass through the upper exposed area, distributing absorbed water into the air. • Wicks will need replacing. • This type uses little energy and is easy to clean. Some units can be noisy. 3. Warm-Mist Device • Uses a heating element to restore moisture to the air. • The water surrounding the heating element is brought to near boiling and a fan cools and distributes the moistened air, which is slightly warmer than room air. • This type can be used with tap water and will not cause white dust. • Can be noisy and consumes more energy than other types. 4. Impeller Humidifier • Sprays droplets of water into the air. • An inexpensive type of humidifier. • Must be used with distilled water or with demineralizing tablets in the water. 5. Floor-Vent Humidifier • Replaces standard floor vent registers. • Provides humidity for individual rooms without the need for a plug-in humidifier. • Uses a water chamber where homeowners can add water, which then passes through a wick filter and into the air when the furnace cycles on. 6. Furnace-Mounted Humidifier • Forces dry air from the furnace through a saturated foam element or plate. • Connected to the water supply so it is re filled automatically. • Another type sprays a fine mist of water into the heated air. • Uses an automatic reset humidistat to adjust moisture output to compensate for weather changes. 7. Evaporative Coolers • Sometimes called a swamp cooler. • Uses ice and cool water to cool and return moisture to the air. • Ice and cool water is mounted on top of the unit. As the ice melts, cool water flows over a wicking material. A fan mounted behind the wick creates a cool moist breeze. • E nv i ro n m e n t a l ly friendly as it uses little e n e rgy and contains no harmful ch l o ro fl uoro c a r b o n s. • Advise customers who will use this product to crack a few windows to prevent moisture build-up on inside walls. 8. Dehumidifier • Removes excess moisture from the air by blowing humid air over cold evaporator coils in a refrigerator system. • Moisture collects in a pan, and the unit will automatically shut off when the pan is full. • A humidistat controlling the dehumidifier will respond to changes in moisture content and is necessary for efficient energy consumption. OTHER TRAINING TIPS Designed to give you confi dence on the salesfloor! This section is for retail skills training specific to this core product category. FAQs Q: What is the benefit of a humidifier? A: A humidifier can make a house more comfortable during the winter months. Cold air holds little moisture. When it enters the house and is warmed, the air in the house HEATING & COOLING HUMIDIFIERS & DEHUMIDIFIERS STUDY GUIDE MODULE 4of 6 PAGE 2 of 2 Basic Training Course in Hardware Retailing becomes dry. Humidifiers restore moisture to the air and can make the house feel warmer, allowing you to use less heat and thus save energy. Q: How large of a humidifier should I buy? A: There are three main sizes of humidifiers. The portable type, or tabletop style, is intended to service a single room. The console humidifiers can output from six to 13 gallons of water per day, enough for several rooms. An in-duct humidifier can be installed in a forced-air heating system. Q: Why should I use distilled water with my humidifier? A: C e rtain types of humidifi e rs such as the ultrasonic humidifier should be used with distilled water. If not, the humidifier could leave a sticky, white dust around the house. It could also contri bute to elevated levels of bacteria residue and mold part i cles in the air. Q: Does the tank size contribute to the efficiency of the humidifier? A: No. Larger tank sizes merely mean you won’t have to refill them as often. Q: Where should I place my humidifier for maximum efficiency? A: Place port able humidifi e rs near an inside wall, p re ferably facing a stairwell. Also keep the unit at least 6" from the wall for proper air circ u l ation. Since moist, warm air rises, an upstairs floor unit will not be as effective. Q: How can I get the most efficient use from my dehumidifier? A: O p e rate the dehumidifier with doors and windows cl o s e d. Place the unit away f rom wa l l s , f u rn i t u re and other airflow obstructions. Q: How do I know how much humidity my humidifier is producing? A: Use a hygrometer. These are inexpensive and will tell you how much humidity is in the air. UPSELLING • Better portable humidifiers feature large, easy-to-open screw caps for easy tank refilling and cleaning. • Better console humidifiers will feature a filler hose that connects to a faucet for tank filling. They may also have adjustable fan speeds, a built-in humidistat and an automatic shutoff. • A furnace-mounted humidifier that is selfcleaning eliminates the need for water additives. • Quality of dehumidifiers is closely related to the amount of moisture a unit extracts during a 24-hour period. A high-capacity unit can remove 50-60 pints of moisture during a 24-hour period. Small units only remove 25 pints of water per day and may not be able to dry the air satisfactorily all the time. ADD-ON SALES • Distilled Water • Watering Can • Replacement Wick • Replacement Filter • Garden Hose • Liquid Descaler USAGE TIPS Make sure your customers know how to properly care for their humidifier • Clean tanks and filters or belts regularly. • Watch for scale formation in humidifiers. Mineral scale forms as a residue when water evaporates. These mineral formations clog filters, pads and belts to the extent that they cannot pick up or hold water. • Mineral buildup can reduce performance and damage equipment. • Liquid descalers clean out mineral buildup. Use them to keep the humidifier running at optimum performance. • An alternative to solving the mineral buildup problem is to treat the water used in the humidifier. Concentrate water treatment for console humidifiers reduces scale buildup and controls mold and mildew growth. MORE INFORMATION MERCHANDISING • Liquid descalers and other cleaners are used to maintain humidifiers. If you normally stock these items in a different department, cross merchandise a few in the humidifier display to prompt add-on sales. • Merchandise hygrometers, replacement filters and replacement humidifier wicks close to the humidifiers.
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