The Houston area experiences a daily average of 75% humidity year round. Which means Houstonians often walk around with glowing skin and frizzy hair; but there is something else that consistently high humidity levels bring, and that is the likelihood of homeowners dealing with mold and mildew growth in their homes. 

While we can't help with frizzy hair, there are fantastic products designed specifically for HVAC performance in higher humidity environments. In this blog, we'll take a look at the benefits of going blue with your HVAC ductwork in your home. 

Microbes are living microscopic organisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses. At any given time, you actually have trillions of living microbes on and in your body. Many are helpful and aid in food digestion and your immune system. But some are not helpful and may cause you to get sick. 

• Bacteria are single cell organisms. Most bacteria are helpful to humans, aiding us to stay healthy, but some can cause infections or other illnesses, like Tuberculosis. A doctor can prescribe antibiotics that kill the bacteria. Well-known examples of bacteria include salmonella and staphylococcus bacteria.
• Fungi can be found almost anywhere. Well-known examples of fungi include mold, yeast, and mushrooms. Fungi are typically found in moist environments. Breathing in fungi spores like mold can be harmful, especially if a person is allergic or has a weakened immune system.
• Viruses are comprised of one or more molecules surrounded by a protein shell. The genetic information the virus needs to reproduce is located inside the protein shell. Well-known examples of viruses include Influenza (The Flu), AIDS, and the common cold. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses but medications can be used to help treat symptoms. Your body's immune system ultimately has to fight off the virus. ​​

Since the Houston area is a humid environment, your HVAC system will be constantly working to dehumidify the air flowing into your home. If your system is not regularly maintained or is older, it may experience difficulties keeping up with the dehumidification process which could lead to excess moisture build up throughout the system.
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When moisture is present in an HVAC system, the potential for mold, fungi and mildew exists. A mold infested HVAC system may lead to large scale remediation, related cleanup costs and possible health issues. ​

JPL AMBlue II is a high quality flexible duct that is specifically engineered to fight mold and provides real results. It is easily recognizable by its bright blue color.

Benefits of JPL AMBlue II ​

• Its distinctive inner core is treated with Agion® natural silver which resists microbial growth and reduces mold infestation on the surface of the inner core
• A unique blue reinforced vapor barrier surrounds the entire duct
• It is made with R8 insulation and near zero air leakage when properly installed for energy efficiency

Millions of feet of AMBlue II have been successfully installed without a single report of mold, fungi or mildew. AMBlue II is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified as “Highly Mold Resistant.”

At Country Air, we believe the products and services we provide should be appropriate for the environment they will be performing in. That's why we exclusively use JPL’s AMBlue II duct in all of our new HVAC installs. If you have questions or would like a complimentary quote on installing JPL’s AMBlue II duct in your home or office, please reach out to us at 281-356-8564 and one of our Comfort Specialist will be happy to assist you. 

​Ever go outside and your glasses instantly fog over, and your hair frizzes up? Pretty much every day if you live in Houston, right? Our high levels of humidity not only affect our good hair days, but our homes as well.

Ideally, your home’s humidity levels should be between 30-50 percent. When your home’s humidity levels are higher than normal for prolonged periods of time, mold and mildew could settle in and cause health risks. Too little humidity can dry your skin out and even cause problems sleeping.

The easiest ways to determine your home’s humidity level is to look at your thermostat. If you have a smart thermostat, it will read your humidity levels for you. If you don’t have a smart thermostat, consider upgrading to one with dehumidification capabilities.