This year’s winners of The NEWS’ ninth annual Dealer Design Awards’ Indoor Air Quality category provide more tools for contractors to defeat poor air quality and indoor discomfort.

The ComfortBreeze ™ evaporative humidifier line combines advanced microprocessor control with conventional evaporative technology. The units are available with optional patent-pending ComfortSmart™ technology to minimize water consumption while maintaining a comfortable humidity in the home.

Highly sensitive, the portable and extremely accurate AMI300 IAQ monitor has data storage with software capabilities. Interchangeable probes and modules available include CO/temp probe (0-1,000 ppm) (1-ppm resolution), CO2/temp probe (0–5,000 ppm) ( 1-ppm resolution), CO2/temp/humidity probe, and more.

Model 8000 has been added to the York® Affinity™ Series premium humidifiers. The residential steam humidifier is 10-1/8 inches wide by 7-1/8 inches deep by 20-7/8 inches high and can deliver up to 23.3 gallons of humidity per day — enough to effectively humidify a 5,000-square-foot home, the company said.

The Mini UV™ System is a germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light system designed specifically for mini-split and other ductless air conditioning units in residential and commercial applications. According to the manufacturer, the light system’s patent-pending miniaturized components fit inside all ductless a/c brands.

Capable of removing up to 105 pints of water a day while using only 4.9 A of energy (8.8 pints per kWh), the Ultra-Aire™ XT105H whole-house dehumidifier is designed for homes up to 2,500 square feet. Optional fresh outdoor air may be ducted to the unit, providing fresh air to dilute pollutants.

The energy recovery dehumidification systems utilize highly efficient passive heat pipe technology. ACT-HP-WA Wrap-Around dehumidification systems can be easily installed in existing or new vertical or horizontal air handlers. The system is designed in a U-shape to wrap around the existing evaporator coil of an HVAC system.

Compatible with virtually every make and model of forced-air systems and ideal for use with heat pumps, the residential Steam Humidifier is a high-efficiency, low-maintenance humidifier, said the company. The humidifier will operate in the heating system without the need for a call for heat.

No small company has been immune to the negative business forces that have besieged the HVAC industry since the implosion of the housing market and the economic downturn. How did two contractors use IAQ to fight back?

To aid contractors seeking to enter the IAQ market, manufacturers offer a full array of tools to assist in the marketing and selling of products and systems to the homeowner during replacement sales, service calls, and scheduled maintenance visits. This guide provides a sampling of the resource materials and assistance available.