A few questions for the experts

[Tinslinger]

I'm building my first home (http://www.omahanewhomes.com/RichlandHomeCollection.asp?SelectionTitle=Sanford) in Omaha, Nebraska. It does not include a humidifier or anything other than a 1" furnace filter. I cannot change anything untill I close on the house. I've been researching online for what to have installed. What I came up with is an Aprilaire 500A (http://www.aprilaire.com/index.php?znfAction=ProductDetails&category=5&item=500) and a Honeywell F300 (http://yourhome.honeywell.com/Consumer/Cultures/en-US/Products/Air+Cleaners/Electronic/Default.htm). When I called the company (http://a1united.net/id10.html) that is doing the HVAC work on the house to get estimates they recommended the 500M or the 600A for $75 more, no 500A. For the air filter a Lenox Pureair Merv 16 as they don't sell Honeywell. What they didn't say was the filters for the Lennox are 120ish a year if they last that long. I've read the Merv 16 clog fast and may only last 6 months. So my concerns are they are "selling" me way more than what I need.

My HVAC knowledge up to now has been push the up arrow to make it warmer and the down arrow to make it cooler. :)

So my questions are, with the givin info, is a 600 needed over a 500. I'd perfer the auto so it's one less thing to worry about. The house is only 1515 sq. Ft. I don't understand the tight house, loose house thing and which one my house would be.
And is the Lennox worth the extra cost of filters over the Honeywell. I liked the idea of just washing the filters oposed to $120-240 a year for replacement filters. My wife does have allergies which is why I want to replace the standard 1" that it comes with.
One last question, would UV lamp do anything. I've read mixed reviews. I've read they do work but not in a residential setting where they put just one.

I feel alot more comfortable when I tell a company what to install rather than them selling what makes them the most profit. It is just that they (A1) are doing the HVAC so they know whats there and are covering the waranty. If they can't give me what I want I have no problem calling a company that can. I'm just not sure if having some other company cut into their (A1's) duct work will void my waranty.

[BaldLoonie]

I take it the house isn't very well built?

You only need a humidifier in a leaky house. Hopefully a new home will be tight and your humidity will be fine without a hum. If not, get it sealed up. Relative humidity drops from air leaking in and being heated. Warm air holds more moisture than cold. You aren't removing moisture heating air, you are just lowering the relative humidity. SO, leaky house, low humidity. Well built house, just fine or even too humid! So before you spend any money on the humidifier, move in and see what you have. If you have a problem, you need to stop the air leaks, not mask the problem with a humidifier.

Can't help you on the Lennox. I use just a standard media, right now the Honeywell pop-up. Most customers are happiest with them over the electronics.

[Twilly]

Twilli says run constant blower and get Aprilair 700A. Aprilair 5000. Trust Twilli, Twilli used to work for the government.

[Shophound]

I second the Bald One's statements regarding low humidity levels. He's right on target. Hold off on the humidifier until you've spent a full winter in the home. Get a decent humidity meter so you can measure the humidity levels over time to see how well the house performs.

[Twilly]

Twilli second his own recommendation.

[Twilly]

Twilli bet those two 50 bucks each that you need one. Come back in one year if they take the bet so Twilli can collect

[m kilgore]

Your Hearthstone is going to be of average construction. It is not going to be a tight house. As you know they are a large builder in Omaha. Average size houses. One important thing to watch for is to make sure the duct gets sealed good. It is somthing new for are area and some installers do not do a very good job at it. I have heard that A-1 is a good company but could not tell you one way or the other.

As far as filtering goes I would stay with some form of media filter. The electronic ones need to be washed alot to keep up the efficiency. They are rated very high when new but loose efficiency very fast with a little dirt on the plates. The merv 16 healthy climate is a great option and would be very good for tha algeries your wife has. The filters are costly but should only need changed once a year if you keep a clean house. If the cost is to much a merv 10 would fit in the same cabinet.

The Lennox pure air system would have a merv 16 filter, UV lights and a cadylst which the UV lights activate. This would be your best filtering option and is very highly rated.

What furnace are you getting? You might want to go with a variable speed model so you could run the fan constantly at a lower electrical cost. This would add comfort and filter the air constantly. Just a thought.

Good luck with your new home and enjoy the building process.:)