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Maximize Indoor Air Quality With These 3 Tips

Indoor air quality often goes unnoticed, out of sight out of mind. But the air quality in your home is an important part of your families health. Pollutants and impurities can cause illness and aggravate pre-existing conditions and allergies. The EPA suggests these strategies of handling pollutants to improve your indoor air quality.

Controlling the Source - One of the best ways to improve your indoor air quality is to track down the source of any pollutants and removing or reducing them. This is a simple, and cheap method to improve indoor air quality, while simultaneously providing better energy efficiency when compared to increased ventilation as a solution.

Improving Ventilation - Most HVAC units don't bring in adequate amounts of outdoor air, which makes ventilation improvements all the more important. Bringing in fresh outdoor air can be as simple as opening a window or using a fan. Ventilating is most important when doing activities such as painting, cooking or sanding, as they can introduce toxins into your air.

Utilizing Air Cleaners - When proper ventilation is limited due to factors like weather, air cleaners are a helpful alternative for maintaining suitable indoor air quality levels. We don't recommend air cleaners as a primary solution, but rather as a supplementary option to source control or increased ventilation.

If you have any questions on indoor air quality, or anything else HVAC related, give us a call today!

7 Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptoms this Spring

Spring is officially here, though the snow missed the memo in some places. It's time to start worrying about allergies. With the trees and flowers budding up it can be difficult to find relief even inside your home. Allergens are everywhere, but you can reduce the number of allergens in your home by following these simple tips:

1. Duct Cleaning. Over time the duct work in your home will gather dust, debris, dirt and allergens: pounds of it even. Call a professional for a duct cleaning to clear it of these allergy aggravating contaminants and prevent them from circulating your home.

2. Filter Replacement or Upgrade. In many homes the only source of indoor air quality is the air filter in the HVAC system. If the air filter is not replaced regularly, then air quality will become a problem. Put regular filter replacement at the top of your maintenance checklist, and if you're still using a cheap fiberglass filter, consider upgrading to a high quality MERV rated filter.

3. Air Conditioner Maintenance. A dirty AC unit is frequently the source of many allergens. Mold and other irritants can build up within the system and then circulate your home. Call in a professional and have your system cleaned out and enjoy not only cleaner air but also some savings from the increased energy efficiency.

4. Vacuuming and Carpet Cleaning. We hope you're already vacuuming on a regular basis, but carpet collects all sorts of bacteria, dust, dander and other pollutants. We recommend deep cleaning the carpets with a steam cleaner to remove and neutralize any contaminants and then regular vacuuming to help keep it that way.

5. Bedding Replacement or Cleaning. A bed is another place that can retain and collect allergens. If you can't afford to replace your bedding, or you just like it too much, have it cleaned instead to remove any pollutants. Mattresses are particularly good at trapping and collecting contaminants, so put a case on that thing to keep it from irritating your allergies.

6. Drape Cleaning. Another household fabric that is a haven for dust and other allergens. Get it cleaned, along with other notable fabrics around the home, at the beginning of the season to cut back on allergens.

7. Weather Stripping Windows and Doors. The last tip we have for you is to do whatever it takes to keep the outdoors where they belong. Keep your doors and windows tightly shut as much as you can, and seal any cracks that may exist along the edges with weather stripping. This will keep the pollen and other allergens out while also taking some burden off of your air conditioner during the warmer seasons.

Don't wait another day, get your home ready for spring! Call us today for some spring system maintenance.

Air Filter Options

We're always telling you how important, easy and efficient changing your air filter is. They keep the dust and pollutants out of the air circulating your home, and a clogged one can negatively affect the efficiency of your air system, but you knew that already. But do you know about the other types of air filters you can buy? Here are the four most common types of air filters:

Standard
These are the ordinary air conditioning filters, made from spun fiberglass and cardboard frames. These filters are the least expensive, and probably most widely used, but they remove only the largest of dust and dirt particles. However, these filters still clean out enough of the particles to be acceptable choices for people without allergies or respiratory illnesses. These filters need to be cleaned or replaced most often, as much as once a month depending on the model.

Pleated
Pleated filters are a step up from standard filters. They are made from folded fiber material to maximize its surface area. The larger filtration surface enables these filters to remove up to 40% of all harmful particles in the air, making them an ideal choice for individuals with mild allergies or other minor respiratory issues. Pleated filters are slightly more expensive than standard, but they last about three times as long, requiring replacement only once every 3 months.

Electrostatic
These are an advanced type of filter that uses an electrical charge to magnetically pull contaminates out of the air and into the filter. Electrostatic filters can achieve up to 90% removal of particles in the air, but they are also relatively expensive. The cost is well worth it for individuals who suffer from allergies or just want top notch indoor air quality. Electrostatic filters, like pleated, also require changing every 3 months.

HEPA
High energy particle arresting (HEPA) filters are the top of the line in modern filtration technology. They use filtration media fine enough to trap particles as small as 1/300 of the width of a human hair. As can be expected, HEPA filters are expensive, but they can remove up to 99.7% of contaminates from the air. For the best possible indoor air quality, these filters are preferred. Additionally HEPA filters have to standard replacement frequency, and can 6 months, up to a year, or more depending on variables in your home. We recommend annual checkups to make sure a HEPA filter is still working as planned.

Keeping your systems up and running effectively makes a big difference, especially with the warm weather coming up, and keeping your air filters clean is an essential part of maintaining efficiency. Always change your filters on time or when otherwise necessary. For any question on air filters or anything else heating and cooling, call us today!

3 Things All Homeowners Should Know about Heating & Cooling

There are tons of things to think about when it comes to buying a home, even more-so if you're a first time buyer. HVAC maintenance, Energy Efficiency, and Indoor Air Quality, are some of the most important things to keep in mind, whether you're searching for a home or just invested in one. Here's why:

HVAC Maintenance
When it comes to your furnace and air conditioning systems, preventative maintenance is key. Having a system break down is the heat of summer or the cold of winter could be disastrous; keep your systems maintained rather than waiting to have them repaired when you really need them. It's recommended that you have your systems serviced twice a year, once in spring and fall, before the heating and cooling seasons really kick in. At the bare minimum have a professional take a look once every two years.

Energy Efficiency
Whether you buy into the green technologies/lifestyle or not, you probably would like to be saving some money on your energy bills. The average home wastes 25 to 40 percent of the energy output from their heating and cooling systems. When it comes to HVAC systems and energy efficiency, the newer the system the better. However, there are things you can do with older systems to provide better efficiency. Ensure that your home is properly insulated and your equipment is running properly and efficiently and you'll be saving money in no time.

Indoor Air Quality
Seasonal allergies, asthma, pet allergies and even dangerous gasses; the quality of the air in your home has some huge implications when it comes to your everyday comfort. Making sure your system isn't circulating unnecessary dust and dander is essential when it comes to your health and comfort. One way to improve your indoor air quality is to install an air purifier to go with your HVAC system. This will ensure that the air leaving your heating and cooling systems is cleaned before being circulated throughout your home. Other measures you can take can be as simple as having your systems regularly cleaned and maintained.

Call us today for maintenance, cleaning, air purifiers, or any other HVAC needs.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Looking to improve the indoor air quality in your home? We can help! Here are few of the best ways to improve indoor air quality:

Air Cleaners

Air cleaners, in either the mechanical or the electronic variety, can drastically improve the air quality in your home. They can target a large variety of indoor air pollutants, including dust mites and pet dander. If your air seems musty or dirty an air cleaner may be the thing for you.

Whole-Home Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Depending on the season your home may need a humidity adjustment. Your home shouldn't feel as muggy as a swamp, or as dry as a desert. Don't let moisture become a problem, or you might end up with a number of problems, including mold.

UV Germicidal Lights

UV Germicidal Lights are a safe and effective way to destroy microscopic pathogens and prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. These lights are a great addition to any home, but they do take some extra work to maintain, like your filters.

Duct Cleaning

A professionally done duct cleaning can remove all types of indoor air contaminants that have built over time in your ductwork.

If you want to improve your indoor air quality and any of these things sound like something you need, give us a call today!

Get Your System Ready For Spring!

March is here, things are starting to heat up, spring is almost here! There are quite a few things you can do to prepare your A/C system for the warmer weather to make it run efficient and effective. Here's 5 things we recommend:

Remove Debris
It's a good idea to remove any leaves, weeds, or other types of debris before you set your A/C into full gear. Make sure the fans are clear of debris especially.

Replace the Filter
We've said it before, we'll say it again: replacing the filter is one of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain a high efficiency for a system. The filter collects the pollutants and eventually it will have enough dust, dirt and debris for it to block up, and when that happens the air cannot pass through the filter effectively. Replace your filters often, even monthly!

Shade the Unit.
If the condensing unit is directly in the sun, it may have a harder time cooling. Think about planting a bush or tree for shade nearby if you're looking for maximum efficiency.

Lubricate the Motor.
First make sure the unit is off before even thinking about getting to the motor. Definitely take a look in the owner's manual for specifics if you want to do this one yourself.

Schedule a Tune-Up.
Give us a call, let us take a look at your system and make sure that everything is operating correctly. Every manufacturer recommends routine maintenance, and some manufacturer warranties are void if routine maintenance isn't performed.

Now is the time to act before the warm weather kicks in to full gear, most of these tips are easy to do on your own; for everything else, give us a call today!