Spring is Allergy Season

Spring is allergy season. While many people seek medical assistance in dealing with allergy symptoms, simply maintaining good indoor air quality in your home is a key to reducing the impact of airborne pollutants that produce respiratory discomfort. We have many ways you can improve your health. Here are some tips for improving the indoor air quality of your home:

Install a whole-home air purification / filtration system in tandem with your heating and cooling systems.

Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces in the home, including floors, carpeting and upholstered furniture which can retain allergens even after vacuuming.
Purchase a high-quality vacuum cleaner. This can make a world of difference in keeping dust, pollen and mites at bay.

The U.S. Department of Environmental Protection recommends keeping indoor humidity levels below 50 percent to reduce the effects of airborne allergens.  Homes with evaporative cooling during the Monsoon season see indoor humidity in excess of 70%, which causes airborne and surface allergens to flourish.  Consider using Air Conditioning especially during these times.

Change or clean air conditioning and heating filters frequently, and perform recommended maintenance on your system.

Call us today for more tips!

Here's a Spring Quick Tip

Spring is here so we do not want to take up your valuable time. So, this week we have a quick tip.

Check your filter every month, especially during months of heavy usage (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep your home warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

So hop to it and check that filter. Then give us a call to schedule a spring check-up,  and have your unit serviced before the heat of summer arrives!

March is a Time for Madness

Everyone knows about March Madness, what we want to talk about is March sanity.

 

One of the sanest things you can do is to give your HVAC system a regular checkup. Before you drive your car there are certain things you check; tires, windows, oil etc. Well each month there are some things you should check on your HVAC system.

 

Check Your Air Filters. Clogged filters lead to a 5 to 15 percent drop of efficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, which recommends changing or cleaning filters every one to two months during peak use. Reusable filters should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and placed back in the system. Disposable filters should be thrown away. New filters to replace the ones you tossed are available at most hardware stores.

 

Check your drains. This HVAC repair is primarily applicable to cooling systems, which feature drains used to remove condensation that builds up over time. The condensation usually isn’t clean: it carries dirt and other particles that clog these drains. Removing the dirt is simple. With the system off, push a wire through the drain to knock it out, being careful to avoid injury.

 

Check your thermostat. Verify that your thermostat is working correctly. A thermostat that leaves your home too cool or too warm can waste energy. Check to make sure your home is at the same temperature set on the thermostat and that timed cooling or heating is working properly. Generally, thermostat repairs require professional maintenance.

 

If you take these few basic steps you can prevent some madness in your house!

March is the Time to Think Green

When you think green as it relates to your home, the green you think of is money. Your home can be a money pit but, if you Go Green you can change that!

We all look around our homes and can identify endless home improvement opportunities. But today with energy costs at an all-time high and continuing to increase, investing in home energy efficiency can really pay off.

For example, replacing a 10-15 year old furnace & air conditioner and making sure that the ductwork is sealed properly, can reduce your heating and cooling cost by over 50% and depending upon home construction and climate zone, installing energy efficient high-performance windows can save $300-400 a year.

The average U.S. household spends approximately $2,200 per year on energy -- nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling, according to Energy Star and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Of the rest, about 14 percent goes to heating water, 12 percent to lighting and 13 percent for appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers.

By replacing your appliances and light bulbs you can save even more in your home. And in 2013 there maybe more tax incentives.

So this month isn’t it time to think green?

Pollution More of a Problem

Pollution More of a Problem

 

For a couple of reasons, indoor air pollution in offices and homes is becoming more and more of a recognized problem.  One, we seal our buildings up tighter than we used to in order to increase energy efficiency, and two, we are filling them up with more and more toxic products that get in our air. 

In some homes, indoor air pollution is 100 times higher than outdoors!

 

Ways to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

 

You can reduce indoor air pollution by removing as much as possible of the following types of products from your home:

• Artificially scented beauty and personal care products and candles
• Cleaning products made from synthetic chemicals
• Air fresheners (which only add more chemicals to cover up smells)
• Plastics
• Pesticides
• Synthetic fibers, fabrics and materials, as well as added toxins like flame retardants and stain resistant chemicals in carpets, clothes and furnishings
• Building materials and furnishings made from formaldehyde and other toxins

You can also reduce indoor air pollution by increasing ventilation.  In good weather, keep your windows open as much as possible and use fans to increase air flow.  In the winter, you may want to consider an air-to-air heat exchanger (for more info, contact us here.)  Houseplants such as aloe vera, elephant ear philodendron and English ivy can also help to clean the air.

For more information about how we can help you improve your air quality, please call us today!

Heat Pumps

Using a heat pump may save on energy costs. Here are a few things to help you decide if a heat pump (or HVAC System) is the right choice for your home.

 

Comfort is what makes a house a home. Comfort is the largest consideration in keeping your family happy. Therefore, keeping your home at the desired temperature will improve the comfort level. Heat pump systems are a great way to save energy, money and guarantee a greater comfort level.

 

Heat pumps are air conditioning systems that heat and cool. A heat pump takes the heat from the cold weather and pumps it into your home. In the heat of the summer a heat pump acts as a conventional air conditioner by taking the heat from your home and pushing it outside and blowing cold air in. Heat pumps are also considered smart purchases because dehumidify your home and are 2-3 times as efficient as electrical heat.

 

The installation of a heating system may come across as costly, but once installed, your new HVAC System will save you energy and money. Heat pumps produce twice the amount of heat using the same amount of energy as a less expensive and ordinary HVAC System.

Mid-Winter Energy Saving

As we head into the middle of winter, now is a great time to take a look at a few things you can do to save some energy this winter!

 

First you can start with your thermostat. Have you replaced it with a programmable one? A programmable thermostat allows you to control the temperature throughout the day and night, adjusting it for when people are actually in your home. If you already have programmable thermostats, now is the time to relook at your programming. Has something changed in your family over the last year that changes when your home is being used? Did you change work shifts? Did a child leave for college? Did you get new windows? There are all kinds of reasons the demand on your home may have changed. Take a few moments to adjust your programming for these changes.

 

Second go around and check each window and door seal for air leaks. Repair any seals and caulk any gaps to prevent air from passing through.

 

Finally, remember to not leave your bathroom fan on continuously. Add a timer switch to it so that it turns off after a certain amount of time. This will keep it from exhausting all the heat from your home as well.

 

Implementing just a few of these tips will help you save more in 2013!