Save on Heating With a Whole-Home Humidifier

Managing the humidity in your home improves comfort, reduces power consumption and protects wood floors and furniture from cracking. Proper humidity levels of about 50 percent also support respiratory health and reduce the presence of airborne irritants. Half measures like simmering water or maintaining a large fish tank only raise the humidity in small areas of a home, but a whole-house humidifier will allow you to realize the full benefits of consistently optimized humidity. Reduce Heating and Maintenance Costs In the winter when your central heat is running, the air inside your home can become excessively dry. You’ll notice that your skin gets dry and your eyes feel irritated. Your furnace is also working harder to heat the dry air. Raising humidity enables air to hold more heat. Your furnace won’t have to run as hard to warm air that has a greater level of moisture in it. Higher humidity will also make the air feel warmer to you. This precludes the necessity of turning up the thermostat and increasing your power bill. Less running time for your furnace will prolong its life. Wear and tear will take longer to accumulate, which means that repair and maintenance costs will be...

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How to Maintain Great Indoor Air Quality During the Winter Months

The air that you breathe each day can have a significant impact on your health over time. During the winter months, it can be challenging to get fresh air due to the cold weather conditions outside. If you want to protect your health and avoid potential issues, there are a few ways to improve your indoor air quality in the winter. Use a Carrier Humidifier Many people are unaware of how beneficial humidifiers are to use during the winter season. These machines add moisture to the air, which can prevent viruses and illnesses from spreading in a building. Studies show that people are at a higher risk of getting sick in dry climates, which makes it necessary to install a humidifier that will improve the air quality almost immediately. Change Air Filters Air filters are used to collect pet dander, dust, debris, and small particles that can circulate in the building and are often dangerous for residents to inhale. Make it a point to replace your air filter every one to three months. Select a product that has a high MERV rating, which will allow more contaminants to be trapped as the heater is operating. Installing a new filter will...

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Ways to Limit Indoor Air Pollutants

You may feel comfortable and at ease in your home but still suffer from asthma, allergies or respiratory issues throughout the year. Unfortunately, air pollutants are present in most buildings, and they can affect occupants who spend time in the setting. If you want to protect your health and limit the presence and circulation of indoor air pollutants, you should understand a few necessary steps you can take as a homeowner. Replace the Air Filter Many people forget to periodically change out their air filters throughout the year. Those filters can become dirty and clogged as they trap harmful contaminants and pollutants. You’ll need to replace the air filter every one to three months, especially when the HVAC system is most used during certain seasons. Some filters can be washed and reused throughout the year. Test for Radon Radon can exist in both new and old homes. Consequently, it’s necessary to test for this radioactive gas, which is odorless and colorless. Radon comes from certain types of soil and increases the risk of lung cancer. Radon often enters homes through cracks or holes that are present in the foundation of the building. Homes with granite countertops may also contain radon....

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How Do You Control Static Electricity in Your Home?

Static electricity in the home can produce a variety of annoying side effects: static cling, startling shocks when touching metal or another person, and dry, itchy skin. The phenomenon we have come to know as static electricity is the result of built-up electrical charge on the surface of an object. Very dry winter air exacerbates the buildup of electrons on surfaces indoors. Consequently, customers often ask their heating and cooling specialists how they can reduce static electricity in their surroundings. To reduce static electricity indoors, recommends the following tips. Adding a Whole Home-Humidifier By adding a whole-home humidifier, moisture is introduced into potentially aggravating dry air all around the house. The humidifier is installed directly into the home’s HVAC system, and it pushes moisture throughout the house’s ductwork. The system then monitors the moisture levels of the air in the home. Whole-home humidifiers typically cost several hundred dollars; however, they typically remedy static electricity buildup with one step, operate automatically, and can even help to reduce heating and cooling costs. Houseplants to the Rescue Houseplants provide a natural solution to the problem of static electricity. Approximately 90 percent of the water plants take in is eventually released back into the...

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The Multiple Functions of an HVAC System

It is not uncommon for people to erroneously refer to an HVAC system as simply a “heater” or “air conditioner.” The letters in HVAC correspond to the words “heating,” “ventilation,” and “air conditioning,” and a complete HVAC system includes all these components. Combining each of these functions into one system eliminates the need to adjust a separate unit to control them. It also ensures the functions will work together seamlessly when the system is in good working condition. is available to help Arizona households in Mesa and the surrounding areas remain comfortable by maintaining their HVAC systems. Heating Residential structures are most often heated by furnaces and boilers located in the basement. Furnaces and boilers leverage the natural upwardly mobile property of heat. In doing so, they force warm air from the lower level to the rooms above the unit. The heating system may also be connected to the home’s water system to provide warm water for showers and bathing. Ventilation A ventilation system may be natural or forced. Homes most often require forced ventilation because natural ventilation has limited use, particularly in warm, humid settings. Proper ventilation removes excess water vapor from a building to prevent the build-up of...

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What Home Areas Need More Ventilation?

Today, modern building techniques have resulted in homes that are more energy-efficient than ever. However, this has resulted in modern homes requiring ventilation. In the past, houses didn’t require it because they were already leaky. Fresh air was able to move in and out of them easily. Also, older homes were constructed from mainly natural products that didn’t emit volatile organic compounds like the products of today do, making ventilation a needed feature. Attics, basements, and crawl spaces often need more ventilation, but you can get whole-house systems that ventilate every area. The Benefits of Ventilation Ventilation systems improve your home’s indoor air quality. They expel pollutants and control moisture, preventing mold from developing. A good ventilation system can maintain your home’s structural integrity and decrease maintenance costs. This type of system may also increase your home’s value. Energy Recovery Systems Energy recovery systems are helpful because they offer a managed way to ventilate your house while decreasing energy loss. This kind of system decreases the energy costs of heating ventilated air during the winter by shifting heat from the warm interior exhaust to the outside air supply. In the summer, an energy recovery system uses the inside air to...

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The Differences Between HVAC and Air Conditioning

People use the terms air conditioning (AC) and HVAC interchangeably in writing. While there are some similarities between the two, they are not exactly the same. Since these systems have different functions, they feature different capabilities. What the Acronyms Stand For To understand the differences, it’s important to know the terms. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. AC is just air conditioning. In the past, AC systems were the standard in the home climate industry. The use of the initials did not change even after the systems continued to evolve. This is why contractors and experts also use HVAC and AC as if they are the same. What the Individual Elements Mean HVAC includes two important components — heating and ventilation — missing from an air conditioning system. Heating systems include a furnace or a boiler and ducts or vents. Some HVAC systems don’t have ducts or vents. Instead, they use home insulation and pressure differentials. In an HVAC system, the vent system can carry hot or cold air. When the temperatures are below the set thermostat levels, the furnace kicks in. The warm air moves through the ventilation system into the room. Ventilation also involves air quality....

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An Ounce of Prevention

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As a homeowner or business proprietor, you don’t have a landlord to call upon if things go awry. When it comes to proper temperature control in your home or office, it’s imperative that you keep on top of the maintenance. The conscientious technicians here at are prepared to help you work smarter instead of harder. It’s our goal to assist you in becoming more efficient in the area of proper HVAC upkeep. With the new year ahead, now’s the time to create your year-long HVAC checklist to keep you on track. Suggested HVAC Checklist As you sit down to prepare your checklist, it can be easy to overlook important components. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are some valuable suggestions to get you started: Change air filters once every quarter. Adjust thermostat settings as the seasons change. Enlist HVAC professionals for fall heater maintenance. Replace batteries in carbon monoxide detectors in the fall. Visually inspect outdoor units to ensure they are free of debris. If they’re dirty, clean them with a microfiber cloth. Enlist HVAC professionals in spring to inspect and service cooling units. These maintenance items are...

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Keep Your Indoor Air Quality Fresh During Winter

Indoor air quality in Arizona changes with the seasons. During the wintertime, our ventilation systems may absorb more dust and mold. When we use our heating systems, the bacteria in our house thrives on the warm, humid conditions. You can keep your home flowing with fresh air, but you need to maintain the heating system in your house. An indoor air quality control system might help you remove allergens as well. Maintenance for Heating Systems Heating systems require routine maintenance to prevent mold formation. Usually, rain and snow increase the humidity in our homes. These conditions increase the humidity in our heat pumps and release airborne bacteria through the air flow. A technician can analyze your air conditioning system for any possible mold. This maintenance can improve the situation before the allergens affect you. You can maintain indoor air quality, but you need to understand when you have bacteria growth. Indoor Air Quality System Installation Indoor air quality control is an excellent solution for allergens. You can control the quality of air in your house with these devices, and the filtration works with your air conditioning system. Installing an air quality control system requires some planning before you finish the...

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Can My Furnace Run Without a Filter?

Your furnace is one of the most important appliances in your home as it will help to keep your property warm during the cold winter months. One of the most important parts of routine maintenance is to replace your filter every few months. However, there could be a situation in which you may not have a filter. While you may be OK for a day without a filter, there are several reasons why it is extremely important to have a filter in your furnace at all times. Poor Efficiency Over time, not having a filter in your furnace will hurt the overall heating efficiency of your furnace. The main job that a filter has is to block debris from getting into your furnace. If this debris is not blocked, it will get into the furnace and will begin to affect the way that it operates. This will soon lead to poor heating outcomes, higher energy bills, and could also lead to many other expensive repairs. Air Quality Another important benefit of having a filter in your furnace is that it will help to improve overall air quality. The filter can help to block harmful allergens and debris from getting into...

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