High-Efficiency Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation

December 3, 2018 By

Good Deals Heating and Cooling air qualityAir quality inside your home is an essential part of keeping your home habitable. There are a lot of resources that are available to keep your air quality at a reasonable level. In this article, we are going to cover a couple of options for monitoring and maintaining excellent air quality in your home.

Foobot Air Quality Monitor

Foobot is a monitor that allows you to track the quality of your air in your home. The device connects to your smart thermostat and displays results on an online dashboard. These monitors let you know if additional methods need to be put in place to keep your home’s air clean.

Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)

When this type of ventilator is installed in your home, it uses the energy that comes through your existing air exhaust to power air purification technology. This energy efficient ventilator allows air to flow better through your home.

Commutated Fans

Commutated fans are powered via direct current from your air conditioning system. This system is more energy efficient than other methods of power available to fans. The blowers on board do a fantastic job at ventilating your home or business. Fans and blowers that use commutated air control have enhanced control over the speed at which they ventilate the house.

UV Advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation

If you want to ensure good air quality, then a system like UV advanced photocatalytic oxidation is the way to go. This system is installed inside your centralized air system and scrubs all air that comes into the house. It works to keep your whole home filtered. When using this system, it also prevents mold from growing in the air ducts and dispersing spores throughout your house.

Talk to an HVAC Contractor

A lot of different options have been invented to help you with air quality. Talking over your specific needs with an HVAC contractor will help them identify the best solution for you. They can come out to your property and address your particular needs.

Good air quality is essential especially for persons suffering from respiratory ailments or allergies. Being able to control the quality of your in-home air can make a big difference – it means healthier living and easier breathing. What is your home air quality? The best way to discover this is to work with a heating and cooling company that specializes in providing air quality solutions.

For more information on improving the air quality in your home contact Good Deals Heating and Cooling at 215-947-1166.

Filed Under: Philadelphia HVAC Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

5 Tips For Better Indoor Air Quality

September 3, 2018 By

Good Deals Heating and Cooling air qualityWe spend most of our home maintenance time investing in stuff like window screens, weather-proof sealants, and air-tight doors and windows. We’re taught to keep things like bugs, the heat, and cold out of our homes. It keeps us from getting sick, we tell ourselves, and yes this is true. However, if you trap the air inside your house, you’re risking air quality problems.

Believe it or not, your furniture can lower the quality of your indoor air. According to the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously.” So your couch, your blankets, and other things you’re around for hours a day can emit harmful gases and chemicals.

We live in a time in which most of us spend a majority of the day indoors. Consider the time someone sleeps in their bed, wakes up and goes to work, sits in their car to transition between home and work, and then return home. On average, many of us spend more time indoors more than outdoors now. Exposure to these pollutants are problematic for not just for people with asthma, in poor health, or are differently-enabled, but can have long-term effects on anyone if precautions aren’t taken. Here are five ways you can make the quality of your indoor air better.

Switch From Chemical to Natural

DIY (Do It Yourself) projects are all the rage online. Hundreds of videos are available and can teach you how to make virtually anything from home. These videos are helpful for creating Galaxy-style tennis shoes, and they’re also very helpful in helping raise your indoor air quality. Many chemical-based products, such as aerosols, are doing your house more harm than good. While it may make your house smell good and leave your counters sparkling, these products are also leaving hazardous particles in your home.

The better way to clean your house is to use natural products. For instance, for the removal of hard stains, instead of going to your local store and buying a chemical product, consider investing in baking soda, vinegar, and natural citrus oil to create cleaning products that are eco-friendly and smell good!

Mop, Sweep, and Vacuum Regularly

Sure, this seems like something people regularly do but how many of us admittedly wait until our floors look dirty before cleaning them? Dust isn’t just an annoyance; it’s also a breeding ground for dust mites. So, you’ll want to make it a habit to clean your floors at least once a week.

When you’re cleaning once a week, consider taking a few other “shortcuts” to help keep the dust at bay. Mopping after sweeping is a good idea because it helps to get up what the broom didn’t. Vacuuming with a HEPA filter will aid in your fight as well. Lastly, don’t keep the cleaning and vacuuming to just the floors. Remember that dust settles in your upholstery and furniture as well!

Watch the Humidity Level

In especially higher humidity climates, mold and humidity love to be in each other’s company. Between 30-40 percent is the ideal humidity range. If your home is naturally more humid (i.e., if you use a swamp cooler), you’ll want to invest in a dehumidifier. Those of you with air conditioners are in luck as these can help keep the humidity down.

Also, consider places like your bathroom. Showering creates humidity, which can create mold. Consider investing in a ventilation system if you don’t have one. Open a window, or crack the door. Wiping down the tiles after a shower also helps.

Don’t Smoke Indoors

According to the American Lung Association, cigarettes “create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous.” These chemicals linger in everything, from the furniture to clothing, to the walls and are why a “cigarette smell” lingers in smokers’ cars and houses. These chemicals, especially when you’re exposed to them over an extended amount of time may result in health issues.

Bring the Outdoors In

Don’t underestimate the power (and beauty) of indoor plants. Not only are there a wide variety of indoor plants to pick from, but your relationship with it is symbiotic. They need CO2, and you need oxygen. It’s a win-win scenario! They help to filter your indoor air as well. Some of them even give off natural fragrances, so you don’t need to buy air fresheners anymore!

Speaking of the outdoors, don’t be afraid to open up your doors and windows in specific intervals. Get a cross-breeze going by opening them on each side of the house. Doing this for five to ten minutes a few times a day will work wonders.

Keywords: Air quality, American Lung Association, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, DIY (Do it yourself)
*Author’s note: Sources are hyperlinked.

Filed Under: Philadelphia Air Conditioning Repair Tagged With: , , , ,

How to Assess Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

October 23, 2017 By

Good Deals Heating and Cooling air qualityTracking and managing the indoor air quality is a priority for most of us. But the problem here is that there are many factors which interfere with getting the results you want. That being said, you can find some methods that will help you quickly test the indoor quality.

Why should you check the indoor air quality? The primary focus here has to be on removing things like bacteria, dander, rodent urine and droppings, dust mites, or mold. These problems can easily lead to various health issues for you and your family. Thankfully, you can avoid those with the right approach.

How can you assess or improve the air quality?  One thing to take into consideration is the dryness inside your home. Humidity levels should read no greater than 60%. Usually, a lower value is better. When humidity readings are higher than 60%, installing a dehumidifier is the right option.

Moreover, we recommend you to do some general cleaning, vacuuming, and wet dusting too. These will help remove the droppings and any contaminants.

Then you have to think about maintenance. Changing HVAC filters and opting for a better filtration system can indeed come in handy. Opt for cleaning products that have natural ingredients. Stay away from harsh chemicals; it will help you stay healthy in the long term.

Using natural pesticides or chemical alternatives is also a good idea. Infestations will end up lowering the overall air quality.

Indoor ventilation needs to be at its best, so make sure that you use a proper ventilation system. Circulating air throughout the house is vital for a healthy home.  Open the windows on nice days to bring in outside air.  Warmer temperatures can also promote the appearance of various microorganisms. In time, these can lead to allergies. Use carbon monoxide detectors to identify any potential problems, especially during the winter when the house is sealed.

Is there a way to boost the air quality? Make sure that you are always focused on improving the air quality using the methods above. If you need help with this and you want to take better control over heating/cooling as well, Good Deals Heating & Cooling is here to help. We are fully committed to helping you with any cooling or heating problems, so just get in touch, and we’ll happily assist!

 

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