The Environmental Protection Agency has noted that excess moisture, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and radon are four major indoor air pollutants. They result in damp and stuffy houses. Thus, indoor air is more harmful than outdoor air. To keep your family safe, you need to understand these indoor pollutants. 1. Excess Moisture While moisture is the least recognized indoor pollutant, it’s among the most harmful. Moisture affects your health and your building’s health. When moisture settles on a surface, mildew and dust mites will thrive. Mildew and dust mites trigger asthma and other allergic reactions. High levels of moisture will also make you uncomfortable. Basement leaks and rain will increase moisture in your home through capillary action. Kitchen activities and plans also increase moisture. To regulate the amount of moisture in the air, use a dehumidifier. 2. Volatile Organic Compounds Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emanated as gases from liquids or solids. VOCs are emitted by a wide range of products and may have short-term or long-term health effects. The concentration of VOCs is higher indoors than outdoors. Paints, aerosol sprays, disinfectants, and pesticides are the main sources of VOCs. Once exposed to VOCs, you will suffer from nausea,...
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Air purifiers are some of the most overlooked HVAC devices. They can be a worthwhile addition to any home no matter how old or modern it is, and they can be very beneficial in providing physical relief to some people. Let’s take a look at whether air purifiers help prevent or mitigate respiratory diseases. Asthma Asthma is one of the most common respiratory illnesses in the world. However, a quality air purifier can reduce the chance of someone developing this condition. The proper device with a HEPA filter can eliminate 99.97% of particulates from the air, enabling those in your home to breathe freely. In addition, individuals with asthma won’t cough as much throughout the day. Once an air purifier has been installed for a couple of weeks, you’ll probably already see a difference in the patient’s breathing patterns. It’s likely that seasonal allergies will also be suppressed even if there is pollen or grass outside. Pneumonia Pneumonia is a more severe respiratory disease. It’s a common misconception that you can only contract pneumonia in cold weather. Whenever you’re in the presence of low air quality, you’re at risk of pneumonia. Fortunately, a good air purifier can work wonders against...
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Air purifiers eliminate pollutants and improve your indoor air quality. They’re especially useful for people with allergies or asthma as they catch allergens like pet dander and pollen. Here are some of the pros and cons of these appliances. Helps You Breathe Easier While frequent vacuuming helps keep your indoor air clean, it doesn’t get rid of all the allergens, dust, and dirt. An air purifier removes these particles from the air, so you can breathe easier. Remove Second-Hand Smoke If there’s a smoker in your home, an air purifier can help you breathe easier. The appliance will remove some of the dangers of second-hand smoke as it collects smoke particles that pass through it. While people should smoke outdoors, an air purifier can at least prevent some of a smoker’s harm to others. However, it’s important that you get the proper type of purifier for your home. of Savannah, GA, installs whole home air purifiers. We can help you find the right indoor air quality solutions. Removes Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) VOCs are in your home due to paints, varnishes, furniture, and other common household items. VOCs have been shown to cause cancer. An air purifier removes VOCs from...
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Some people wonder if running their ceiling fan while their air conditioner is operating does any good. The short answer is you can and should use your ceiling fan and AC system together. Here’s how doing so can save you money. How a Ceiling Fan Cools Your Home A ceiling fan doesn’t actually cool your house; rather, it only makes it feel cooler. It circulates the air, which creates a wind chill. This disperses your body heat, making you feel cooler. You should run your ceiling fan counterclockwise to cool the room it’s in. This will blow air straight down, onto where people are in the room. A ceiling fan running this way can make a room feel about 5 degrees cooler. Lower Fan Speeds Are More Efficient A ceiling fan uses less energy on its medium setting than high, and even more when it’s set to low. You should get the biggest fan you can for a room, and then operate it at the lowest speed that allows you to be comfortable for this reason. Team Up Your Ceiling Fan and Air Conditioner Ceiling fans are very inexpensive to use, as they cost only about 1 cent per hour...
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Your air conditioner works because of the cooperation of many different components, and one of the most important of those is the air filter. What does it do, though? Find out below. Traps Pollutants Air filters are located in the return vents of a ducted AC and capture various pollutants before they enter the air handler. What it filters out will depend on the material it is made from. Cheap fiberglass filters, which last but 30 days, only capture the largest dust and dirt particles. Pleated filters, which last 60 to 90 days and work well for most homes, can capture more particles. These include: • Finer dust and dirt particles • Pollen • Mold spores • Dust mite feces • Pet hair and dander Rigid cell filters are even more efficient than pleated filters and trap cigarette smoke and bacteria like Legionella. As you can see, then, air filters are essential for good indoor air quality. Keeps the Air Handler Clean Filters keep the air handler and, in particular, the evaporator coil clean. You can recognize the importance of this when you consider what the evaporator coil does, which is absorb heat from the circulated air, allowing cool air...
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Updated On: 10/30/23 Your Savannah, GA, home’s HVAC system should not emit any odors. A smell of smoke coming from your HVAC system could be a cause for concern. Here are some of the most common causes of smoke odors from HVAC systems: 1. Dirt or Dust Buildup If you haven’t used your heating or cooling system in a while, there could be dust or dirt buildup in your home’s ducts or air vents. You can remove the vent covers and use your vacuum’s attachment to remove visible dust. The smoky odor could also come from a dirty air filter. Filters should be replaced every 90 days or sooner. 2. Overheated Wiring, Motor or Fan A component of your HVAC system may have overheated. The excess heat may burn insulation on wiring, resulting in a smoky smell. It could also burn any dust or debris on the fan. An overheated motor will also make an odor of smoke; the lubricant on the motor is responsible for the odor. Motors and fans can overheat due to lack of maintenance, loss of lubricant or extremely hot outdoor temperatures. 3. Dirt or Debris in or on Coils or Housing The coils of the...
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When you need to pick out the perfect HVAC system for your Savannah home, , has an easy-to-navigate online store. It offers custom quotes and advice on what makes and models would suit your individual needs. Here’s how to use this online tool and take advantage of what it offers. Get Started Once you’ve accessed the main page of the store, click the “Get Started” button. The website will ask you what size home you own, whether it is small, medium or large. Once you’ve made your selection, you’ll tell where your indoor unit is located. You might specify the basement, crawlspace, garage, attic or interior closet. Otherwise, you might state that you have a package system. Choose Your Energy Source The next step requests you to identify whether your home uses natural gas, propane or electricity as the primary source of energy for your heating system. The website then calculates your needs based on your specifications. Installation Quote Estimator The website will provide you with a customized quote that offers three levels of products. These are “Good,” “Better,” and “Best.” For example, if you have a medium-sized home with an HVAC system in the garage and use natural gas...
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People spend most of their time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor air quality is usually below that of the outdoors. There are indoor air quality products designed to create healthy, safe air. Indoor Air Quality Concerns There are many pollutants in homes. Household cleaners, furniture, carpets and other products emit harsh chemicals into the air. There’s also pet dander, mold, pollen, candle soot, paints, varnishes and more. You can practice source control by getting rid of some products. Some pollutants, on the other hand, are simply unavoidable. Air Purifier Air purifiers are very useful for people who have allergies but can’t control the source of the problem. You may have a pet, for instance, or pollen keeps getting into your home from the outside. There are different types of air purifiers, including ionic purifiers. These devices won’t remove all allergens, but they will definitely cut down on them. Dehumidifier A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air. This helps prevent mold and mildew from growing. Mold and mildew can make you sick. Using a dehumidifier results in healthier indoor air. is located in Savannah, GA. We install whole-home dehumidifiers. These keep every room in your home from becoming too humid. This is great...
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There are a number of different ways to cook food — from gas to wood to electricity. Unfortunately, each of these cooking methods can create indoor air pollution. It’s important to remember that natural gas or propane stoves can release carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other pollutants that are harmful to breathe. If you use a fireplace or woodstove to cook your food, this can create wood smoke that is unhealthy to inhale. Cooking can also create unhealthy air pollutants when food ingredients such as oil are cooked at high temperatures. In addition, self-cleaning gas or electric ovens can create air pollution as food waste is burned away. Exposure to these fumes can lead to nose and throat irritation, headaches, fatigue and nausea. Children and people with asthma, heart or lung disease are particularly vulnerable to this indoor air pollution. What Can I Do to Improve Air Quality While Cooking? The best way to improve indoor air quality while cooking is to allow for good ventilation with a properly installed and high-efficiency range hood that is placed over your stove. A high-efficiency range hood will have a high cubic-foot-per-minute rating and a low noise rating. What Are the Ways to Improve...
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Furnaces are used to heat up your home, and they have to run on some type of power system. There many types of furnaces available, and most of them are either powered by electricity or gas. Electric Furnace Basics Electric furnaces are often cheaper than their gas counterparts in terms of up-front costs. Electric furnaces are generally quiet when they’re running, and they’re dependable. It’s hard to say how long an electric furnace could last, but most could be expected to last anywhere between 20 and 30 years. This is a considerable amount of time that could be double the life span of a gas furnace. Further, when things go wrong with electric furnaces, it’s often a quick fix, especially when you contact professionals like us to service your furnace for you. There’s also no danger in terms of emissions when going the electric route. Gas Furnace Basics Though electric furnaces come with many benefits, perhaps the biggest advantage of a gas furnace is that it’s much more efficient. Over time, you’ll use less energy running your gas furnace. Note that gas can also be a cheaper resource than electricity, so the monthly savings will definitely be noticeable. If you...
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