As bad as the air quality may be outside your home, it can be even worse inside. The federal EPA estimates that indoor pollutant levels may be as much as two to five times higher than outdoors, which can pose a risk to your health and comfort. While there are a number of ways you can help to clean your indoor air, one of the easiest and most effective is by placing any or all of the following houseplants in your home, and letting nature do the work for you:
Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Indoor Air Quality’
Houseplants Are Nature’s Air Purifiers
Thursday, May 8th, 2014Landscaping and How it Can Help Your Home’s Efficiency
Tuesday, May 6th, 2014
Landscaping’s main purpose is to make your yard and property look attractive, but you can have plants, trees and bushes do double duty by helping to enhance the overall efficiency of your home. With creative designs and strategic placement, you can conserve water, reduce pesticide use and pollution, and reduce your summer air conditioning costs. It takes a bit of planning but is actually relatively easy to do.
UV Lights and How They Eliminate Germs
Thursday, May 1st, 2014
There are many contaminants that can lower the quality of the indoor air you breathe. They can cause discomfort, trigger allergies, exacerbate respiratory conditions and can even make you sick. Various microorganisms – including mold spores, mildew, bacteria and viruses – are particular contaminants that you should try to eliminate in your home. Not many strategies are as effective for targeting airborne organisms in your home as are ultraviolet (UV) light filtration systems.
How Air Balancing and HVAC Maintenance Help Your System
Thursday, April 24th, 2014
One important goal of any forced-air heating or cooling system is a proper balance of airflow, both into rooms and back to the furnace or A/C air handler. Air balancing, simply speaking, is making sure that all forced-air vents in the house are putting out air equally. There are some do-it-yourself methods to test the air balance in your home. Try walking between rooms to see if the temperature changes. Place your hand near the ceiling to check for air flow from the vents. If the air isn’t balanced, you may need have a trusted technician install restrictors or dampeners, although the problem may be solved by adjusting or unblocking registers, replacing your HVAC’s air filter, or checking for and fixing ductwork problems, such as leaks or blockages.
Maintain Your Air Conditioner with These 3 Tips
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014
As the warmer months approach in the San Joaquin Valley, it’s once again time to start thinking about your home’s air conditioner and its maintenance. It’s important to maintain your air conditioner, not just because of increased efficiency but to avoid problems that may arise from neglect. Below are three essential tips that will help you keep your A/C system running efficiently through the long Fresno area cooling months.
Humidity and 4 Tips on Balancing the Levels
Thursday, April 17th, 2014
Maintaining proper humidity levels in your Fresno-area home increases indoor health and comfort for you and your family, while lowering energy use, reducing wear and tear on your HVAC system and preventing moisture damage to furniture and other wooden household possessions or fixtures.
An HVAC Diagnostic Can Find Problems Before They Begin
Tuesday, April 15th, 2014
When your heating or cooling system experiences a hiccup, your family’s comfort is on hold until you resolve the problem. But if you schedule routine maintenance on your HVAC system, you’re more likely to identify potential problems before something malfunctions. Similar to maintaining your car, scheduling a professional HVAC diagnostic serves as a periodic tuneup so you can stay cool in summer and warm in winter without any uncomfortable interruptions.
Zone Dampers and Zone Systems: What You Need to Know for Your Home
Thursday, April 10th, 2014
If someone told you that it’s possible to keep the temperature in your home comfortable while still saving money on your monthly utility bills, you might assume that it would require installing a brand new HVAC system or sealing off portions of your home. Fortunately, there’s a different way to achieve it: zone dampers and systems.
Reduce Spring Allergies With These 4 Tips
Tuesday, April 8th, 2014
Spring can be a lovely time of year here in the San Joaquin Valley, with perfect temperatures and flowers blooming. Unfortunately, spring can also be a miserable time of the year for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. All of those flowers, grasses and trees blooming and growing results in a lot of pollen in the air, which can cause spring allergies to flare up. There is hope, however, for alleviating allergy symptoms in your Fresno area home. Here are four tips for reducing the occurrence and severity of spring allergies in your home:
Carbon Monoxide in Your Home: Know Where to Check
Thursday, March 27th, 2014One of the biggest hazards in a modern home – especially one that uses gas-fueled appliances – is carbon monoxide (CO). It’s an odorless and colorless gas, meaning you have no way of detecting it yourself, without the help of a detection device. If you ingest enough CO at once, or over a long enough period of time, it can lead to illness or even death.