Why Air Filters are Important for Your Heating System

The Importance of Air Filters to Your Heating System Whether you own a heat pump or furnace, your heating system comes with a crucial component called the air filter. Located in the return vent, it has the job of capturing pollutants like dust, lint, pet dander, and mold spores. Why are filters important? The answer can be laid out as follows. They Protect the Heating Components The primary purpose of filters is to keep the above-mentioned pollutants from gathering inside the furnace or, in the case of heat pumps, the air handler. A dirty system is an inefficient one. For instance, you don’t want dust and dirt all over the furnace blades and burners. Dirty burners will prevent the heat exchanger from heating up to its full capacity, causing the furnace to run longer to reach your set point. In fact, it may never reach the set point as the air will be largely lukewarm. As for dirty blades, these will work harder to spin. In both cases, the results will be more wear and tear and higher energy bills. They Keep the Indoor Air Clean Contrary to popular belief, filters are only secondarily meant to clean the air. Naturally,...

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4 Major Indoor Air Pollutants

When you think of pollution, the first thing that likely comes to mind is big factories releasing smelly fumes into the atmosphere. Although outdoor pollution is harmful, indoor pollution can be just as bad. Learning about indoor pollution will help you to keep your family safe. Here are the four main indoor air pollutants. 1. Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible. The gas is a result of incomplete burning of fossil fuels. When inhaled, carbon monoxide reduces the intake of oxygen in the body. As a result, you will experience nausea, headache, confusion, and tiredness. A high concentration of carbon monoxide could lead to death. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, ensure appliances such as heaters are correctly installed. 2. Mold Mold is a type of fungi that grows both indoors and outside. Although there are harmless varieties of mold, some types are harmful. Mold contains allergens that can trigger allergic reactions in some people. Allergic people can suffer from eye and throat irritation, coughing, swelling, skin irritation, and headaches. Severe reactions can lead to difficulty breathing. In other cases, molds can prompt asthma attacks. The key to fighting mold is reducing the moisture and humidity levels in your...

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How To Care For Your Lawn Around an Outdoor AC Unit

If your home has an outdoor condenser unit, it is important that you have easy access to it at all times. This may mean that you don’t plant trees, shrubs or other flowering plants in its generally vicinity. Let’s take a look at some other steps that you may want to take to ensure that your lawn and your air conditioner can peacefully coexist. Make Sure to Mow Your Grass Regularly Tall grass can be an excellent place for mice, rats and other critters to hide, and eventually, they may decide to migrate from the grass into the condenser unit itself. Grass is also a preferred snack for a variety of insects and other pests that might also want to call this component home. Don’t Plant Too Close to the Condenser The best reason not to plant tall trees or bushes near an AC unit is that it can interfere with your ability to maintain it. By planting too close to a condenser unit, vines or roots could grow into it, and this may cause significant damage to internal parts. If your air conditioner isn’t working for any reason, call the folks at in Eureka, CA, for help. One of...

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Strange AC Noises and What They Mean

There are some noises that you normally would expect to hear when your air conditioning is running. However, if you hear any of the following four sounds, it is time to hire a professional AC repair service. Squealing If you hear a squealing sound coming from your indoor AC unit, it could be its fan belt. This is a common problem that is caused when the belt becomes worn or is misaligned. The sound could be intermittent or more noticeable when temperatures or humidity levels change, which causes the belt to expand or contract. You can continue using your cooling system, but you should schedule a repair because the belt will eventually break. High-Pitched Scream or Hiss If you hear a high-pitched scream or hiss coming from your AC’s condenser outdoors, it could be that pressure has built up in the compressor. Your air conditioner may turn itself on and off frequently. In this case, you should turn off your system and schedule a repair because this could be a dangerous condition. Clanking or Banging If you hear clanking or banging noises coming from your outdoor unit, it could be as simple as a small tree branch having fallen into...

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Air Purifiers vs Air Filters

Do you want to improve the quality of the air you breathe inside your home? The air flowing through the rooms of your home can be filled with contaminants. Adding certain types of equipment can reduce and remove these substances. What Are Air Filters? The term “air filter” has several meanings. The most common meaning refers to the removable filter found in all cooling and heating systems. These filters work to block impurities and allergens from entering your home. Replacing this filter regularly is an important part of maintaining your equipment. “Air filter” is also another way of describing an air cleaner. Air cleaners, such as HEPA air cleaners, are filtration systems that act as an additional layer of protection. They can help remove pet hair, large dust particles and debris floating in your air. What Are Air Purifiers? Air purifiers are designed to purify the air by killing airborne substances that can make people sick or irritate allergies. An air purifier is an air sanitizer. Some models use heat to accomplish this. Others use ozone, UV light or negative ions to do the job. can help you add an air purification system to your existing temperature control system in...

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How to Change a Thermostat Battery

Having a dead or dying thermostat battery can be a frustrating situation, causing your HVAC system to function intermittently or even become unresponsive. Worse still, modern “smart” thermostats often require battery replacement much more often than their analog ancestors. Luckily, the vast majority of thermostat batteries are simple to replace and an excellent job for the intrepid DIY fan. Determine the Model of Your Thermostat Thermostats come in all shapes and sizes, and there are more being created each day. Thus, it is impossible to know which style of battery each one uses. The quickest way to determine the requirements for your thermostat is to research the specific model. Typically, the front of your thermostat will list the manufacturer and the model of your unit. A quick search on your favorite search engine will help determine the specific battery type and procedure to replace the battery. Order the Battery It is very common for thermostat batteries to be a non-standard size. Whether they use doorbell batteries or watch batteries, a thermostat will likely require something a bit more exotic than the AA’s you have in the kitchen junk drawer. Therefore, it is best to plan ahead when you suspect your...

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Indoor Air Quality and Academic Performance

While education facilities exist to motivate, engage and promote learning, many schools and universities across the nation still suffer from poor indoor air quality. A large range of building conditions such as water damage, lack of humidity control and poor ventilation can increase the likelihood of bad IAQ. Indoor pollutants like allergens, mold, mildew and volatile organic compounds can put students at risk for a variety of ailments, which could have an adverse on academic performance. The following are just two ways poor indoor air quality can hurt long-term academic performance. 1. Absenteeism Polluted air can contribute to uncomfortable learning environments for both teachers and students. When indoor air quality is less-than-ideal, individuals can experience symptoms like congestion, coughing, watery eyes, severe allergies, dizziness, nausea and headaches. Over time, symptoms like these can cause unnecessary absenteeism. 2. Decreased Academic Performance Indoor air pollution may be a contributing factor to decreased academic performance, especially when levels fall below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. When students are regularly exposed to indoor air toxins, their ability to concentrate and retain information may significantly diminish. What Facilities Can Do to Improve Indoor Air Quality Creating a healthy learning environment that encourages academic performance and...

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How Does a Water Heater Work

Most homes in the United States rely on a conventional storage water heater for their hot water. These are usually either electric or natural gas, depending upon which energy source is less expensive in a given area. Although they are vital pieces of equipment in a normal residence, the homeowner usually doesn’t quite grasp how the hot water is produced. Here are the basic principles of how your water heater works. Dip Tube, Burner and Chimney Coldwater is brought into the water heater through a dip tube. The dip tube enters the top of your water heater and extends down to the bottom where it is heated by either electricity or the combustion of gas. After gas burns, its remnants are moved up through a chimney and out of your house. The chimney also warms the water around it. Heat-Out Pipe and Thermostat A heat-out pipe is the means by which heated water gets into your home’s plumbing system. When you turn on a hot water faucet, cold water enters the water heater through the dip tube. This displaces the hot water already there and pushes it into the heat-out pipe. There is a thermostat on the side of your...

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Symptoms of a Dirty Coil

The evaporator coil is one part of an air conditioner that can cause problems when long-term maintenance is neglected. Its job is to absorb heat from your living space and transfer it elsewhere. When it becomes dirty, its ability to do this efficiently is compromised. There are three main signs that an evaporator coil needs cleaning. Air Conditioning Loses Cooling Capacity One thing that will be noticeable when the evaporator coil is dirty is that your AC won’t produce air that’s as cold as it should be. When the heat transfer is reduced, the efficiency of the cooling process is impacted. If it becomes clear that the AC isn’t cooling your air, have the evaporator coil inspected. Air Conditioning Runs Longer Another way you might notice a problem is when the AC begins to run for longer cycles to accomplish the same amount of cooling in your home. When the air it produces isn’t as cold, it must produce more air to bring the temperature in your home down to your target. If you notice this happen, the evaporator coil may be the culprit. Coil Develops Frost During Operation An extremely dirty evaporator coil can cause your AC to breakdown...

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Home Comfort Resolutions for 2020

Homeowners who want to increase their indoor comfort don’t need to spend a lot. In fact, there are some simple ways to achieve a more comfortable and reliable response from your heating and air conditioning system. Get started with these home suggestions. Request a Ventilation Inspection Dirty air ducts deliver polluted air. The best way to manage contaminants and pollutants in your system is to keep the ventilation system clean and free of leaks. A skilled technician can check for cracks and missing insulation throughout your home. They can also clean away any normal dirt buildup and spot problem areas that need further repair or replacement. Schedule Seasonal Maintenance A summer and a winter tune-up can put a stop to system failures. A maintenance checkup is different than a ventilation inspection. Maintenance tasks typically include calibrating the system, cleaning components, and testing for leaks in the equipment. Additionally, worn parts can be identified and necessary repairs can be brought to your attention. can send a certified technician to conduct maintenance services for you. We provide system tune-ups for property owners in Eureka and all of Humboldt county. Replace the Filter Monthly Replacing the filter is a simple step that can...

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