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Four Steps To A Clean Home Air

Breathe easier this winter with Clean Home Air!

During the winter months when you and your family are cooped up inside, it’s important to make sure the quality of the air in your home is top notch. And when the inevitable winter inversion hits Utah, Clean Home Air is even more important. The air in our homes can carry more toxins and chemicals than the air outside. While some gasses can be deadly, it is more likely certain elements in your air could aggravate asthma or allergies. Poor air quality is also connected to headaches, more frequent colds, sore throats, skin rashes and eye irritation. To make sure your family is breathing safe while awaiting spring, we’ve compiled a list of tips below.

Step 1: Check your air filter

The air filter in your heating and cooling system will capture allergens in the air like pollen, mold spores, dust mite debris, smoke, pet dander and smog. Choose a high quality filter like a HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air filter, for your heating and cooling units. Read the directions on your filter, but generally it should be changed a few times a year. But during the long winter months if you or your family have allergies consider changing it sooner or more often.

Changing the air filter is an easy and safe task for homeowners. But if you find you are having trouble with yours or notice a problem with your furnace, Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Whether it is a thermostat, ignition or airflow issue, Complete Comfort will be there to keep your home warm.

There are other filters in your home that also require attention if you want to achieve clean home air. Change the filter on your vacuum so that the particles you clean up don’t get blown right back out into the air. Check other filters like the dryer lint screens, air purifiers, range hood screens, and bathroom exhaust fan grilles. Clean or replace them as needed.

Step 2: Vacuum and Dust

Vacuum your home often. All of the dust, dander, pollen and other particles you don’t want to have in the air settle onto the floors. Vacuuming often, even if your floors look clean, will help keep the air cleaner. You should also vacuum after you dust. Dusting with a wet rag will also help to collect particles rather than sending them airborne with dry dusting. It’s also a great practice to vacuum your air vents.

Step 3: Minimize hazardous fumes

Minimize carbon monoxide gas by properly maintaining and venting heating equipment, wood stoves, fireplaces, chimney and vents. You should always have a working carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Get a radon testing kit to avoid one of the leading causes of lung cancer. If you smoke, do so outside. And don’t store chemicals, solvents, glues or pesticides in your home.

Step 4: Natural Air Filters

Not only do they look great, but plants will naturally clean the air around them. Aloe Vera plants, palms, and orchids are just a few examples of the many plants that are great options to have in the home. This shouldn’t be the only method of filtration if you want to maximize your clean home air.

Dry winter air will also dry out the mucus membrane, making you more susceptible to germs. If you’re feeling extra dry, plug in a humidifier while you sleep. You may also want to consider an air purifier to help filter out dust, tobacco smoke and pollen.

Consider These Things When Choosing A New Furnace

Planning ahead for the worst-case scenario is often the safest bet. It’s the middle of February and the last thing you want is for your furnace to give out on you. But what if it did? Would you know how to go about choosing a new furnace?

When you are looking into buying a new furnace, ultimately you are looking for a machine that will keep your home warm and comfortable. You want something that is efficient, reliable and quiet. You probably also want a machine that is low maintenance and has a long lifespan. Ideally, all of this will be available for a reasonable price. But what specifically should you be looking for?

1. Size

Choosing a new furnace that is the correct size for your home is extremely important. If the furnace is too small, it won’t keep the home warm enough. A furnace that’s too big is going to cost more than a properly fitted appliance. Besides the extra cost, a furnace that is too big usually means the machine will kick on and off too often meaning more wear and tear, ever-varying temperatures, and even more unnecessary costs in utilities.

When choosing a new furnace consider the size of your home, the design, the construction and the climate to determine your heating need. All of these variables can be put in an equation to find the load calculation. Even if you are replacing an existing furnace, it is important to do a new load calculation. You want to be certain that the load calculation is done properly. That is why it is also important to choose contractor that you can trust to determine the heating needs of your home.

2. Efficiency

Choosing an energy-efficient furnace can mean avoiding lost or wasted heat. The amount of fuel in the furnace that is converted to heat is called the annual fuel utilization efficiency number, or AFUE.

In the long run, it is usually a better value to buy a furnace with a high AFUE and a higher price tag, but lower monthly costs. However, that’s not always the case.

Take some time to consider how much you will be saving with an energy-efficient furnace. It’s also important to factor in how long you will live in your home, your climate, and if there are rebates for a high-efficiency furnace.

3. Choose a Professional You Trust

While there are many things you, as a home owner, can consider when it comes to choosing a new furnace, it is important to choose a profession that you trust. Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning is the company to help you with your furnace needs. The experienced professionals at Complete Comfort know how to select a furnace that is the perfect size for your home. Complete Comfort Heating & AC will help you get a furnace that is powerful and efficient while minimizing operation and maintenance costs. There is nothing to lose with a complementary consultation!

Other things to consider

Even with a brand new furnace, there are still other factors that can help or hurt you when it comes to efficiency and keeping your costs low. Make sure your air ducts are properly maintained, you have proper insulation, and the weather-stripping around doors and windows is up to the task of keeping your heated air inside. And remember, programmable thermostats can save you a lot of money on your monthly bills!

Tips To Stay Warm Without Breaking The Bank This Winter

Winter is a beautiful time of year. The world is white around you, and the chill in the air seems to bring people together. Throw in some cozy blankets and a cup of hot cocoa and what’s not to love?

But staying warm during the cold months can come at a cost if you’re not careful. There are a few simple things you can do in the upcoming months to stay cozy in your home, without breaking the bank.

Before it gets too cold, make sure you seal off any leaks around doors and windows, and repair any cracks or gaps on the home’s exterior. Then, take a look at your thermostat settings.

Programming your thermostat effectively can help you save money and energy during the winter.Many people keep their thermostat set at 72 degrees, but by lowering your thermostat even just 2 degrees you can save on utility bills and easily be just as comfortable. Consider programming your thermostat a few degrees cooler in the hours you are away from home as well. Utilize those slippers and cozy blankets previously mentioned to stay warm despite the changes to your thermostat.
Another tip is to switch the fan setting on your thermostat from “auto” to “on.” You may think this is a bad idea as it will use more electricity, but in the long run it will keep the air flowing in your home which will make the house as a whole more comfortable and avoid uneconomical extremes in temperature.
When you’re cooped up inside during the winter months, having your fan “on” will also keep the air circulating and filtered; that includes any particles, pollutants and allergens in the air.
You can also use your ceiling fans to circulate warm air near the ceiling by running the fan in a clockwise direction. Look closely at your fan to switch direction, and be sure to switch it back to counterclockwise in the summer months.
Many people think they can save money by closing air vents in unused rooms. But your furnace is going to keep pumping out air through your heating and air system, whether your air vents are open or not. This is true no matter what type of blower motor you have in your home. If registers are closed pressure will increase by making the duct system more restrictive, and pressure is not good.
Take some of the strain from your system by leaving the air registers open. Keeping the doors inside your home open will also enable your system to be more efficient, and your home will stay more comfortable.
If you have curtains or blinds, open them during the winter when the sun is shining. The sunlight will be a nice pick-me-up for your mood, and the heat created from the sun shining on the window will also be a pick-me-up for your utility bill. Keep your windows clear on the east side in the morning, and the west side in the evening. When the sun is not shining on your windows, keep them insulated by closing curtains or blinds to keep out the cold.

If you have an older HVAC system and would like to consider the benefits of installing a system with higher efficiency, or run into any problems with your heating this winter, be sure to Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning for friendly and quality service.