Tag Archives: Complete Heating and Air

Why Should You Care About Indoor Air Quality?

Why Should I Care About Indoor Air Quality?

Last week on the Complete Heating and air’s blog we talked about a few ways to improve your indoor air quality. This week we wanted to share a few more reasons why you should care about the quality of the air inside your home.

The quality of our indoor air affects the quality of our health. Most people spend the majority of their time indoors, and indoor air pollution is typically higher than the air outside. Spending more time outside and breathing fresh air is a great way to improve the kind of air your breath. However, during the winter months most people don’t get outside as often as they may like to. And if you live in Utah, you know the air quality outside with the inversion is not a superior option.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the average person breathes more than 3,000 gallons of air each day. Exposure to poor air quality can leave your eyes nose and throat irritated, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. There are many things you can do to improve your indoor air quality. You can find our list of suggestions here, and a much more in depth guide from the EPA here.

But one thing you can do that will make a big difference in the quality of your indoor air is to have your HVAC system inspected annually for regular maintenance and for any damage. Instructions for the service and maintenance of your system is important for you to follow, especially instructions on when you should change your filter.

Besides the suggestions from last week, an AC tune up can make a huge difference when it comes to improving your indoor air quality. The heating and cooling system in your home plays a major role in your comfort. If you take a minute to stop and think just how much you depend on your HVAC system, an AC tune up each season is a no-brainer and a necessity. Typically, you want to check your system before each heating and cooling season, to make sure everything is working properly before you are stuck in weather that is too hot, or too cold.

The inspection and preventative maintenance that accompany your AC tune-up will leave you with the peace of mind that your heating and cooling isn’t going anywhere, as well as improve your indoor air quality. Ideally, your AC unit should be inspected each spring before the “cooling season” begins.

Schedule a professional AC tune up

When you have an AC tune-up performed, you can avoid unexpected breakdowns, improve efficiently and system performance, operate more safely, prolongs your system’s life, improve the overall level of comfort and reduce your utility bills. By enlisting the help of the professionals at Sandy Heating and Air Conditioning you know you’ll be getting the attention you and your AC need.

Typically, an AC tune up will include:

  • Measurement of important system components
  • Inspection of wear or damage of components
  • Measuring refrigerant levels for the best performance
  • Tightening, adjusting, lubricating and or flushing components
  • Checking overall system air flow and operation

If you’re still not convinced that you need an AC tune up, keep in mind that to keep a warranty in effect, many manufacturers require an AC tune-up. And an uncleaned or unmaintained system can lose up to five percent efficiently! So take a simple step by calling Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning to improve your air quality, prolong your system and save you money in the long run.

 

 

Four Steps To A Clean Home Air

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.