How Is Air Purified?

September 10, 2024

Every home has a variety of sources of indoor air pollution that can make the air inside several times more polluted than the air outside. This includes the building materials your home was made with as well as your furniture, cleaning products and cooking appliances. If you live in an urban area where the outdoor air is also fairly polluted, your indoor air quality may be worse due to outdoor pollution getting inside. Virtually all homes could greatly benefit from upgrading their air filtration or installing an air purification system. We’ll look at the importance of having adequate air filtration or purification as well as the differences in how each process works. How Your HVAC Filters the Air in Your Home All HVAC systems have one or more filters that provide at least some level of whole-home air filtration. In a central HVAC system, the air filter is located in the return side of the home’s ductwork, where air gets drawn into the system. Most systems have a single air filter that slides into the return plenum, the large sheet metal compartment that attaches to the furnace and/or air handler. This type of filter is typically referred to as a...

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Is My HVAC Fuse Blown?

August 22, 2024

Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system requires power to run. Normally, HVAC fuses protect your system from damage due to excessive amperage. Each fuse can only handle a certain amount of amperage. If the electricity level increases too much, the fuse will blow. While this is frustrating for homeowners, the blown fuse is actually a good thing. By blowing, the fuse causes your HVAC system to shut off. The fuse is a fail-safe mechanism that prevents high amperage from damaging your HVAC. Once you notice common signs of a blown fuse, the next step is figuring out the underlying cause. To do this, you should call an HVAC technician to diagnose and repair your HVAC system. With the right repairs, your air conditioner or heater can run properly again. What Are the Most Common Signs of a Blown HVAC Fuse? You’ll quickly notice a blown fuse because your HVAC system suddenly stops running. There are also a few other signs of a fuse-related problem with your HVAC system. Burning Smells One of the first signs of a blown fuse is the smell of something burning. This smell can come from the furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump. If...

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Are Reusable Air Filters Worth It?

August 15, 2024

Air filters are an integral part of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. By investing in reusable air filters, you can save money on replacement filters and protect the environment. Plus, these filters are an eco-friendly way to protect your HVAC unit from dirt, dust, and other contaminants. What Are Reusable Air Filters? These washable air filters are made from a type of woven polypropylene material. They are designed to be electrostatically charged, allowing them to attract more contaminants. Thanks to their design, they can be washed instead of thrown away. While reusable air filters are generally more expensive upfront, they save you money in the long run because you don’t have to keep buying replacements. However, you can’t simply install a reusable air filter and forget about it. These filters have to be cleaned every month. How Do I Clean a Reusable Filter? Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to keep your air filter clean. Prior to cleaning, you should check out the manufacturer’s guide to see if there are special warnings or precautions for your air filter. To begin cleaning your filter, you must start by turning off your HVAC unit. Then, remove the air filter. Wash the...

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What’s Considered an HVAC Emergency?

July 11, 2024

When an issue arises with your O’Fallon home’s HVAC system, your initial reaction might be to put off making a call for service if you perceive the issue as only a mild annoyance. While letting any problem spread over time isn’t a good idea, some situations are more pressing than others. Knowing when to call an emergency HVAC specialist is crucial to both maintaining your home’s structure and protecting your family. Signs of Smoke or Fire If you see smoke coming from your vents or your heating or cooling equipment, immediately evacuate your home. Call 911 if a fire is suspected, and then contact an emergency HVAC specialist. You might notice that a cord looks singed, or you may smell smoke near the heater. A fire could break out and cause major destruction in seconds, so swift action is necessary. It is also possible that a small fire already occurred and went out. Hot to the Touch Of course, it’s normal for your home’s heater to feel warm when running. If you notice that the surface feels unusually hot to the touch or if the heater is hot even when it is off, this issue could be a sign of...

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Signs Your HVAC Blower Motor Is Damaged

July 5, 2024

The technical term for the fan that circulates air through a central HVAC system is the blower. The blower is one of the most important parts of the system since it brings air in so the system can cool or heat it and then blows the cool or hot air around the house. As with any other component, the blower can malfunction so that the HVAC doesn’t work effectively or doesn’t work at all. That’s why it’s important to watch out for these signs that can help you know if your blower needs to be repaired or replaced. Blower Won’t Turn On The most obvious sign that there is an issue with your blower is that it won’t come on. The blower should normally always start running as soon as your AC condenser turns on. If it doesn’t come on when the condenser starts, you should shut your air conditioning off. The reason is that the AC system will quickly freeze up if the blower isn’t running and bring warm air into the system. When a gas furnace starts, the blower usually won’t start until the furnace has been on for around 30 seconds. This is because the temperature-limit switch...

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Are Air Scrubbers Efficient?

June 5, 2024

Effective home filtration systems are essential. You depend on these solutions to sustain a healthy indoor air environment. Here, we compare air scrubbers to traditional HVAC filters. We’ll also examine their efficiency in removing pollutants, energy consumption rates, health benefits, and more. You can rely on the following guide to help you decide on the best air filtration system for your O’Fallon, MO home. By the end, you’ll find sufficient insight into which solution best suits your air filtration requirements. Understanding Air Scrubbers vs. Traditional HVAC Filtration Systems Air scrubbers leverage their advanced design to improve interior air quality. They actively remove pollutants such as dust, pollen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bacteria, and select viruses from your indoor breathing environment. Air scrubbers draw in contaminated air through a series of filters. Pre-filters capture larger particles, while subsequent filters — often HEPA or activated carbon — target smaller particles and gaseous contaminants. Some air scrubbers also employ UV light or ionization to neutralize pathogens further. The cleaned air then recirculates back into the environment for a comprehensive purification solution. Traditional HVAC filtration systems, in comparison, are integrated into residential or commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. These systems primarily use...

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Creative Ways To Hide Your Mini-Split

June 3, 2024

Due to the numerous benefits of mini-split HVAC systems, they are growing in popularity among homeowners. Their ductless design allows them to take up much less space. While interior units come in various aesthetically pleasing designs, some homeowners prefer to keep them out of sight. This piece will explore creative ways to hide your mini-split unit and address specific concerns in the process. How a Mini-Split HVAC System Works The energy efficiency of a ductless mini-split HVAC system is due to the ways in which its design differs from that of a traditional heating and cooling system. A smaller outdoor unit is installed, and refrigerant lines connect this outdoor unit to interior appliances that are installed throughout the house. A home can have a variety of different indoor units depending on room requirements and homeowner preferences. These individual interior blower units are what some people choose to hide. They come in a few different varieties. Wall-Mounted Units These interior blower units are usually mounted high up on a wall near the ceiling. They are commonly installed against exterior walls for easier access when connecting to the outdoor unit. However, they can be installed on interior walls in some cases. Floor-Mounted...

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Is HVAC Filtration Good For Pet Hair/Dander

May 21, 2024

It’s common for homes in O’Fallon, MO, to have pets such as dogs and cats. While these beloved creatures are part of your family, they can irritate allergies. If you’re someone who suffers from allergies because of your furry family members, this doesn’t mean you need to find them a new home. HVAC filtration is one method that you can use to improve your indoor air quality when you have pets. How Does HVAC Filtration Work? When your HVAC system is turned on and is running, air will be drawn in, and then, it will be climate controlled. Then, the air passes through a series of ducts before it circulates through the various rooms in your home. Just before the air passes through the blower, it will move through a filter. There are different filters available along with other air purification equipment that can further improve indoor air quality. Air Purification You’ve probably seen those stand-alone air purification units that can be moved from one room to another. You may even have one in your home already. While they can be relatively useful for removing pet hair and dander from the air in your home, they aren’t necessarily the most...

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Can a Smart Thermostat Save Me Money?

May 13, 2024

Many homeowners want to know whether a smart thermostat can save them money, and the answer is an emphatic yes. In fact, the U.S. EPA estimates that the average American home can save anywhere between 10% and 30%. That estimate reflects annual savings across both the space heating and cooling portions of your utility bills. Let’s explore the features that may help you achieve those savings. Remote Access and Control Both programmable and smart thermostats provide scheduling, but internet connectivity is what sets the smart thermostat apart. Most brands offer an app that you can download to and use on your smartphone and other devices. This lets you check your thermostat and adjust it no matter where you are as long as you have cellular access. It’s a powerful tool. It ensures you’ll never lose money because you left on a business trip and forgot to set the temperature down. Automatic Setback at Night Much of the energy that the average household without a smart thermostat wastes occurs at night. Just think of all the money you spend on air conditioning and heating that you really don’t need. The EPA estimates that you can hit the 10% savings mark by...

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What Does Dual Fuel Furnace Mean?

April 20, 2024

While there are many ways to heat your O’Fallon, MO home, few offer the efficiency and flexibility of a dual-fuel furnace. Also known as hybrid heating systems, dual-fuel furnaces combine natural gas furnaces and electric heat pumps. As needed, they seamlessly toggle between the two to maintain comfortable indoor conditions with minimal input. Whether you’re interested in lowering your carbon footprint or your home energy bill, opting for a dual-fuel furnace is an excellent way to reach your goal. The Benefits and Drawbacks of Natural Gas Heating Natural gas furnaces are the top choice for winter heating in regions like O’Fallon where outside temperatures regularly dip and remain below freezing. Natural gas is clean burning and available at a reasonable cost. Gas furnaces produce heat with temperatures as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows for rapid heating and also ensures that the cold air seeping through cracks and gaps in building materials or the heat that escapes when residents enter or exit the building doesn’t completely diminish the heat gains. Unfortunately, despite these and other attributes, natural gas furnaces have come under fire in recent years due to their greenhouse gas emissions. All fuel-burning appliances produce carbon monoxide (CO)...

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