Are HVAC UV Lights Safe?

March 6, 2024

Indoor air quality has become a crucial concern for many homeowners. Many have resorted to using ultraviolet (UV) light together with their HVAC systems to ensure their air is clean. However, as this technology becomes accepted, there are also health risks due to improper installation and maintenance of UV lights. The question that everyone is asking is, are HVAC UV lights safe? UV lights can be used for air disinfection; nevertheless, the right usage and safety measures are necessary. Read on to find out more. UV Lights in HVAC Systems UV light has been used in applications such as water treatment for many years because of its short wavelength radiation between 200-280 nm. It is very destructive to the nucleic acids of microbes, thus preventing their replication. UV lights are often found in the ductwork of an HVAC system before the air handler. The circulating, conditioned air is exposed to the UV light, which then attacks any airborne pathogens by breaking down their DNA or RNA, thus making them inactive. Some HVAC UV light systems also incorporate ionization to eliminate odors and statically charged particles in order to be filtered downstream. The UV lights need to be always on so...

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Can Dehumidifiers Help With Mold?

February 9, 2024

is committed to making families more comfortable with reliable whole-home dehumidifiers in O’Fallon, MO. As the name suggests, a dehumidifier is a device that reduces or controls humidity in a certain area, home, or space. Missouri is a beautiful state but is known for being humid, with average levels at 82.25%, making it the 13th most humid state in the US. Having a whole-home dehumidifier is one of the best ways to beat the heat while also making sure you and your family breathe clean air. Worry no more about mold and mildew growth with a quality humidifier that you can lean on when you often deal with comfort and allergy issues, as well as damp, musty odors and visible signs of moisture in your house. The Mold and Humidity Link There are many reasons why you do not want mold in your home. The spores are unpleasant to look at, and they stink. Not only that, but they also cause a variety of health problems. If you have breathing problems or allergies, mold is not your friend. If left untreated, it can cause destruction, such as wood rotting and warping. Thankfully, there are a few practical and easy ways...

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Is Indoor Air Quality Better Than Outdoor Air Quality?

February 5, 2024

Your overall health and well-being depend on the quality of the air that you breathe as well as your comfort in your O’Fallon home. Is indoor air quality better than the quality of the air outside? This is a common question and to answer it, you need to examine what influences air quality, pollutant types and how to improve air quality. Exploring Indoor Air Quality Maintaining quality indoor air in your home is essential for all occupants. There are several factors that affect the air inside. Make sure that you have sufficient ventilation. This allows fresh air to flow into your space while pushing indoor air pollutants out. Dry air can cause respiratory discomfort and dry skin while high humidity can lead to mold growth. Indoor air quality is reliant on balanced humidity levels. Ideally, you want the humidity levels in your home to be between 20 and 60%. The common airborne contaminants include dust, mold spores, particulate matter, pet dander and pollen. There are also volatile organic compounds that certain paints, cleaning products and air fresheners can release. Occupant activities, such as smoking, appliance use and cooking, can release some pollutants into the air. Exploring Outdoor Air Quality There...

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Is It Considered Normal for an Air Conditioner To Run Every 10 Minutes?

January 25, 2024

Updated August 23, 2024 Are you experiencing issues with your air conditioning constantly turning on, off, and on again? It’s normal for a central AC system to cycle on and off a few times an hour. On much hotter days or if your home is poorly insulated, you may also find that your AC system never stays off for all that long. However, there are also times when an AC that never runs for very long or cycles on and off constantly can indicate it has some type of issue. In this article, we’ll explain how long and often your AC should normally run so you can more easily determine if it isn’t working correctly or has any issues. Typical AC Cooling Cycles How often your air conditioning will run and how long it will stay off depends on the outdoor temperature, as this will impact how quickly your home starts heating back up after the AC shuts off. Thermostats are typically calibrated to signal the AC to start running when the temperature rises from 1 to 3 degrees above whatever the thermostat is set to. A cooling cycle is when the air conditioning turns on until it cools the...

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Missouri Homeowner’s Guide to Dry Indoor Air

January 10, 2024

Proper indoor air quality has a major influence on people’s health and happiness. But breathing in dry air can cause a host of problems. These problems range from irritated respiratory tracts to warped wood furniture. To have a healthy home, it’s important to know what produces dry indoor air and how it affects people. Let’s take a look at the top causes of dry air. We’ll also cover how it affects you and your house and nine practical remedies. Causes of Dry Indoor Air A number of things may cause dry air to build up in a house, which can be very uncomfortable and even dangerous. The use of heating systems, particularly in the winter, is a common cause of low humidity. Seasonal changes, especially in colder regions, have the potential to make dryness even worse. Factors that lead to low humidity include overheating living environments and the usage of certain equipment. Another factor is the absence of moisture sources, such as houseplants or clothes dried in the air. A lack of natural ventilation, airtight housing, and environmental variables like low relative humidity also play a role. For a healthier and more pleasant interior climate, it is essential to identify...

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5 Tips to Reduce Strain on Your HVAC System This Winter

December 8, 2023

One way you can save money on energy costs and repairs is by reducing the strain on your heating and cooling system. If your system works harder than usual to keep your home comfortable, you can expect your energy bills to go up. Moreover, the strain on your system intensifies the wearing process, meaning you will have to pay for repairs and replacements every so often. Although these costs might not seem a lot at first, in the long run, they can quickly add up. If your system strains to keep your indoors comfortable, chances are you will likely have to replace your unit prematurely. For most homeowners in O’Fallon, MO, HVAC installation is an expensive investment, necessitating substantial financial sacrifices. Accordingly, you want your system to serve you long enough to get value for money. With the following tips, you can lessen the load on your system and extend its lifespan while enjoying comfort. 1. Clean or Replace Filters Your system filters are responsible for trapping indoor air pollutants, including dust, mold spores, dander, pollen, and other small particles that would otherwise compromise your home’s indoor air quality. Over time, these contaminants can accumulate on the filters, restricting airflow,...

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What’s the Difference Between an Air Purifier and an Air Scrubber?

December 8, 2023

There are many ways to clean the air in your O’Fallon, MO home. While HVAC air filters remove common allergens and contaminants, there’s a lot that passes right through them. Upgrading this component could provide limited improvements, but adding an integrated HVAC accessory is far more effective. Whole-house air purifiers and air scrubbers eliminate mold, viruses, bacteria, and harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among other things. Having either of these options installed is a great way to boost your indoor air quality (IAQ) and protect the health of your household. The following is everything you need to know about these increasingly popular IAQ technologies, including how they differ. What Is an Air Scrubber? Air scrubbers are frequently used in the clean rooms of research facilities. They’re also found in hospitals and industrial environments. Air scrubbers create clean spaces from floor to ceiling by filtering the indoor air and weighing airborne contaminants down. Installed in HVAC ductwork, they offer multi-stage air filtration to eliminate the allergens, pathogens, and contaminants that have slipped right through standard air filters. As with all HVAC and IAQ equipment, not all air scrubbers are the same. Some models include high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that eliminate...

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Are mini-split units good for heating purposes?

November 7, 2023

Finding the right heating solution for your O’Fallon, MO home could prove challenging. After all, there are many equipment types to choose from, and each comes with its own level of safety, convenience, and efficiency. While many households are reliant upon ducted furnaces and heat pumps, ductless mini-splits are garnering attention for their low operating costs, ease of use, and overall flexibility. Having a mini-split installed is among the cheapest ways to keep your living space cool in the summer, but you may be worried about using it for heating purposes. Read on to discover just how well these systems handle cold weather. What Are Mini-Split Systems and How Do They Work in Winter? Ductless mini-split heat pumps have been commercially available since the 1970s. However, they’ve sparked recent interest among consumers who are actively searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprints. Like central air conditioners, mini-split systems have outdoor condensers that are installed on level, composite, or concrete pads. These units are connected to one or more indoor air handlers to service select areas or entire buildings. In summer, ductless heat pumps are functionally identical to air conditioners. They harness warm, indoor air, pass it over refrigerant-filled coils,...

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What Is a Heat Exchanger and How Does It Work

November 1, 2023

There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about the heating equipment in your O’Fallon, MO, home. From your furnace’s electric ignition switch to its venting system, there are many important components working together to provide an even and consistent stream of heat. Among these is your furnace’s heat exchanger. Much like its name implies, the heat exchanger is where heat transfer occurs. Positioned just below the combustion chamber and the furnace blower, it has a major role in determining just how efficient and safe your furnace is. How a Heat Exchanger Works Heat exchangers are L-shaped metal shells with multiple internal and external tubes. This shell-and-tube configuration minimizes thermal energy loss during heat transfer. When your furnace burns or combusts fuel, the hot exhaust gases from this process leave the combustion chamber and enter the heat exchanger, where their heat is absorbed. As filtered air is blown across the exchanger, it collects this heat before entering your ductwork and being distributed throughout your home. Heat exchangers experience regular and significant fluctuations in temperature along with incredibly high levels of heat. Their all-metal design makes them excellent heat conductors. This also makes them resistant to temperature-related cracking. Cracked Heat Exchangers...

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Understanding the Furnace Installation Process From Start to Finish

October 19, 2023

Installing a new furnace in a home is a much more complicated process than most people realize. Removing an older furnace and replacing it can be time-consuming, but it can usually be completed in one day. However, it is always something that has to be done by a certified technician. You can’t just plug in a furnace, hook up the gas, and have it ready to go. There are a huge number of steps and tests that need to be done to ensure it operates safely and heats effectively. This guide will show you all of the various steps involved in replacing or installing a furnace so that you know what to expect during the process. Load Calculation Before installing a new furnace in a home, technicians will need to perform what’s known as a Manual J load calculation. A load calculation is essential as it enables them to accurately determine what size the furnace needs to be to heat the home effectively and operate as energy efficiently as possible. When performing the load calculation, technicians will take into account a wide variety of different factors including the home’s square footage and the climate zone. They’ll also need to measure...

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