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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Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality: Friends or Foes?

October 10, 2023

There has been lots of debate in recent years about the link between a building’s energy efficiency and its indoor air quality and whether you can really ever have high energy efficiency and high air quality at the same time. There’s plenty of evidence that directly shows that improved energy efficiency often leads to a decrease in indoor air quality. The good news is that it doesn’t always have to, as you can have a home that’s extremely energy-efficient without having to worry about air quality. In this guide, we’ll discuss the ways that energy efficiency and air quality are often related and what options you have for improving either one without having to sacrifice the other. How Improved Energy Efficiency Can Negatively Affect Indoor Air Quality Construction practices and building materials have vastly improved in the past few decades. These advancements have allowed modern buildings to be far more energy-efficient, which is obviously important for saving homeowners money and lessening the environmental impact of their homes. Unfortunately, the improved energy efficiency of modern buildings has also resulted in them having more indoor air quality issues. Older buildings aren’t poorly built per se, but most of them definitely aren’t all...

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How Indoor Pets Change Air Quality and How to Improve It

September 20, 2023

Our beloved pets bring us immeasurable happiness, but they also bring something else: a complex web of indoor air quality concerns. It’s no secret that pets come with a lot of love and a generous helping of pet dander. Dander consists of tiny skin particles, hair and other microscopic debris that pets shed naturally. While dander might seem harmless, it can become airborne and contribute to a variety of indoor air quality problems, particularly for those with allergies or respiratory issues. This is especially relevant as we use HVAC systems, which can circulate these particles and pet-related odors throughout our homes. How Pets Change a Home’s Indoor Air Quality Allergies, Asthma and Health Concerns For individuals sensitive to allergens, pet dander can trigger allergies and exacerbate asthma symptoms. Common reactions include sneezing, coughing, itchy or watery eyes and even difficulty breathing. If you or your family members experience these symptoms, your pets might be unwitting contributors. Odors and VOCs We adore our pets, but sometimes their unique aroma can linger indoors. This is not just about the obvious odors; pet urine and feces can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, impacting the overall indoor air quality (IAQ). These...

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Is It More Expensive to Run Heating or Air Conditioning?

September 13, 2023

No matter what time of year it is in O’Fallon, MO, you will probably need to run either your furnace or your air conditioner. Both of these come with increased utility bills, but which one will cost you more? Knowing the answer to this and how you can improve efficiency and keep your bills as low as possible is essential. The information also helps to ensure that your home is always comfortable no matter what type of weather Mother Nature throws at you. Does Heating or Air Conditioning Cost More? The short answer is that it costs more to heat your home than it does to keep it cool. In fact, it could take up to four times more energy to heat your home compared to keeping it cool. Exploring these reasons will help you to develop a plan to lower both costs. In general, your system has to work harder to keep your home warm in the winter than it does to keep it cool in the summer. Most people keep their homes between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit no matter the time of year. During the summer, temperatures may get 20 to 30 degrees above this. Because of...

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Tips and Tricks for Finding Your Ideal Sleep Temperature

August 14, 2023

Why Good Sleep Matters High-quality sleep is essential for your overall health and well-being. As you sleep, your body rests, rejuvenates, and repairs itself. Throughout this process, the human brain consolidates memories, processes emotions, and regulates several bodily functions. While many people consider a good night’s rest to be at least eight hours, proper sleep is more than just a number. Doctors explain that a healthy amount of sleep includes uninterrupted rest, sufficient duration, and the proper progression through different sleep cycles. Quality sleep also plays a significant role in cognitive function, memory retention, and learning. By getting a good night’s sleep, you’ll be able to improve your concentration, focus, and problem-solving abilities. On the journey to satisfying sleep, the temperature can change everything. The optimal sleep temperature plays a big role in your ability to achieve restful sleep. As your internal thermostat works to keep a stable core temperature during sleep, a sleep environment that is too hot or too cold can disrupt the process. Additionally, feeling too hot as you sleep can lead to night sweats, restlessness, and frequent awakenings, while excessive cold can lead to muscle tension and discomfort. The Science Behind Sleep Temperature Scientists point out...

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