Blog | Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling

What Are The Benefits Of Humidifiers In The Winter

January 12, 2021

You hear a lot of advice about how to make your home more comfortable and your heating system more efficient. One thing that continues to come up, in both summer and winter, is proper humidity. There is good reason to be concerned about the humidity level in your home in Downers Grove this winter. Improved Air Quality Illinois winters are already dryer than other seasons because of the cold arctic air that moves through. Then, as you run your furnace to keep your home warm, that dries the air even more. With drier air comes drier dust, skin, furniture, everything. The problem with this lack of moisture is that it makes dust and dirt lighter. That means as air circulates around the home, it will pick up particles from the areas around the home they have collected. The number of particles in the air is how air quality is determined, so more particles means lower quality. Adding humidity to the air keeps those particles on surfaces where they can be easily cleaned. Humidity control is much more effective and has many more benefits than simply adding more filtering to remove the excess contaminant. Better Energy Efficiency Everyone is looking for...

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Downers Grove Residents: How Often Do You Change Your Furnace Filters?

December 19, 2020

If you are like most homeowners in Downers Grove, you may change your furnace filter when you first use your heating system in the winter, or perhaps this task is overlooked year after year. Changing filters may seem like a complete inconvenience, but fresh filters provide many unexpected benefits. Furnace filters are designed to trap dirt and dust in the heated air before it is delivered into your home. Over time, the airborne pollutants clog the filter, and your HVAC system must work harder to maintain comfortable indoor air temperatures. This leads to higher utility bills, more costly repairs and a shorter lifetime of the equipment. Indoor air quality also suffers from dirty furnace filters. Once the filter is completely clogged, more particles pass through and end up circulating in the rooms of your home. Not only do you need to dust and clean more often, but you may also experience physical symptoms, such as congestion, sneezing and watery eyes. To keep your home comfortable and heating system running efficiently, here are five times when you should change your furnace filters. 1. Manufacturer Recommendations When you buy filters for your furnace, check the instructions to see how often it should...

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What Happens to IAQ When You Open or Close the Windows?

November 19, 2020

If you’re like most Americans, you spend about 90% of your time indoors. That amount of time may be higher since the COVID-19 pandemic started, and it will also increase during the winter months of the year. When you close the windows in the springtime and open them in the wintertime, you can make some significant changes to your Downers Grove home’s indoor air quality (IAQ). Here are some of the ways that opening and closing your windows impacts your house’s IAQ. Problems Caused By Opening the Windows in Springtime When the weather finally warms up and the sun comes out, it’s tempting to open your windows. However, doing this can be harmful. The open windows allow pollen to enter your house. Mold spores can also get inside. It’s best to keep the windows closed and avoid allergy and asthma symptoms caused by exposure to these allergens and triggers. Hazards of Keeping Your Windows Closed During the Winter When it’s freezing outside, you’d probably prefer to keep the cold air outdoors. However, not allowing any fresh air to get into your home can be a problem for your health. If your furnace has a gas leak, carbon monoxide could build...

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7 Benefits of Humidifiers in the Winter

October 10, 2020

While we love the warmer months and having our windows open, the weather inevitably turns. As the cooler weather sets in, it is time to focus on winter air quality and getting your furnace running properly. One of the key things to get your home ready for the winter is to mind your humidity level. The ideal humidity level for your home is roughly 30% to 50%. The relative humidity level tends to drop during the winter, especially once the air moves through the furnace combustion chamber. This means you should consider adding moisture to the air. Check out these seven reasons why you should think about using a humidifier this winter. 1. Help Prevent the Spread of Viruses Did you ever wonder why winter tends to be the season when viruses spread more easily? One 2013 study suggests that a relative humidity of at least 43% renders about 85% of viruses inert. In other words, simply increasing the humidity level in your home can help reduce your risk of viral infections. 2. Reduce Snoring Adding humidity is not going to solve something like obstructive sleep apnea, but it can aid with the symptoms. When you sleep, your nasal passages...

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How Air Pollution Poses Largest Threat to Children

September 17, 2020

Nobody likes breathing toxic air. It’s even worse when we have to watch our children breathing in hurtful toxins. Luckily, there are ways you can stay on top of your home’s air quality. To mitigate the effects, however, you must learn how air pollution poses such a large threat to kids. Why Children Are at a Higher Risk Air quality is more serious than you might think when it comes to your children. For example, when your kids constantly breathe in dirty air, they’re more likely to develop serious respiratory problems like asthma that can follow them into adulthood. Because children are closer to the ground, they’re more likely to breathe in toxic air that stays lower to the surface. Kids also breathe faster than adults, so they take in more toxic air than adults when exposed. Young children can even develop neurological and cognitive ability problems from breathing toxic air, so we must care for our youth in all ways possible. Aside from having the house situated adequately, don’t forget that your vehicle also has a cabin air filter that should also be changed out every few months. Toxic Air Puts Pregnant Women at Risk The risks for children...

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Summertime HVAC: Common Seasonal Problems

August 8, 2020

Summer is when the temperature skyrockets, which means it’s also when you’ll be using your AC unit the most. Therefore, this is the time when you will experience the most problems with your air conditioner. Here are some common summertime HVAC seasonal issues and how to resolve them. 1. Poor or No Airflow It can be frustrating when airflow isn’t as strong as it could be or not reaching all of the different corners of your home. You may notice a little air coming out of the unit or none at all. Even if the air is coming out of the system, it might not be reaching every room. There are a number of possible reasons for poor or no airflow. Your unit may be clogged somewhere. You should make sure that the filter and your air ducts are clean If the airflow doesn’t improve, the air conditioner might not be big enough for your property, or it could need a repair. 2. Hot Air The whole point of your air conditioner is to cool your home. Thus, it’s counterproductive when the unit starts blowing out warm air instead of cold air. First, check to ensure that you have the...

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How to Connect your New Thermostat to your AC

July 14, 2020

Switching to a new thermostat is often one of the easiest ways of improving energy efficiency in your home. In many modern houses, hooking up a new thermostat is a simple DIY project. [Company_name] in Downers Grove, IL, is happy to help you to connect your new thermostat to your air conditioner, but we offer these instructions for all of the steps you need to follow. 1. Read the Instructions for Your Thermostat Every thermostat follows the same basic connection method, but there are some distinct differences between various models. To learn more about your model, read the manufacturer’s instructions. This should guide you through the connection process and tell you more about your thermostat’s unique features. 2. Turn Off Power to Your AC and Thermostat Before even removing the old thermostat, the first thing you should do is make sure the power is off in all affected devices. This will prevent dangerous shocks or potential damage to the system. Flip your breakers to turn off power to the affected areas, or completely shut off power to the house if you can’t find the right circuit. To make sure the power is off, test with a multimeter before removing the...

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How to Remove Mold from AC Ducts

June 13, 2020

Mold growth in your home can lead to a variety of short- and long-term health issues. Running an air conditioner can cause mold to grow in difficult-to-reach places. The cool air flowing through your ducts may cause water to condense onto the surfaces, making for a prime growing spot for various types of mold and bacteria. When spores get dislodged from the surface, they can become airborne and enter the air circulation in your home. If you’ve noticed a musty smell or can see dark bits of mold growing in your duct system, it’s important to get your home tested. If mold is detected, it’s important to know what type it is so you can use the appropriate treatment method. Cleaning Using Household Products If you’ve noticed that mold is growing in your ducts, you can use a variety of household cleaning products to get it cleaned off. Mixing either detergent or bleach with water is powerful enough to kill mold. When you’re getting ready to address an area of mold in your home, it’s important to put on protective gear. The cleaning chemicals can cause harm to your skin or eyes, and inhaling the mold spores is dangerous. Wearing...

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Common Indoor Air Quality Problems in Home Gyms

May 11, 2020

Having a gym in your Downer’s Grove, IL, home is convenient. You can exercise as long as you want, whenever you want. However, your home gym could be affected by indoor air pollutants. Indoor air quality problems can affect your breathing and other aspects of your health. Here are some of the most common indoor air quality problems in home gyms and some tips on what you can do in order to make your home’s air cleaner and healthier. Mold Mold spores are one of the most common causes of indoor air quality problems in humid climates like that of Downer’s Grove. Home gyms that are located in basements may have high mold spore levels. The damp, mild conditions of a basement and the many surfaces of a home gym provide an ideal growing environment. Condensation from around windows, splashes of water, or droplets of sweat also fuel the mold growth. Running a dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system and using an air purifier and high-efficiency particulate air filter will reduce mold and mold spores. Asbestos If your home was built before 1980, it could contain asbestos vinyl flooring or ceiling tiles. These products were often used in storage...

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Are UV Air Purifiers Worth It?

April 15, 2020

An ultraviolet air purifier can help to clean the air in your home. With improved technology, these units can enhance the quality of air and remove all those harmful microbial particles. As the air passes through the ultraviolet light, the particles are incinerated in the machine. UV air purifiers can help those with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. You might want to know if these units are worth it for your house. Here are a few things that you should know about these air purifiers. Should You Purchase an Ultraviolet Air Purifier? Ultraviolet air purifiers have many benefits. With a traditional air purifier, there needs to be a constant level of airflow to help move particles into the unit. By doing that, these systems are always running, and they can raise your energy bills. You also have to worry about changing the filters. When that happens, there is a chance that particles can be released back into the air. However, you do not have to worry about these issues with an ultraviolet air purifier. They do not have filters that need to be changed. These units are also energy-efficient. While these air purifiers are effective, their light bulbs can...

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