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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Which Electric Heating Systems are the Best?

March 19, 2020

When your home does not have natural gas or propane service, an electric heating system may be your only option. Even if you do have access to other fuel sources for heating your home, you may prefer electric heating systems because of their cleanliness, ease of maintenance, safety and efficiency. If you’re looking for the best electric heating system for your Downers Grove area home, there are many considerations and options to keep in mind. Types of Electric Heating Systems You might be surprised that there are many different types of electric heating systems that can deliver comfort to your home. Each has its own advantages, and some are better for certain homes or spaces than others. The types of electric heating systems include: Heat pumps Baseboard heat Ductless mini-split or multi-split Furnace When thinking about which of these electric heating systems is the best for your home, there are several considerations to keep in mind. You’ll want to think about energy efficiency, system cost, operating cost, ease of installation, capacity and the size and age of your home. Heat Pumps Heat pumps operate as both heating and cooling systems. There are both air-source and ground-source heat pumps. They work...

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What is The Most Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling System?

February 20, 2020

If you pay close attention to your utility bills, you’ve likely noticed a significant drop in your utility costs when spring and fall come to Downers Grove. While a few factors may be at play, the most significant factor is that during these seasons you don’t need to run your HVAC system as often since the temperature outside is already enjoyable. This shows, then, that your HVAC system is one of the largest energy consumers in your home. If you can find a more energy-efficient system, therefore, you could end up saving a lot of money. Here are a few things to know about the most energy-efficient HVAC system for a given application. Newer Systems Are Always More Efficient Before you learn anything else, it’s important to know that any new system you purchase from is likely to be more efficient than any system you currently have that’s more than a few years old. Thanks to improvements in technology and manufacturing techniques, newer furnaces and air conditioners are able to operate more efficiently and safely, which makes it economical to purchase a new furnace in Downers Grove, IL, if your old one is facing significant repairs. Multiple Sources Are Usually...

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What Is Acceptable Indoor Air Quality?

February 10, 2020

While the idea of using your HVAC system to control the air quality inside your home may be somewhat novel to you, allergies, colds and sinus infections are likely all too familiar. Currently, the U.S. does not firmly adhere to a numerical standard for acceptable indoor quality. In recent years, though, the American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers has come up with ASHRAE 62.2, a proposed minimum national standard that provides methods for achieving acceptable indoor air quality in low-rise buildings. At [company name], we implement the same practical steps to help our residential customers in Downers Grove, IL, and the surrounding areas improve the air quality in their homes. Steps to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality Depending on your current HVAC setup, there are several steps we can take to improve your indoor air quality. One of the most basic strategies that will instantly improve your air quality is to simply keep your HVAC system clean. We recommend scheduling maintenance at least once a year. Our technicians will change your HVAC filters and clean your coils and ducts to make sure the air that passes through the system is cleaner. We can also install a particle filter...

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Why Does My Thermostat Click When It Comes On?

January 20, 2020

You might already know by now that when your thermostat sends a signal to your air conditioner or furnace, it makes a clicking sound. Some area homeowners may notice it more because this can be a loud click. Why Does My Thermostat Click? This clicking sound does not usually indicate any problems with your system. This is the sound your thermostat makes when it opens and closes power to your air conditioner or furnace. All thermostats make this noise, but it should be a very subtle sound that doesn’t disrupt your life in any way. However, if you hear frequent clicking, this can be a sign that your thermostat is misfiring. Or, if instead of a clicking sound, you hear a loud pop and find that your thermostat is fried, that is generally an indication that a line shorted out. In these cases, it’s important to work with a reputable HVAC technician to diagnose and repair the issue. in Downers Grove, Illinois, is a trusted name for furnace repairs and replacements. If the clicking sound is abnormally loud — maybe it wakes you up out of a sleep or startles you at night — it might stem from a variety...

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