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5 Ways to Increase Indoor Air Quality During the Winter Months

January 18, 2023

5 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality in the Winter You spend most of your time indoors during the winter. Unfortunately, the indoor air quality of your home can plummet during this time of year. There are thankfully things that you can do to keep your indoor air quality as high as possible. 1. Keep Your Home Clean Keeping your home clean will improve its air quality. Regularly dust surfaces and clean bedding. Vacuum carpets and rugs with a HEPA vacuum cleaner once or twice a week. 2. Install Indoor Air Quality Products Air purifiers trap dust, pet dander, and other air pollutants. To remove air pollutants from your entire home, invest in a whole-house air purifier. This device is installed in your home’s HVAC system where it cleans all the air that passes through it. You can also have a whole-house dehumidifier installed in your HVAC system. This device will keep your entire home at an ideal humidity level. 3. Change the Air Filter You should schedule an HVAC company to tune up your furnace in the spring. As part of this service, they will change the air filter as needed. In the winter, check the air...

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Preventing Your Furnace From Blowing a Fuse

December 21, 2022

With colder temperatures settling in for the season, the last thing you want to experience is a broken furnace. One common occurrence when your furnace works overtime in the wintertime is a blown fuse. Causes of Blowing a Fuse Some of the most common causes of furnace-blown fuses include: Damaged wiring in your system A saturated air filter Thermostat metal frame encountering wiring Faulty parts or worn-out components While some of these fixes may seem like do-it-yourself opportunities, it’s best to contact a qualified HVAC technician to properly diagnose and repair the problem. Furnaces require regular care and maintenance to ensure that they continue to work as intended. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your HVAC system can carry the heavy winter load. Take these steps for efficient heating success this winter and beyond. 1. Examine Furnace Fuses and Breaker Boxes Having your breaker box and furnace fuses inspected by a qualified service professional will help eliminate future problems. Change and replace worn-out fuses, and make sure that your breaker box remains up to code to reduce incidents of failed fuses and even electrical fires that could quickly overtake your home. 2. Change Your...

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3 Ways to Increase Your Air Quality During Winter Months

November 18, 2022

Winter is a great time of year. The holidays are around the corner, and there’s nothing like a good snowfall to make everything feel festive. However, as temperatures drop and you spend more time indoors, the quality of your air can suffer. Dust mites, mold, and poor ventilation can all lead to stuffy noses, coughing, and irritated eyes. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to improve the air quality in your home this winter. 1. Keep Humidity Levels in Check During the winter months, humidity levels inside your home can drop significantly. This can cause a variety of problems, such as static electricity and an increased risk of respiratory infections. To combat this, invest in a humidifier. This will help add moisture back into the air and make your home more comfortable overall. 2. Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly Your furnace filter is there for a reason – to trap dust, pollen, and other allergens so they don’t circulate through your home. But over time, filters get clogged and need to be regularly changed. Most experts recommend changing your furnace filter at least once every three months. However, if you have pets or someone in your home...

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Will My Heat Pump Work When Temperatures Reach Freezing?

October 20, 2022

Heat pumps can seem like the ideal heating and cooling option for any home. You need to have only one system installed, and it can be highly efficient to operate as compared to other types of heating and cooling systems. However, one major drawback of heat pumps many years ago was their inability to perform well in freezing temperatures. Modern Technology Has Changed All That Heat pumps for residential use went mainstream around the 1980s. While these initial heat pumps worked great in moderate climates, they struggled a lot when temperatures went down below freezing. This created a problem for many who lived in colder climates where temperatures dipped below freezing on a regular basis. However, modern technology has changed all that. Modern heat pumps can work perfectly fine in zero-degree temperatures. This efficient operation during colder weather can be attributed to improved compressor designs, coil designs, more efficient fans and better motors. Now, heat pumps have been tested to work in all different environments around the globe. Dealing With Negative Temperatures The limitation of most modern air-source heat pumps is around -13 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a region of the world that actively sees these low temperatures...

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Why You Shouldn’t Attempt to Change Your AC Fan Speed on Your Own

September 15, 2022

Even when the air conditioner in your Solon, Ohio home is working perfectly, you aren’t guaranteed to have the level of comfort that you really want. Although cranking up your air conditioner’s fan speed will give you a faster and more forceful flow of air, you should never attempt to make this adjustment by yourself. Like all other aspects of your air conditioner, fan speed settings must account for the nature of the AC model you own and the needs of your living environment. Ideal AC Fan Settings Can Vary From Model to Model Across nearly all air conditioner brands, 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM) is the standard fan speed. However, ideal fan settings are often specific to individual AC models based upon their size, cooling capacity, and overall design. More importantly, the standard fan speed isn’t necessarily the correct fan speed for you home. To arrive at the right setting, you’ll have to account for numerous factors that are specific to your living environment. Cranking up Fan Speeds Rarely Provides the Desired Results Increasing the speed of box fans and ceiling fans provides more air movement and increased comfort. This isn’t the case with air conditioners. Having more...

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Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Might Be Squeaking

August 11, 2022

As you’re relaxing on a hot and swampy day, the last thing you likely want is a problem with your air conditioner. When that squeaking noise starts up, ignoring the issue might be tempting, but doing so can lead to more extensive and costly repairs later on. Learn some of the reasons why the air conditioner might be making that unpleasant sound. It’s Getting Started Keep in mind that at the beginning of the hot season, the air conditioner has potentially not been turned on for many months. If your air conditioner squeaks when the unit is first turned on for the season, and then the noise goes away, you might not have anything to worry about it. It’s Working too Hard The air conditioner might be working too hard to keep up with the home’s cooling demands, which could lead to a squeaking sound. Consider if you need to keep the temperature as low as you currently have it set. Setting the unit to a low temperature can require the parts within the air conditioner to have to work harder, which can ultimately lead to squeaking. The Parts Need Repair or Replacement One or more of the parts in...

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3 Common AC Compressor Problems

July 20, 2022

An AC compressor is used to pressurize and circulate the refrigerant through the system. Many components inside an AC compressor need to be checked for proper operation for it to work correctly. The following are some of the most common compressor problems. 1. Starting Issues There are several reasons why an AC will not start. The main reason is that the compressor is failing. A compressor that is slowly failing will sometimes start fine but add a load to the motor and cause it to immediately shut off. Also, if an AC compressor has been sitting for a long time, the oil inside can dry out, causing it to not be able to start. To check for starting issues, disconnect power from the unit and immediately start it back on. If you have a failing compressor, you’ll notice issues starting the system. 2. Strange Sounds A noisy AC compressor can be caused by the bearings in the compressor wearing out. The fan may also begin to fail, causing noise and vibration. If your system has strange sounds while running, you should check everything inside of the unit. 3. Breaker Problems A failing compressor can cause the breaker to short circuit....

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How to Soundproof an HVAC System

June 16, 2022

The HVAC system can be the biggest noise culprit in contemporary buildings. Proper insulation and soundproofing will keep the activity area quiet that could get disturbed by the hum and other noises from air and ventilation systems. Here are some best ways to soundproof an HVAC system: 1. Remove and Replace the Air Vent The easiest way to soundproof HVAC is to replace the air vent with a quieter, thicker model. The soundproofing vent should be able to reduce 90% of the noise coming from the unit. 2. Use Flexible Ducts Flexible ducts are a great choice for soundproofing your HVAC system. They’re easy to install and made of materials that are flexible enough to withstand the movement of your HVAC system. 3. Upgrade the HVAC System The availability of higher energy-efficient HVAC systems with the ability to perform will contribute to your savings, and they are usually quieter. Replace the older style ducting with newer insulated ductwork. New insulation and sealing leakage points can also help reduce sounds within your home. 4. Buy a Duct Silencer The HVAC duct silencer has been designed to reduce the noise produced by air conditioning and ventilation systems. They are used in residential...

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What’s Causing Your AC Leak?

May 19, 2022

All traditional air conditioners produce water as they cool your home. This condensation is often safely removed via your drain line and drip pan. If you’re struggling with an AC water leak, one or more parts of these components may be compromised. Here are the most common causes behind air conditioner leaks. Clogged Drain Line Your AC’s drain or condensate line may become clogged over time due to mold, mildew, dirt, and debris. Clogs in the line can cause the water to overfill your drip pan and leak into the home. Continued leaking will compromise other parts of your AC and lead to decreased indoor air quality. Your drain line needs regular maintenance to ensure it’s clean and functioning as intended. You can easily clean this line yourself with vinegar or a wet-dry vacuum if dealing with a harder clog. If the leaking persists or worsens, contact a trained HVAC professional immediately. Incorrectly Installed AC An AC may begin leaking if it hasn’t been correctly installed. Window AC units should be tilted slightly back so the water moves naturally outside of the home. If the unit is tilted forward, you’re more likely to struggle with the drip pan overfilling. Your...

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Are You Wasting Money and Energy by Opening the Windows?

April 18, 2022

It’s only natural for homeowners in Solon, OH, and its surrounding areas to look for ways to reduce energy use for cooling and heating. With your HVAC system primarily driven by electricity, at times, the cost of utility bills might be high. In addition, the big question you might be battling with is, will sleeping with windows open save energy and save me money? If this is your question, this information will be helpful. Read on to decide what’s best for your system and loved ones. Air Conditioning vs. Open Windows When you sleep with the windows open, you allow outdoor pollutants into your home. Moreover, since your system is meant to keep your indoor air clean and breathable, that means it’ll work harder than it usually would to remove these pollutants. In the end, your system will use up more energy, causing an increase in electricity bills. Furthermore, when your system works harder than it should, it simply translates to more extreme wear and tear. In the end, your system will become less efficient and take longer to cool your home than it normally would. Let’s not forget that you might be allowing humid air from the outside into...

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