Using UV Lights to Improve HVAC Systems and Your Health

There are several indoor air quality issues that you may experience in your San Antonio, TX home. In addition to particulate matter like dust and pollen, your indoor air may contain different types of bacteria and viruses as well. Mold may even be present, which can be very dangerous for your health. There are several methods you can use to improve the quality of your indoor air. This includes UV light technology, which can protect your health as well as your HVAC system. What Is a UV Light? You probably know about UV rays coming from the sun. The types of UV rays that come from the sun are UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-C functions on wavelengths between 100 and 280 nanometers. It can be very damaging to anything that is living when exposed to it in high enough doses. You can have a UV light installed onto your HVAC system to address any microorganisms that are present in your indoor air. As germs pass through this light, they will be damaged at a cellular level. This makes them harmless to the human body. Therefore, these germs can’t make you sick any longer. This is a great feature for the...

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How Candles Affect Indoor Air Quality

Candles help enhance a room’s atmosphere. Nonetheless, some candles emit particulate matter, which pollutes the indoor air. Candle soot will tamper with the beauty of your San Antonio home, and it will also affect your home’s ventilation. The market is flooded with different candle designs, but excessive use can expose you to polluted indoor air. The majority of people tend to add scented candles to their dining room table. The candles create a relaxing, intimate, and elegant statement. However, they are also a health hazard. The information below will help you understand how candles affect indoor air quality. What Are Candles Made Of? For years, medical professionals have been researching the effects of candles on people. The human body tends to react negatively whenever the air is polluted. In the marketplace, you will come across scented, aromatic, and paraffin candles. These candles are made of paraffin wax, and there are other instances where paraffin wax is mixed with different wax types. Every time you burn a candle, carcinogenic toxins are produced. Toluene, acrolein, soot, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene are some of the carcinogenic toxins emitted. The toxins released by paraffin candles are identical to the toxins from burnt diesel fuel....

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How Are Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Related?

Indoor air quality is a severely underrated aspect of your home. No matter how clear it looks, impurities may be lurking about. If the air is unclean, it can pose a serious threat to your health. Individuals with preexisting health conditions such as asthma and allergies are at an even greater risk. Fortunately, HVAC systems are a great way to solve the issue of air quality. With the right appliances, you can circulate fresh air throughout your entire home. In this post, we will learn how indoor air quality and HVAC are related. Air Conditioning First, it’s important to note that HVAC isn’t strictly a good thing when it comes to indoor air quality. Some devices such as AC units can actually have negative effects. An AC constantly sucks air in and out of the device, stirring up particles that already exist in your home. If you have a pet, strands of hair could float into the air. Dust will be moved around as well. Although it’s not as severe as the debris from a portable fan, be aware that air conditioning can stir up fine particles in your home. Air Purification Fortunately, an air purifier is an easy solution...

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Do Plants Help Indoor Air Quality

We already know the importance that trees have on the environment with how they help clean the air. Therefore, it would make sense that having plants in your home could improve its indoor air quality. In fact, there have been studies performed by NASA in the controlled environments of its space station that showed that plants do help clean the air. While their studies showed that plants had a positive effect on the air, these results do not really carry over into real-life settings. Why Plants Cannot Improve IAQ on Their Own The American Lung Association has estimated that you would need to have over 680 plants in your home to remove pollutants from the air in your home. There are other factors to consider too, like the: Species of plants How much light the plants receive Temperature in the home Size of plants Adding a few plants to your home could slightly improve indoor air quality, but not completely. Try to stick to plants like leafy ferns, snake plants or spider plants that have larger leaf surfaces. Why Plants Might Not Be Such a Great Idea There could be a downside to depending on plants to clean the air...

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Home Comfort Resolutions for 2020

Your HVAC system plays a major role in home comfort. A house that’s sufficiently warm in the winter and cool in the summer will go a long way toward making you feel comfortable. Here are a few resolutions to make in 2020 that will ensure your comfort. Furnace Resolutions Starting in January, you should resolve to check your furnace’s filter every month, cleaning it whenever it’s dirty. This will keep the furnace from blowing dirty, uncomfortable air throughout your house. A gas furnace should be professionally inspected and serviced at least once a year. Even better, you should resolve to have this service performed in the spring and fall. A well-maintained furnace will operate efficiently and keep your energy costs down. Another resolution is to keep your home’s temperature at 68 degrees rather than 72 degrees during the colder months. You will be just as comfortable while saving 4% on your energy bills. Air Conditioning Resolutions Just like your furnace, a well-maintained air conditioner can help to keep your residence comfortable. It should also be serviced by a professional at least once a year — preferably in the spring and fall. The professional will inspect it and clean the outdoor...

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Indoor Air Quality for Homes with Pets

Pets are a part of your family, and allowing them to move freely in your home is essential to their well-being. When accounting for your indoor air quality, you need to take into consideration the contribution your furry companions make when it comes to burdensome airborne particles. Just as humans shed skin cells that contribute to dust, animals shed pet dander. Your pets shed fur and can bring dirt and other pollutants into your home from the outdoors, so it’s important that you take steps to protect your indoor air quality. Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality If you’re experiencing allergy-like symptoms such as shortness of breath and watery eyes, these may be due to poor indoor air quality. A lot of these reactions may not be apparent until well after your pet has joined your family, so don’t be too quick to rule out their presence as a likely cause. There’s no need to worry, though. Unless there is a pathological cause for these symptoms, there are a few actions you can take to alleviate the effects your pet has on your indoor air quality. Here are a few. Vacuum Regularly Vacuuming at least twice a week will ensure...

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Importance of Indoor Air Quality

When it starts to get cold outside, it’s time to keep the windows and doors of your home closed. At in San Antonio, TX, we understand that poor ventilation can cause air quality issues in your building. That’s why we’re ready to provide solutions. Having a clean furnace is important, so we offer comprehensive installation, repair, and maintenance services to ensure the air that comes out of your ducts is clean. We can also clean out your duct system and remove dirt and debris. As part of our commitment to our customers, we can offer advice on different options for air filters and purifiers. Steps Individuals Can Take There are many different ways that you could improve the air quality in your building during the cold winter months. Our professional services could reduce the particulates that you breathe so that you can have peace of mind. Our high level of experience allows us to personalize all of the services we offer. One of our professional technicians could: Install humidifiers or dehumidifiers Add additional air filters Seal leaks Install UV lights Adding living plants to your building could also help clean the air that you’re breathing. If you’ve discovered mold in...

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