If you’ve taken a look at your HVAC filters, you have probably noticed that each one has a MERV rating. MERV stands for “minimum efficiency reporting value” and it has some important implications.

The filter’s MERV rating indicates how effectively the filter removes particles from the air as it passes through. The higher the MERV rating, the tinier particles it can catch, leaving you with cleaner, easier to breathe air.

There is a downside to using a filter with a high MERV rating, however. A filter with a high MERV rating will feature a denser filtration medium. It takes more force to push air through dense filtration medium. So, using a filter with a rating at the high end of the MERV scale puts significant strain on your HVAC system.

Finding the Best MERV Rating for Your Home

If you replace your HVAC filter with one that has an excessively high rating, your system will struggle to push air through the system. It has a similar effect running with an old, dusty filter, and your system will not run efficiently. As your system struggles to push air, accelerates the wear on the system’s components. This extra strain can lead to frequent expensive repairs.

To determine the best MERV rating for your home and HVAC system, start with the owner’s manual. Look in the manual for the listed maximum MERV rating. Using a filter with a value higher than the recommended limit immediately affects the system’s efficiency and will ultimately lead to costly future repairs.

Once you have determined the recommended MERV ratings for your system by checking the owner’s manual, it is time to consider other factors. If you or someone in your family suffers from asthma or allergies, you should consider selecting a filter with a MERV rating on the higher end of the recommended rating range. Also, if you have shedding pets or an abnormally dusty home, you’ll need to choose a higher rated filter.

The Numbers Explained

Filter MERV ratings range from 1 to 20. Most residential HVAC filters fall in the 1-4 range. However, it isn’t uncommon for some homeowners to use filters rated as high as 8 if they have special circumstances.

Filters with different MERV ratings are best suited for different circumstances. Here is a basic guide that covers the various MERV rating ranges and their capabilities.

MERV 1-4

Filters that fall into this rating range catch mostly large particles. Used primarily for residential use, these filters are effective at filtering dust, carpet fibers, insects and insect parts, and pollen.

MERV 5-8

Used in some residences, as well as most commercial and industrial settings, filters in this range capture smaller particles including mold spores, pet dander, fine dust, and even aerosol spray particles.

MERV 9-12

Filters in this range are rarely suitable for residential use. They are more commonly used for certain commercial buildings and some hospital settings. These filters have a dense filtration medium capable of capturing fumes from vehicle emissions, welding fumes, some larger bacteria, and dangerous lead dust.

MERV 13-16

Useful in hospital surgical centers and other places where heavy-duty filtration is necessary, filters in this range collect tiny smoke particles, various strains of bacteria, and fine particles emitted when a person sneezes.

MERV 17-20

At the highest end of the MERV scale, filters within this range are used in “clean rooms.” Also, utilized in locations where pharmaceuticals and sensitive electronics are manufactured, these filters remove carbon dust, the tiniest smoke particles, and even dangerous viruses.

While you won’t need filters at the highest end of the MERV rating scale, you do benefit from them. Whenever you take medication or use your cell phone you are enjoying a product whose development and manufacturing are dependent on high MERV filtration.

If you need help finding the appropriate filter for your home HVAC system, contact your local HVAC professionals for recommendations.

As colder weather begins to set in, furnaces across the continent start firing up to keep us warm. A good furnace keeps the temperature cozy and warm throughout your home… except for the places it doesn’t. Drafts are the bane of cold weather heating efficiency, seeping away the air you’ve paid to heat and creating cold spots throughout your home.

How to Find the Source of Your Draft

Repairing drafts in your home is fairly simple. Updating insulation, sealing gaps and cracks, installing weather stripping, and updating your windows, are easy solutions for fixing costly air leaks. While most of the solutions to a drafty home are straightforward, locating the source of cold drafts is a bit more complicated.

Feeling for Drafts

Windows and doors are the most common locations of a drafty air leak. You can easily check around doors and windows for leaks when it is cold outside and the heat is on. Simply move your hand around the edges of outside doors and windows and feel for cold air.

Feeling for cold air is the simplest way to check for significant air leaks. Be aware of any cold spots as you walk through your home. Besides windows and doors, mail slots and pet doors are two other areas that should be checked for drafty air leaks.

Leaks that are located around pet doors and mail slots are tricky to fix. Often the only solution is to have the openings completely sealed.

Other Ways of Detecting Leaks

Some drafts are difficult to detect by feel alone. To detect subtle air leaks, you can use a low-tech tester for assistance. A common household candle is the simplest tool for locating the source of drafty air, and most homes have them already on hand.

First, turn off your HVAC system. Then simply light a candle and walk slowly through your home while holding the lit candle. If the flame of your candle flickers, you’ve detected a nearby air leak. Use the candle to trace the air flow to its source.

Another highly effective tool is a draft detector. Available in most hardware or home improvement stores, a draft detector emits a thin stream of odorless smoke. By observing the movement of the stream of smoke, you can find the source of moving air.

Calling in the Professionals

If you problems with serious air leaks, or if you are having difficulty pinpointing draft sources, it’s time to contact an HVAC or electrical specialist.

Thermographic Imaging

A professional technician can perform a household energy audit with high-tech thermographic imaging. With the use of handheld devices, a special technician can detect heat patterns in your home.

With this technology, cold spots will stand out on the display screen even if there isn’t any significant air movement. Drafts around vents, electrical outlets, and recessed lighting may only be detectable with thermographic imaging devices.

Blower Door Pressurization

A thorough household energy audit usually involves a blower door pressurization test. This is the most thorough way of testing your home for energy leaks.

During a blower door pressurization test, a trained technician will close the windows and doors of your home, except for the front door. A door-sized panel is sealed against the open front door, and a large fan is activated to pull the air out, depressurizing your home.

With the indoor pressure decrease, drafts become easier to detect during an interior inspection. This method is most effective for locating air leaks in attic and basement areas. These areas are the most common locations of drafty leaks, but are also the most difficult places to pinpoint drafty sources.

If you suspect your home would benefit from a professional energy audit, or if you need help locating drafty areas in your home, contact your local HVAC professionals to schedule a consultation.

In recent years, programmable thermostats have gained popularity. Switching from a standard manual thermostat to a programmable one allows you to select a comfortable temperature. The ability to set your thermostat according to the specific needs of your lifestyle increases your home comfort level.

For example, if you sleep better when it is cooler, a programmable thermostat will help you sleep better. After being set, it will automatically adjust the setting to a cooler temperature during the times you would normally be asleep. You can also set the thermostat to adjust the indoor temperature to make your home warmer when you wake up.

The addition of a programmable thermostat to your home’s heating and air conditioning system is a simple project that many homeowners choose to do on their own. However, a local HVAC technician can help with installation of your new programmable thermostat. More importantly, he or she can help you choose the most efficient model for your lifestyle and your HVAC unit.

Why You Should Have a Programmable Thermostat Installed in Your Home

If you haven’t made the switch to a programmable thermostat, here are a few of the many benefits.

#1 – Saving Money

With energy costs rising all across the country, consumers are always looking for ways to money on their utility bills. The best way to reduce your energy costs is to reduce your energy use. One easy way to do this is by using a programmable thermostat.

Programmable thermostats give you the ability to adjust the temperature in your home to meet your comfort needs. By creating a schedule that works with your family’s routine, a programmable thermostat enables you to keep the indoor temperature cooler or warmer, depending on the season, during the hours that your family is away.

Energy experts say every degree you raise or lower your thermostat, you can save up to two percent on your utility costs. Over time a programmable thermostat can offer significant savings.

#2 – Less Need for Adjustments

Homeowners with programmable thermostats need to make fewer adjustments to their home’s thermostat. A manual thermostat requires regular adjustment when you leave or arrive home. It also must be adjusted before you go to bed and again when you get up in the morning.

With a programmable thermostat, you simply take the time to set the desired temperatures for specific times of day. You only have to set it once and then forget about it. You never have to worry about forgetting to adjust your thermostat when you leave the house. A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts it for you at the preselected time.

#3 – Improved Energy Efficiency

If your home is energy efficient, your major appliances will suffer less wear and tear. For those who are concerned about draining valuable limited resources, increased energy efficiency is a top priority. If you want to decrease your carbon footprint, but want to remain comfortable, a programmable thermostat helps curb energy waste.

#4 – Extending the Life of Your HVAC Unit

With an older system, replacing your manual thermostat with a programmable one can help your system do its job more efficiently. By reducing the units total workload, you can extend the life of an outdated system. However, you should check with a heating and cooling professional to make sure you aren’t putting your home or family at risk with an old system that isn’t functioning properly.

If you have a new HVAC unit, a programmable thermostat can help keep your new purchase in tip top condition.

#5 – You Get to Use Cool High-Tech Tools

Many of today’s programmable thermostats come with a variety of high-tech options. Some of these options include the ability to remotely interface using your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. With these features, you can easily access your home’s thermostat from the comfort of your own couch or anywhere in the world.

#6 – Establishing Zone Heating and Cooling

Programmable thermostats also enable you to create multiple climate zones within your home’s interior. By placing programmable controls in different zones of your home, you can customize the temperature within those zones to meet the individual comfort needs of household members. For example, you may choose to lower the programmed wintertime temperature for areas of your home that receive less traffic. Likewise, you can set a warmer temperature in the zones where your family spends most of its time.

By investing a small amount of time and money into installing a programmable thermostat, you benefit by raising your level of home comfort while lowering your energy costs. By adding this convenient device to your home, you’ll be doing the planet, your wallet, and your family a favor.

It isn’t uncommon for people to enjoy the crisp cool temperatures of Fall. After the long hot months of summer, it makes sense to delight in cozy sweaters and warm comfortable jackets. As we layer on those comfortable layers, it makes sense to put off turning on the furnace, especially when temperatures are still relatively mild.

It is tempting to delay turning up the heat in Autumn. It is too cool for air conditioning, after all. The quick addition a soft sweater makes the cooler temperatures bearable without needing to fire up the furnace. For the budget conscious homeowner, enjoying mild temperatures without running the HVAC system, is a painless way to cut energy costs.

However, you don’t want to wait until the first freeze to turn on your furnace. A lot can go wrong while your heating unit is on summer break, so you need to test your system to make sure it is in good working order before it is too late.

Before You Turn on the Heat

Since your furnace has been sitting dormant for months, there are a few safety precautions you want to follow before you turn on your heat.

• Check the area around your furnace for flammable materials. Many furnace fires are the result of paper, trash, paint, or other hazardous materials being left near a cool furnace.

• Clean and vacuum the area around your furnace to remove dust and debris.

• Before you switch on the heat, open a few windows throughout the house. The first heating cycle of the season often spreads a foul odor. The smell is caused by dust and lint that has settled on the heating elements throughout the summer.  When the furnace initially fires up, these particles burn away. The smell is usually harmless, although unpleasant, and usually dissipates quickly.

• Once your furnace kicks on, let it run for at least ten minutes. The initial burning smell should begin to fade. If the smell continues or is strong, shut off the furnace immediately and call a professional for service.

• Listen carefully for any odd or unusual sounds coming from your furnace. Troublesome sounds are a sign that your furnace needs servicing by a professional.

Fall is a Great Time for Routine Maintenance.

The beginning of the cold weather season is the perfect time to conduct a few routine maintenance tasks to ensure your system keeps you warm and snug all winter long.

• Start with changing your HVAC filter. These filters should be changed regularly, usually every 30 days. Keeping a clean filter helps your system run safely and efficiently. Be sure to use a properly sized filter for your system. Ill-fitting filters can allow dirt to enter your unit.

• Also, be sure to test your thermostat. If it is not properly controlling your furnace or accurately registering temperature, it could cause your system to run unnecessarily. If you have a programmable thermostat, now is the time to update your temperature settings for the cooler months.

• Fall is the perfect time to change the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Malfunctioning home heating systems are a leading cause of home fires, as well as carbon monoxide poisoning. If you do not have these important life-saving devices in appropriate locations throughout your home, have them installed immediately.

While it is tempting to just cuddle up in a warm sweater and keep the furnace off for as long as possible, don’t wait too long. The longer you wait, the less time you’ll have to repair your system if something isn’t working properly. Be sure to call your local HVAC professionals to schedule a system tune-up or repairs so you won’t get left out in the cold this winter.

Cold and flu season begins as the days begin to shorten and the temperatures begin to drop. While cold and flu activity peak in the coldest months between December and March, seasonal flu activity starts as early as mid October.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises that getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu, it isn’t a sure fire way to prevent getting sick this flu season. Luckily, you have another ally during cold and flu season: your central air system.

By making just a few adjustments, you can protect yourself from viruses and other germs, and create an environment that is warmer, more comfortable, and less likely to make you sick.

Change Your Air Filter

Every homeowner knows how air filters help keep dust and other particles out of the air. Air filters also work to protect the home’s HVAC unit and keep it running smoothly and efficiently.  

Air filters protect both your HVAC equipment and your indoor air from dust, dirt, pollen, pet hair and dander, and even bits of decomposed insect. Also, trapped inside the filtration medium are cold and flu contaminants that could pose a threat to your family’s health.

Be sure to change your air filter regularly. Do some research to determine the best filter for your system. If you don’t already use one, consider switching to a  HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arresting) rated filter. A HEPA filter traps microscopic particles, including the germs that cause the flu and common cold.

Check Your Air Ducts

Dirty air ducts can add to poor indoor air quality. Dust and debris in your air ducts will blow through your vents and cause potential health problems. Fall is a good time to schedule a maintenance check with a trained technician. He or she can check to see if your ducts need cleaning.

Consider Ultraviolet Lights

Ultraviolet or UV light is a natural component of sunlight. UV light can eliminate bacteria, virus, odors and allergens by disrupting their DNA, rendering them harmless. By having a UV light incorporated into your HVAC system, you can reduce the amount of cold and flu germs that get recirculated into your home.

Other Ways Your HVAC System Can Help

A clean air filter can’t completely protect you from the flu. When everyone around you at work, school, and even the grocery store, starts to cough, sneeze, and sniffle, you’ll be unable to completely escape exposure.

If you do find yourself feeling under the weather, there are several ways you heating and cooling system can help you feel better faster.

Zone Heating

One of the symptoms of the flu is a feeling of chills. While everyone else in the home feels comfortable, a person suffering from the flu will feel like they are freezing.

If your home has zoned heating, adjusting localized temperature for the sick person is easy.

However, if you do not have the convenience of zoned heating, you can still create a special warm environment for the sick person. By adjusting the registers in a room, you can adjust how much heat enters the room. Adjusting the fins of each register in a room gives you a little more control over the intensity of heat in each room.

Whole House Humidifier

Cold and flu symptoms include coughing and congestion. These symptoms can feel much worse when indoor humidity levels are low. One solution is a whole house humidifier. A whole house humidifier uses a built-in fan to disperse moisture through your homes HVAC system.

Prevent HVAC System Failures

Staying healthy during cold and flu season is easier when your HVAC system is in good running order. Staying warm and comfortable will help keep your body healthy. You don’t want your HVAC system to unexpectedly stop working when the outdoor temperatures are bitter cold.

Before cold and flu season, it is a smart idea to have your local HVAC technician perform a winter safety check. This can help prevent unexpected problems from coming up when they are least convenient. No one wants to lose the ability to heat their home when they are uncomfortable sick.

Ceiling fans are an inexpensive way to boost your efforts to heat and cool your home. Although, ceiling fans use electricity to operate, the amount of money they can save you on heating and air conditioning exceeds the cost of running them.

Because they use relatively little electricity, homeowners who utilize ceiling fans will see significant savings on their utility bills. This is due to a ceiling fan’s ability to enhance your HVAC units efforts to keep the inside of your home at a comfortable temperature. Depending on the season, most homeowners can adjust their thermostat up or down to save money on their energy bill.

How Ceiling Fans Enhance Heating and Cooling

Ceiling fans reduce energy use in two ways. First, they work to equalize the temperature throughout a room by evenly distributing cool or warm air. This means your HVAC won’t have to work as hard to effectively heat or cool your home.

Ceiling Fans and the Wind Chill Effect

The second way ceiling fans help reduce energy use is by means of the wind chill effect. During hot summer months, when your ceiling fan blades are turning in a counterclockwise direction, occupants of the room will feel cooler.

As moisture on the surface of the skin evaporates, the body feels naturally cooler. The slight breeze that a ceiling fan creates speeds up the evaporation process. It is the same reason that we feel much colder on a windy winter day than we do when the air is calm.

Due to this wind chill effect, homeowners who run their ceiling fans in the summer can raise the temperature setting on their thermostats as much as four degrees without feeling a reduction in comfort. Considering homeowners can save 7 to 10 percent on cooling costs for each degree over 78, a ceiling fan offers considerable savings.

Ceiling Fans Aren’t Just for Summer

Running ceiling fans during cooler fall and winter months will help you save money on your heating bills. Fans should be adjusted to rotate clockwise when running your heat. This allows for the cooler air near the floor to be lifted up while any heat that hovers near the ceiling is pushed toward the walls and down where it can warm the occupants of a room.

This circulation of warm air helps enhance your HVAC system’s ability to effectively heat your home’s interior. This allows homeowners to adjust the thermostat setting down as much as four degrees, saving a significant amount on heating costs.

Ceiling Fan Maintenance

Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive and require very little maintenance. Before turning on your ceiling fans to enhance the efficiency of your HVAC unit, be sure to wipe your fan blades with a damp cloth. This will prevent dust from being blown around the room once you turn them on.

Some ceiling fans may require periodic lubrication of the bearings. Check your ceiling fan’s owner’s manual for instructions and any other maintenance suggestions or requirements.

Energy Star-Rated Ceiling Fans

For even more savings on your utility bill, consider using an Energy Star-rated ceiling fan. Even though ceiling fans consume relatively little electricity, consumers can still save about 50 percent over conventional ceiling fans.

Also, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Star-rated ceiling fans move air up to 20 percent more efficiently due to advancement in blade design and motor technology.

For more information about heating and cooling your home more economically, contact your local HVAC experts.

carbon monoxide alarm

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S. Another 20,000 need emergency medical treatment due to being exposed to dangerous levels of CO.

As Autumn approaches and temperatures begin to fall, people start to spend more time indoors. As indoor heating systems are turned on to maintain comfortable temperatures, CO related incidents increase.

Even if your heating system is relatively new, it can still be a contributing factor to poor indoor air quality, including increased levels of carbon monoxide.

The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas. Even though it is undetectable to the human senses, it is still toxic and dangerous. Exposure to high levels of this invisible gas for even a short time leads to carbon monoxide poisoning. However, long-term exposure to low levels is just as dangerous.

When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it bonds with the red blood cells in your body. This makes it difficult for your circulatory system to transport oxygen to vital organs like your heart, lungs, and brain.

CO is incredibly dangerous because you aren’t even aware that you are breathing it in. The first symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is a feeling of nausea. This can quickly lead to tiredness, loss of consciousness, and even death.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include:

• Headache
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Loss of consciousness

Sleeping or intoxicated people are more likely to experience permanent damage due to CO exposure. Before the problem is detected, they could suffer from irreversible brain damage or even death.

The Production of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a natural byproduct of fire. Anywhere there is a flame, carbon monoxide is present. All gas appliances, including gas-run furnaces, give off at least small amounts of CO. HVAC units that are not properly installed and maintained often cause unsafe levels of CO in your indoor air.

How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

There are steps you can take to ensure you and your family remain safe from CO poisoning. Follow these important tips to protect the inhabitants of your home.

Replace old or faulty HVAC units with new, safer models.

An older unit may not be functioning properly which could increase the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Invest in central HVAC unit that will provide safe, clean, and efficient heat for your home.

Keep vents clean and sealed.

Harmful fumes, including carbon monoxide, are vented out of your home through flues. When dirt and debris obstruct venting systems, those harmful fumes could back up into your home. Therefore, it is important to make sure your vents are tightly sealed and clear of any obstructions.

Use appliances as directed.

Be sure to follow all manufacturer’s instructions when operating appliances. This includes refraining from using your stove or oven as a means to heat indoor spaces. Never use charcoal or gas grills indoors and keep running generators outside.

Install CO detectors in your home.

Because it is impossible to detect carbon monoxide with your senses, it is important to have another means of detection to warn you and your family when CO levels in your home rise. Install CO detectors on every level of your home. Be sure to replace batteries annually.

Call a professional for regular maintenance.

Central air conditioners and furnaces require regular maintenance to ensure good indoor air quality. This includes regular filter changes and annual upkeep tasks. To ensure your system is functioning safely and properly call your local HVAC technician and schedule a routine maintenance visit.

With education and preventive measures, your family won’t become another statistic. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious matter. Make sure you are doing everything possible to keep you and your family safe from this toxic gas.

Most homeowners will never have to change the coolant in their air conditioning unit. Since most systems incorporate a closed loop design, if there are no major accidents or malfunctions, the coolant should last the life of the unit. However, sometimes accidents happen. If your unit develops a leak or experiences some other system failure, you may need to replace the coolant.

Signs Your AC May Have a Coolant Leak

The most obvious sign that you have a coolant leak is that your AC isn’t working properly. If your HVAC unit suddenly stops cooling your home effectively, or if you can feel warm air blowing through your vents, it is a sign that your system may be leaking coolant. Other symptoms of a coolant leak are excessive condensation or ice build-up on the outside of the unit.

Before You Call a Technician

When your air conditioner is no longer cooling your home, you’re going to want to have it fixed as soon as possible, especially if the outside temperatures are rising. You may be able to get your AC unit up and running like new with some routine maintenance. So, before you pick up your phone to call a technician, there are a few easy things you can try.

First, check to see if you need to change the filter. When an AC system gets dirty, it starts to lose its ability to cool efficiently. Also, make sure clear any leaves or other yard debris that may be clogging the unit’s fans.

Get an AC Tune-Up

If your AC still isn’t cooling well after performing these easy maintenance tasks, it is time to call an AC professional to check things out. Your AC troubles might be easily fixed by having your unit cleaned.

You can clean the condenser unit. yourself, but this isn’t a task to be taken lightly. The condenser fins, which are thin metallic blades that surround the AC unit, get dirty quickly. As the central fan sucks air through the condenser fins, dirt, dust, dead grass, and other debris can block airflow reducing the unit’s cooling ability. You can use a vacuum with a soft brush to clean the fins, but be careful. They’re fragile and can easily be bent or crushed.

If you feel uncomfortable cleaning this part of your AC unit, you can always call a qualified technician to do it for you. Cleaning a unit yourself, can be trickier than you think, and could potentially result in doing more damage than good. Sometimes it is best to call in the qualified professionals to take care of things early than to have them come in a fix a major repair that you caused yourself.

Call a Technician to Plug the Leak and Recharge the Coolant

If your unit still isn’t working properly after completing these routine maintenance tasks, it’s time to call a technician. Your HVAC professional will inspect your system and verify whether you have a coolant leak. A qualified HVAC technician can diagnose your problem, fix a leak, recharge your system with coolant, and have your system ready to keep you cool in no time.

There are several types of coolant used in air conditioners. The most common coolant is Freon, also known as R-22.  Because Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), which has a negative effect on the Earth’s protective ozone layer, it is being phased out in several countries including the United States. Because of these environmental concerns as well as dwindling supplies, Freon prices have skyrocketed.

Newer HVAC units are more likely to use Puron, also known as R410A. While Puron is more environmentally friendly than Freon, the two types of coolants are not interchangeable. To make the switch from Freon to Puron, you’ll need to replace your entire air conditioning unit.

You Need Professional Help

Fixing a leak and recharging coolant is not a weekend do-it-yourself project. Most homeowners are not even allowed to purchase coolant for their air conditioning units. To ensure that coolant is handled safely, technicians must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Retailers won’t even sell coolant to unlicensed customers.

However, it isn’t only legislation and regulations that should convince you to hire a professional to recharge your coolant. Coolant in your AC is highly pressurized and is dangerous for untrained individuals to tamper with. This is one task that is best left to the professionals.

If you have questions or concerns about your HVAC unit’s coolant levels suspect you may have a coolant leak, be sure to contact a local HVAC professional.

The survival rule of threes, intended to help people prioritize during a survival situation, states that you can live three weeks without food, three days without water, and three minutes without air. This rule of threes helps illustrate just how important the air we breathe is to life.

While many people focus on the importance of hydration and nutrition for health, we shouldn’t overlook air quality. We consume more air proportionately than any other substance. Clean air isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.The quality of the air we breathe is important to our health and our comfort.

The average American spends as much as ninety percent of his or her time indoors, where the air can actually be several times more polluted than the air outside. HVAC professionals can help you keep the air inside your home clean and contaminant-free by installing products like electrostatic filters or providing services like duct cleaning techniques approved by the National Air Duct Cleaning Association.

However, there is one easy and attractive way you can take action to improve your home’s air quality. All you have to do is add some house plants.

How Plants Improve Indoor Air Quality

The NASA Clean Air Study was the first published research that proved common house plants can effectively eliminate specific toxins from indoor air. The research began in the late 1980s, and was intended to help NASA discover ways to keep the air inside of space stations safe and clean for astronauts.

During research, scientists discovered that certain plants did more than just absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Many houseplants also effectively removed significant amounts of toxins including:

• Benzene – A chemical commonly found in household detergents, paint, gasoline, and plastics, benzene can cause headaches, dizziness, and eye irritation. Benzene exposure is also known to cause certain types of cancer.
• Formaldehyde – A colorless, flammable chemical commonly found in building materials, permanent press fabrics, adhesives, and industrial disinfectants, formaldehyde can cause watery eyes, burning of the nose and throat, nausea, and skin irritation. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services listed formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.
• Ammonia – This chemical is a common ingredient in many household cleaners. Exposure to ammonia can cause coughing as well as nose and throat irritation.
• Trichloroethylene (TCE) – A solvent used most commonly as a grease remover, trichloroethylene is also used to make refrigerants, adhesives, and paint removers. Exposure to TCE can cause skin rashes, nerve damage, and liver and kidney damage. Long-term exposure can lead to lowered levels of reproductive hormones, low sperm quality, and a decrease in sex drive.
• Xylene – Xylenes are important petrochemicals often found in cleaning products, paint thinner, and gasoline. Exposure to Xylene can cause dizziness,confusion, headaches, lack of muscle coordination, and possible changes to the lungs and kidneys.

Plants aren’t just helpful in space, however. Having a few potted plants is more than just a simple and natural way to clean air inside of space stations. They can also be used to clean the air inside of your home or office.

Other research shows that having plants in your home or office can also significantly help overcome the effects of sick building syndrome, a mysterious medical condition where inhabitants of a building feel unwell for no apparent reason.

More recent research suggests that it is more than just the houseplants themselves that clean indoor air. A study released in 2004 shows that tiny beneficial microorganisms living in the soil of many potted plants aid in removing toxins from indoor air.

The Best Potted Plants for Clean Air.

Most of the plants that made NASA’s list of the best air-filtering plants originated in tropical and subtropical environments. Because or their ability to thrive in often  thick forested environments, thriving on sunlight filtered through lush forest canopies, these plants are capable of growing well in filtered household light.

NASA’s top plant performers are the peace lily and florist chrysanthemum. Both of these plants are effective at filtering all five toxic compounds in the original research study (benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, trichlorethylene, and xylene) from indoor air.

• Peace Lilies – When it comes to house plants, peace lilies are some of the easiest to grow and care for. Since they prefer medium to low light areas, they grow well in homes and office spaces.. Peace lilies are great plants for beginners as they are very forgiving and can even “tell” when they need to be watered. Just be careful not to over water. The soil should be almost dry. Water only when the leaves begin to droop.
  
  Not only are these hardy plants efficient air cleaners, they also brighten up any living space with their wide green leaves and lovely white “flowers.”

• Florist Chrysanthemum – With their big, bright flowers and dark green foliage, florist mums will bring a splash of color and sunshine to any indoor space. They require a cool, bright spot for optimum blooming. Once the flowers are spent, it is difficult to get the plant to re-bloom. Because of this, florist mums are often treated as annuals, needing to be replaced every year. While chrysanthemums help keep indoor air healthy, the leaves are toxic. Make sure to find a place safe from small children and curious pets.

• Other Plants – While peace lilies and florists chrysanthemums were NASA’s top clean air performers, there are many other plants that you can include in your home or office to help improve indoor air quality. Here are some other varieties that will brighten your indoor spaces and clean the air you breathe:
  
  English Ivy
  Flamingo Lily
  Snake Plant (also known as Mother-in-law’s Tongue)
  Red-edged Dracaena
  Cornstalk Dracaena
  Barberton Daisy
  Janet Craig
  Aloe Vera
  Weeping Fig
  Broadleaf Lady Palm
  Devil’s Ivy
  Bamboo Palm
  Boston Fern
  Lilyturf

House plants are one proactive step you can take to improve the quality of the air you breathe, However, a few potted plants are not cure-all solution. There are many  other steps you can take. If you want to further improve the air purifying properties of your HVAC system, reach out to your local HVAC experts to explore other options for optimum indoor air quality.

Dynamic seasons engulf Pennsylvanians in deep natural beauty and an array of adventurous activities available each calendar year.

Enticing as those characteristics may be, the biting winter cold and harsh summer humidity can make you think twice about how “great” having four distinct seasons actually is, especially when your heater dies on a frostbitten winter night or the AC checks out after a summer run. Even if you can endure being physically uncomfortable until the repair crew can fit you in, the costs of an unexpected full-unit repair might be enough to push you over the edge.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right information, you can significantly decrease both your health and financial risk. Follow the simple maintenance and money-saving steps for each season we’ve suggested below, and you can help ensure your HVAC equipment will continue working efficiently long term.

Winter

As we wrap up the current season, there’s no doubt snow and cold, strong winds dominate the Pennsylvania winter. Temperatures are known for reaching below zero, something heating systems just aren’t built to function under.

Tips

For the remainder of the winter, keep this in mind and be careful to account for the cold’s impact on equipment durability. Below are a few tips on saving money and increasing the longevity of life for your heating system this winter.

• Increase area humidityIn the summer this sounds like a nightmare, but for cold winter days a boiling hot pot on the stove can increase a home’s humidity, creating a seemingly warmer environment.

• Pull out the space heaters

• Not only can the correct space heaters help save you in electricity bills, they also emit heat to a direct area. These are perfect for families who have a wide range of heating preferences

• Turn down the heat at night.

• Granted, it’s not worth inciting a marital crisis, but if you can try turning the heater down a few degrees at night, it will work less and save you some funds. In fact, since most people are covered in blankets and comforters at night, the change often goes unnoticed.

• If your heater seems like it’s not working, don’t push it harder

• Turning up the heater further won’t improve its condition. Don’t do it. You’ll end up with a larger bill and harder worked heater, but no improved heat.

Spring

With temperatures generally ranging from 60-80 degrees, springtime is beautiful in our area. It may not be the primary season we worry about our heating and cooling, but it’s wise to approach the spring proactively, taking steps to prepare your home for the inevitable summer soon to follow.

Tips

Making a point to complete the following tasks during the spring season will help your AC stay in prime shape for the summer battle.

-Switch out those dirty filters for new ones

-It’s recommended that you change your filter every 90 days, but if you don’t, make sure you at least make the switch prior to high usage seasons, like summer.

-Cut away bushes and other greenery

-Springtime brings eye-catching blooms. Unfortunately, when branches or shrubs fall into the air conditioning unit, they can get stuck and cause it to not function properly.

-Run it

-It may not be too warm yet, but take your AC for a test run. If it turns out there’s a problem, you’ll have plenty of time to have a professional out to fix it before the busy season, when many people wait weeks.

-Destroy the dirt

-Dried on dirt and other elements from the long winter can decrease the impact of your AC. Make sure this gets cleaned off before the temperature starts to rise.

-Move the condenser cover to storage

–If you use a winter condenser cover or other protections, now is the time to take them off and put them away until next year.

Summer

Sweat. Stick and more sweat. The vitamin D from the sun is appreciated but mid to upper 90s with a full helping of humidity leaves everyone ready to feel the refreshing breeze of the AC when they walk in the door.

Tips

Since your AC must work harder during this season, you should employ a few best practices to keep it in tip-top condition and keep your energy bill at a minimum.

-Keep an extra fan around In case of emergencies

-It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Ideally, you should replace your unit early on if you know it’s on its last leg. However, if finances are an issue or you simply don’t think it’s time, always have extra cooling options on hand in case it does break down on that hottest day of summer.

-Get a dehumidifier

-Humidity feels like heat. A dehumidifier will help reduce that humidity. They’re also useful for preventing mold and eliminating odors.

-Choose your curtains wisely

-The hotter your home, the more your AC must work. That also means the larger your bill. Simple choices, such as blackout curtains, can help you avoid the addition of unwelcomed heat.

Fall

Lush blankets of burgundy, yellow and orange leaves cover the ground, as warm summer temperatures begin to drop and turn into a breeze announcing the Pennsylvania fall season.

Like springtime, fall is not typically a season where your heating or AC is your top priority. However, following steps to ensure machine cleanliness and effectiveness during the fall will provide a healthy heater you can count on to last all winter long and an AC that won’t return with scary surprises next spring.

TIps

Clearing out the leaves from Central AC compressor fan

-Our leaves are iconic, but they can be dangerous for your AC too. When the leaves fall for the season, check your AC and clean out any debris.

-Consider purchasing a condenser cover

-If you don’t currently own a cover, now would be the time to invest. Protect your AC from the potentially harsh winter ahead.

-Have a professional out for a tune up

–Don’t wait until you’re shivering and searching the Internet for last-minute hotel deals after the heater breaks before you pay it some attention. Having a professional out for a tune-up costs far less than a full repair. Think about it like preventative medicine.

Employ these tips and let your AC, heater and lower bills enjoy the changing seasons, too.