Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Indoor Air Quality

What Is an Electronic Air Purifier?

Part of living in great comfort is maintaining great indoor air quality throughout one’s home. It is simply not enough that you are able to heat and cool your home successfully. Of course, there are a lot of different ways in which your indoor air quality may suffer, and a lot of different reasons as to why those situations may develop. Because of this, it is important that you work with an indoor air quality specialist in order to determine how best to resolve any issues with your indoor air quality. One effective means by which to do so is the use of an electronic air purifier in Fort Collins, CO. To learn more about these systems, or to schedule air purifier services, just call the pros here at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

How Do Electronic Air Purifiers Work?

Unlike a traditional media air filter, which just allows air to pass through and captures pollutants therein as it does so, an electronic air purifier takes an active role in trapping pollutants. In systems such as electronic precipitators, air is pulled into an ionization chamber. Therein, the pollutants within that air are given a static charge. These pollutants may then be trapped on oppositely charged collector plates, or they may simply be released into the home, where they attach to surfaces and are simply cleaned up during routine cleaning. In either event, the pollutants are removed from circulation throughout the house.

Benefits of Using an Electronic Air Purifier

There are many instances in which media filters are enough to sufficiently boost indoor air quality. If you are trying to trap very small pollutants, though, or if you have very sensitive allergies, then an electronic air purifier may be necessary. Give us a call to discuss your options. With the right air purifier, you can boost the air quality throughout your home, in turn boosting your comfort and even the health of those within your living space.

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Why Would I Want My Air Ducts Cleaned?

As a homeowner, you know how difficult it can be to stay on top of all of the chores around the house. Cleaning your home may not be a favorite pastime of yours, but it is still something that needs to be done. Clean as you may keep your living space, though, you may not give the cleanliness of the interior surfaces of your air ducts much though. This can prove to be problematic, though, as dirty ductwork can actually cause a number of different problems. If you suspect that your air ducts are dirty, you are wise to schedule professional duct cleaning in Timnath, CO. To do so, just call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

Signs That You Need Air Duct Cleaning Services

When pollutants begin to build up on the interior surfaces of your ductwork, you can expect a few different problems to develop. Indoor air quality, of course, will suffer. After all, every bit of air that you heat or cool with your HVAC system, assuming that both are forced air distribution based systems, will pass through these air ducts. If the air ducts are dirty within, those pollutants can be distributed throughout your home. Additionally, you may notice that your ducted heater or air conditioner is costing more to run, and that it may not be functioning at peak performance levels. While you are not going to run into air ducts that are so severely filthy that the flow of air through them is blocked off, the pollutants built up can work loose and build up on your air filter, or on sensitive components within the HVAC system. This can impede the operation of the system.

Why Schedule Professional Air Duct Cleaning?

You cannot hope to clean your air ducts on your own successfully. Specialized equipment, including powerful vacuums and agitating devices, are required to work pollutants free of their grasp on your air ducts, and to remove them cleanly. Contact a member of our staff to have the job done right. That way, you can get back to heating and cooling your home efficiently and effectively, and without putting your indoor air quality at risk.

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How Can Air Duct Sealing Benefit Me?

The majority of homeowners utilizing whole-house heating and/or cooling systems choose to distributed heated and/or cooled air throughout their homes via a system of air ducts. When these air ducts are expertly designed and installed by qualified professionals, they can be quite effective in distributing air throughout a living space. They’ll also do so without wasting energy via leaks and other issues. However, over time, air ducts can wriggle free of fixtures, suffer damages, corrode, and be otherwise compromised. In such events, you are wise to schedule professional duct sealing services in Fort Collins, CO. To do so with a qualified technician that you can trust to do the job right, just give the pros at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning a call.

  1. Improve Efficiency: If your air ducts are not properly sealed, they can allow conditioned air to escape into areas of the home where it is not needed. This is problematic, as your HVAC system is going to have to work overtime in order to heat or cool more air in order to make up for this failure to deliver air effectively. This can drive up energy costs, making the heating and/or cooling of your home a more costly endeavor than it ought to be.
  2. Protect Indoor Air Quality: Air escaping your ductwork is not the only concern when it comes to improperly sealed air ducts. You must also concern yourself with the negative impact that such issues can have on your indoor air quality. If pollutants are allowed to enter your ductwork via subpar seals, then those pollutants can be distributed throughout your house by your ductwork, dragging down the air quality in every area therein.
  3. Live More Comfortably: Another issue that you risk encountering if you ignore duct sealing needs is uneven heating and cooling throughout your home. Your system just won’t be able to maintain comfortable temperatures evenly throughout the house if the ductwork is not sealed as it ought to be. Contact us if you have any reason at all to believe that your air ducts need to be professionally sealed.
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Why You Must Use the Right Air Filter

Chances are that you, as a homeowner with a whole-house HVAC system, have some level of familiarity with air filters. What you may not realize, though, is that not all air filters are created equal. There are various methods of air filtration, and air filters of different capabilities are used in different applications. To ensure that you are using the right air filter for your needs, make sure that you work with a skilled professional who will help you to choose the most appropriate air filter in Fort Collins, CO. This will depend upon a number of factors. When you are ready to take advantage of an air filtration system, schedule service with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning.

A Better Performance

A common misconception about air filters is that it is always more desirable to have a more efficient air filter in place. This is simply not true, and for a few different reasons. First of all, if you are trying to invest in HEPA filters that have no business in most residential applications, you are going to be paying for a level of efficiency that will just go to waste. If you invest in a cheap air filter, though, which is of too low an efficiency for your needs, then it will potentially allow many of the pollutants that you are targeting to pass right through the filter media. The only way in which to get a great performance from your air filter is to find one that suits your unique situation, and we can ensure that this is the case.

Better for Your System

Another reason as to why it is vital to use the right air filter with your HVAC system is for the good of that system itself. If your air filter is too efficient, it will likely clog frequently. This can increase airflow resistance throughout your HVAC system, making it harder for your heater or air conditioner to do its job and leaving you to pay more for a weaker performance from that system. The added strain can also lead to operational problems over time.

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3 Signs That You Need a Dehumidifier in Your Home

It is not uncommon for humidity to rise along with the temperature when summer gets underway. Because excessive levels of humidity can exacerbate the already uncomfortable conditions of the summer season, you may want to dehumidify your home to achieve ideal humidity levels. While your AC does dehumidify the air somewhat as part of its operating cycle, this system is not designed to do so as a primary function.

In cases of excessive humidity, a whole-house dehumidifier may be necessary in order to reign in humidity levels throughout the home. We’ve put together a brief list of signs that you may need a dehumidifier in Fort Collins, CO, which you’ll find below. Give Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning a call today if you think that whole-house dehumidification is right for you.

  • Trouble cooling the house: Because very humid air can retain heat with great success, cooling a very humid home can prove to be too much of a challenge for many whole-house cooling systems. By dehumidifying the air in your home, you can help your AC to function more effectively. This can also cut down on cooling costs.
  • Signs of mold or water damage: Biological pollutants, such as mold, can really thrive in very humid conditions. While a dehumidifier is not going to resolve problems with existing mold in the house, it can certainly help you to reduce the risk of mold developing due to high humidity levels. Plus, you can avoid water staining on your walls and carpeting by sufficiently drying out the air in your home.
  • Poor indoor air quality: In addition to problems with mold, you should know that pollutants such as dust and other allergens can cling to moisture in the air if it is too humid. This can make life in your home very difficult and uncomfortable for those suffering from allergies or respiratory ailments. Alleviating these symptoms is just one more way in which the use of a whole-house dehumidifier can benefit you.
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Use Air Purification Systems to Boost Indoor Air Quality

While many homeowners may mistakenly believe that they need only concern themselves with temperature regulation in order to live comfortably, the fact of the matter is that the quality of the air in your living space is just as important to your comfort as the temperature of that air. It is for precisely this reason that you may want to consider the use of an air purifier in Loveland, CO. However, you are wise to remember that there are different types of air purifiers on the market today, and that you must be sure to use the right one for your needs. Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule your air purifier services, and know for certain that you have the right equipment installed in your home.

Electronic Air Purifiers

For a number of homeowners, air filtration systems are more than sufficient for maintaining high indoor air quality. In certain situations, though, a mechanical air filter just won’t be able to get the job done. If you are struggling with a high concentration of airborne pollutants in your home, you may be better off using an electronic air purifier in addition to air filters. Such systems charge pollutants in the air within an ionization chamber. The pollutants are then collected on oppositely charged plates, which care simply removed for convenient cleaning. Some models allow pollutants to adhere to surfaces in the home, and they are just removed during routine cleaning.

UV Air Purifiers

Not all pollutants can be successfully removed from the air by air filters or electronic air purifiers. Biological pollutants, such as viruses, mold, and bacteria, for instance, are better off being destroyed. That is just what UV (ultraviolet) air purifiers do. Such systems, including UV germicidal lights, emit small, safe amounts of UV radiation. This is sufficient to destroy biological pollutants and to render them incapable of reproduction. Such systems do not remove dust, dander, and other pollutants from the air, though. That is why you may be best off in utilizing a combination of systems for a multi-faceted air purification regimen. Contact us for more details.

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3 Signs That It’s Time for Duct Sealing

Do you use air ducts in order to distribute heated and/or cooled air throughout your home? If so, do you know for certain that your air ducts are in the best working condition possible? If not, don’t worry; you are far from alone in this position. However, you should know that having an understanding of the type of condition that your air ducts are in can be hugely beneficial in a number of ways.

If your air ducts are working just fine, then you should be able to enjoy a great performance from your HVAC system. With improperly sealed or leaking ductwork? Not so much. Here are a few warning signs to keep an eye out for which can indicate the need for professional duct sealing in Fort Collins, CO. Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today if you think that it may be time to have your air ducts sealed.

 

  • Increased energy costs can indicate that your air ducts are not properly sealed. Should conditioned air leak out of your air ducts, then it may wind up in areas where it is not needed or helpful. This means that your HVAC system will expend more energy in trying to sufficiently heat or cool those areas which do need it, but are not receiving proper airflow.
  • Decreased indoor air quality is another sign that you may require professional duct sealing services. If your air ducts are not properly sealed, of course, air can leak out. However, pollutants can also make their way into your air ducts. Those very same ducts can then distribute those pollutants throughout the house.
  • A decline in overall comfort levels is another sign that you air ducts may require sealing. If conditioned air is not distributed throughout your entire home evenly and effectively, then you may find hot and/or cold spots developing throughout. Allowing our skilled technicians the opportunity to resolve such problems can help to prevent any such problems.
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Why Balance the Humidity in Your Home?

Having too much or too little humidity in your home can lead to a number of issues for your comfort, the quality of the air in your home, your health, and even the condition of your property itself. If you suspect that the humidity level in your home is anything short of ideal, then you need to contact an IAQ professional immediately. Our staff can determine precisely what your home needs in order to maintain a healthier humidity level in your living space. We install and service both whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and we will make sure that yours is operating optimally. Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today to take control of the humidity in your Fort Collins, CO home.

Problems with Low Humidity

Living in a home filled with very dry air can dry out your body rapidly. You may find that your throat is often sore, or you may even suffer from frequent nosebleeds. Allergy sufferers may notice flare-ups in symptoms, and your skin will become dry and itchy. The problems don’t stop with those of your body, though. Increased static shocks can put your electronics at risk, paint may chip while wallpaper cracks, and you may even discover wooden floorboards or fixtures splitting. By using a whole-house humidifier in order to inject the right amount of moisture into the air filling your home, you can alleviate and avoid such symptoms and problems.

Effects of Very Humid Air in the Home

Having too much humidity in your home’s air is no better than having very arid air surrounding you. Humid air is more difficult to cool effectively, and will leave your home feeling muggy and uncomfortable. It can put unnecessary strain on your air conditioning system, and biological pollutants, including mold and bacteria, can thrive in humid settings. Wood rot is not uncommon in very humid households, nor is water staining and damage. A whole-house dehumidifier allows you to dry out the air in your home to an acceptable humidity level with great convenience.

Why Use a Whole-House Humidity Control System?

Portable and standalone humidifiers/dehumidifiers may be fine for treating a small dorm room or a specific area of the house. However, they are not ideal for resolving pervasive issues with humidity throughout the entire household. You won’t ever have to fill a whole-house humidifier with water, nor will you have to move your units around from room to room. If you are ready to invest in your comfort and health, schedule your whole-house humidifier and dehumidifier services with a member of our exceptional staff.

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Contaminants that May Be Living in the Ducts

It can be an annoying experience to clean your home from top to bottom, only to discover you missed an obvious spot like the stovetop or the ceiling fans. While you can try to keep your home as clean as possible, there are areas that are easy to skip over, and some areas that are difficult to reach. One spot in the home that most homeowners tend to neglect is the ductwork. And while you may attempt to clean the vents in order to compensate, this may not do much to eliminate contaminants that your family members may breathe in every day.

Air duct cleaning is a job best left to professionals with the expertise and the proper tools to get the job done. Heavy duty vacuums, soft brushes, and a steady hand can help to eliminate any of the following contaminants from your home.

  • Dust Mites: Dust mites tend to dwell in warm humid places, and can become kicked up into the air and settle at various places in the home. These trigger allergies and are a common source of asthma, especially in children.
  • Pollen: Many people feel their allergies are worst when there is a lot of pollen in the air, which can move into your home and settle in the ducts.
  • Pet Dander: Pet dander is another common source of allergies that may lay hidden in the ductwork. Don’t own any pets? Keep in mind that the person who owned the home before you very well could have.
  • Bacteria: Bacteria can move from the ductwork into the living space and affect those with respiratory or immune disorders, but they can also cause people to feel ill even if they have no preexisting health conditions.
  • Mold: Mold is a fungus that survives in damp areas, and can cause respiratory trouble for any person in the home. You may be able to keep mold out of the ducts by having an expert install a UV germicidal light system over your indoor air handler.

Call Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning for air duct cleaning in Red Feather Lakes by professionals who care about the quality of the air you breathe.

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Tools Used During Professional Duct Cleaning

For many homeowners, beginning a new year means it’s time to start over with a cleaner and more relaxing home. And while you may do all you can to dust, vacuum, and wipe down every surface of your home, there is one area that is very difficult for the average homeowner to get to: the ductwork.

Ducts are responsible for moving air into your home. While most standard forced-air heating and air conditioning systems have a filter that helps reduce the amount of particles that circulate through the air, most ducts still have some contaminants living in them.

While your home vacuum may be able to reach the area of the ducts leading out to the vents in your home, this is not the proper way to clean the ducts. Tiny organic or inorganic materials living deep in the ductwork can be forced out as the fan from the air handler of your heating and air conditioning system pushes air through, and your home vacuum cannot address most of these. With professional service, your ducts will be cleaner, which could reduce allergens in the home and the risk of illness.

The professionals at Fort Collins have the right equipment and expertise to perform a thorough duct cleaning in Severance, CO.

  • Access Tools: Professionals will use tools to access portions of the ductwork throughout the process. They may cut holes into the ducts and seal them afterwards or remove entire portions of ductwork.
  • Inspection Materials: A technician will also need some kind of tool to inspect the ducts. This may be anything from a handheld mirror to a video camera. In any case, they’ll look for any leaks that may affect the cleaning process and decide which type of equipment is best to use for your particular setup.
  • Vacuums: A high-pressure vacuum creates negative pressure in the ducts. Debris is then freed from the duct lining and it easily makes its way into the vacuum hose.
  • Brushes: However, some debris may still be stuck to the ducts afterwards. Professionals can use soft brushes before and after the process to scrape off any extra debris, taking extra care not to damage the ductwork.

The heating and air conditioning experts at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning can also provide professional duct cleaning in Severance, CO, for improved indoor air quality and peace of mind.

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