In the winter, being snug as a bug in a rug in your home can be cozy, but it can also play havoc with your indoor air quality (IAQ) here in Phoenix, creating some significant health problems. At Clear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc., we recommend taking precautions to avoid the common issues associated with winter indoor air quality.

Why Does Winter Cause Problems?

During the warmer months, you open your windows and let the fresh air in to your Phoenix, home. During the colder months, you do the opposite, locking everything up tight, caulking and blocking anywhere cold air can seep in.

While this keeps you toasty, unfortunately it traps your indoor air inside containing all the impurities from your home. With homes being built more and more energy efficient, there are less ways for outdoor air to infiltrate your home and help ventilate it.

What Are Some Common Issues?

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study found levels of “about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were in rural or highly industrial areas.”

Dr. Marilyn Black, an early pioneer of indoor air-quality research, noted “poor indoor air quality was directly related to the 500 to 1,000 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) coming from everyday materials, such as paint, floorings, furnishings, and printers.”

In addition, pet dander, cleaning products, environmental tobacco smoke, mold, dust, mildew, personal-care products, asbestos, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and a host of other factors also contribute to your indoor air’s pollution.

As a result of poor indoor air quality, you or someone in your home may experience some of these common symptoms on a regular basis:

• Fatigue
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Itchy eyes, nose, and/or throat
• Worsened asthma, allergies, or chronic illnesses

Tips to Improve Winter Indoor Air Quality

Just because it’s winter, do not assume you have to suffer through poor indoor air quality. There are things you can do to help improve it. Here are some of our recommendations:

Get your ductwork inspected and cleaned. Having your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system’s air ducts inspected can alert you to leaks, where unconditioned air could be leaking and contributing to your problem. Then having your ducts cleaned will remove any dust-and-debris buildup, preventing it from entering into your airflow.

Have your furnace cleaned and checked. Ensuring your furnace and its filter are clean helps alleviate more dust and debris from making it into your lungs. Your furnace is an integral component in your home’s HVAC system, so having it regularly checked and tuned up keeps things working efficiently for a long time.

Consider installing an air purifier. Your HVAC system’s air filter can only stop so many types and sizes of particles. Many particles are not visible to the human eye yet can still do harm. An air purifier can eradicate them from your home’s airflow.

Check your home’s humidity levels. Optimally your home’s humidity level should remain between 30 to 50 percent all year long. During the colder months, your home’s air becomes drier. Be sure your humidifier is keeping your home humid enough while not over humidifying. Too much moisture, amongst other things, breeds mold and mildew that are both toxic to your body.

Open your windows every day (or at least a few times a week) for short bouts of time.

During the winter months, your home’s ventilation does not bring in as much outdoor fresh air as other times of the year. Your home is shut up tight to keep the cold out. An easy measure to take is simply to open your windows daily for a short time, even for a few minutes. This will bring some much-needed fresh air into your home and help diffuse the stuffy air.

Use more natural cleaning and personal-care products. Chemicals from cleaning and personal-care products will linger longer in your home’s winter air without the flow of fresh air. Concentrated like this, they can do real damage over the long term to your body. Look into substituting healthier alternatives.

Decorate with houseplants. Houseplants clean and purify your home’s air. Adding more to your home can only help remedy the toxins and stuffiness present during the colder months.

Clean your home regularly, paying special attention to carpets, floors, and dusty areas. Cleaning your home once a week goes a long way in keeping dirt and dust from entering your home’s airflow. Carpets are particularly bad for harboring unwanted debris. Vacuuming regularly, especially with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum, can dramatically cut down on your air’s pollution.

Contact Us for All Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to improve the comfort and health inside your Phoenix, AZ, home? For a free consultation on how to improve your air quality, call Clear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. at 480-447-7568 or request service online today!

The post The Basics of Winter Indoor Air Quality first appeared on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating and is written by Clear Air Conditioning & Heating.

Some like it hot!

Others, not so much.

If you have a large home with multiple stories or a large household with family members who prefer different temperatures, consider installing a zone control system.

A zone control system—or zoning—only provides the necessary cooling or heating that each zone in your Arizona home needs at the time. It not only adds to the comfort level of your home but can also lower your energy bills.

At Clear Air Conditioning & Heating, we always look for ways to improve the comfort, health, and safety of homes and businesses in Peoria and surrounding areas. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a significant purchase—a big part of our job is to help ensure you get the maximum value from this investment.

How Do Zone Control Systems Work?

To create a zone control system, our experts will place dampers in the ductwork that distributes hot or cold air throughout your Peoria home. Each zone you create is equipped with a thermostat that connects to a central control panel. When you adjust the thermostats in each zone, the control panel opens or closes dampers to distribute hot or cold air where needed.

Working with our team, you create the size and location of each zone throughout your home or business. You can turn one room into a zone, or an entire floor. The zones should be areas that either have different temperature requirements or have specific areas that have had trouble maintaining temperature compared to the rest of a zone.

Whatever you decide, you can count on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating to help you achieve the most comfort in your home that comes with a zone control system.

Zoning Options

Installing a zone control is a money saver since it lessens the load on your HVAC system. Your furnace or air conditioner no longer has to struggle to heat or cool every room in your home. Here are some ideal zoning situations:

• Homes with rooms that are hardly used
• Home with concrete slab foundations, large windows, or high ceilings
• Finished rooms in the attic or basement
• Homes with multiple floors or intricate floor plans

Reducing the stress on your HVAC equipment extends the service life of your entire system. It also lowers your monthly utility bills. According to the US Department Department of Energy (DOE), heating and cooling your home accounts for upwards of 40 percent of your energy costs.

How do I know if I need a zone system?

Most homes can benefit from a zone control system. If your home has any areas that are uncomfortable compared to the rest of the home or you have different temperature requirements throughout your home, this system may help.

Larger homes with multiple systems also see huge benefits from a zone control system because there is no reason to heat or cool the home to a comfort level when some areas are not being used. Only maintaining a comfort level in occupied rooms can generate huge energy savings.

Many programable thermostats also have WiFi features so you can monitor and adjust the heating or cooling in the home; only the necessary energy is being used when no one is at home, or when people are only using certain rooms at certain times of the day.

These are significant utility savings that can occur while also increasing your home comfort! You will save money and make everyone in your home happy!

What If I Close Off Vents?

Our customers will occasionally ask if they can achieve the same result simply by adjusting the slats on the air vent covers. The answer is no.

Closing or partially opening a vent restricts the amount of air that exits the ductwork—but does not cause an air conditioner or furnace to produce less cold or hot air. By comparison, the zone control system not only redistributes airflow by operating dampers but also controls your HVAC equipment, signaling it when to run and when to stop. This eliminates unnecessary energy expenses.

Using air vents as a substitute for zone control may also contribute to air leakage and low airflow, among other problems. Those adjustable slats over air vents are designed to direct the flow of air into a room, not block it entirely.

Call Your Zone Control Experts Today!

Schedule an appointment today to learn if a zoning system can benefit your Peoria, AZ, business or home. At Clear Air Conditioning & Heating, we take great pride in building longterm relationships with our customers. We want to earn the chance to be your trusted source for all your heating and cooling needs. Call 623-428-1078 or request service online today to learn more about zone control systems and other services.

The post What Are Zone Control Systems? first appeared on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating and is written by Clear Air Conditioning & Heating.

Stand outdoors on one of those days when the weather feels perfect, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the fresh air.

Later, take another deep breath—only inside your Arizona home. How does it compare?

Improving the indoor air quality (IAQ) at your Peoria home or business makes sense on so many levels. Consider your health, your comfort, and your household budget. It’s hard to imagine a more important investment than improving the air you breathe!

At Clear Air Conditioning & Heating, we specialize in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that add value to your home and enjoyment to your lives. After all, nothing spells happiness like fresh air.

How Can You Improve Your Indoor Air Quality?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consistently ranks indoor air pollution as a growing concern to the public’s health. Fortunately, there are ways to take control of the air you breathe.

A DIY (do it yourself) task you should always remember is to regularly change your furnace air filter. Most manufacturers recommend changing the filter at least every 90 days—more so if you have pets or a smoker in your Peoria home. Filters capture dust, debris, and other particles in the airflow. They play a vital role in cleaning the air and helping your HVAC system operate more efficiently.

There are varying types of air filters available, from inexpensive disposal filters to permanent ones requiring regular washing. Consider using high-particulate efficiency air (HEPA) filters if anyone in your home suffers from asthma or allergies. And it’s always a good idea to check manufacturer guidelines on choosing the best filters for your particular system.

The second DIY task is even easier: open the windows in your Peoria home for a few minutes per day, weather permitting. You will enjoy the gentle breeze while improving your air quality!

Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up

A well-maintained air conditioner (AC) not only cools down your home but also helps reduce extra moisture in the air.

A leaky air conditioning unit, on the other hand, can cause bacteria and mold growth.

If you want to breathe clean indoor air, keep your HVAC system in good working order. Schedule an annual tune-up for your air conditioning unit in the spring, and one for your furnace in the fall. If you use a heat pump, we recommend tune-ups in the spring and fall since it works twice as hard.

Scheduling tune-ups and inspections with Clear Air Conditioning & Heating helps you get the best performance from your HVAC investment. It also nips leaks in the bud and prevents a minor issue from turning into a costly disaster. And remember, upgrading your residential heating and cooling system adds comfort to your life—and value to your home.

Do I Need an Air Filtration System?

Adding a portable or whole-house air filtration system to your home’s HVAC system can do wonders toward improving your indoor air quality. These systems play many roles—certain models are designed to reduce pollen, pet dander, and other inorganic particles. Other systems—particularly ones that use ultraviolet (UV) lighting—help eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other airborne microorganisms.

If you want to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pollen, bacteria, and other airborne pollution floating around your Arizona home, consider installing an air filtration system. While these systems will not prevent you from getting infected, they can significantly improve your air quality. Talk to one of our professionals at Clear Air Conditioning & Heating to determine which system best fits your budget and needs.

Maintain Your Air Ducts

Air ducts are like a superhighway delivering fresh air to every room in your home. Industry standards recommend you have your air ducts inspected for cleanliness, cracks, and leaks every two years and you have your ducts cleaned every five to seven years or less. By having your air ducts cleaned regularly, you will help improve the indoor air quality in your home and enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system, which may reduce energy bills.

Call Your Indoor Air Quality Experts Today!

Turn to your indoor air quality experts at Clear Air Conditioning & Heating to help make your Peoria, AZ, home healthier and more comfortable. Call 623-516-8373 or request service online today to schedule an appointment—nothing beats a breath of fresh air!

The post Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality first appeared on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating and is written by Clear Air Conditioning & Heating.

Everyone has it, and nobody wants it: dust.

It might seem like a minor nuisance, but in reality, dust is no laughing matter, no matter the setting. From causing allergies and respiratory issues to making your home look and feel less clean, dust greatly affects the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your Phoenix home.

As heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) experts, Clean Air Conditioning & Heating Inc knows how important good indoor air quality is for your home, HVAC systems, and health. It is important to take measures to reduce factors like dust from contributing to indoor pollution.

This blog explores practical tips and strategies to minimize dust accumulation in your home, helping you create a cleaner, healthier environment for yourself and your family.

What Contributes to Dust

Dust in your home is more than just a collection of particles; it’s primarily made up of dead skin cells and dust mite droppings and their body fragments. YIKES!

Dust mites are tiny insect-like pests that feed on dead skin cells. They thrive in mattresses, carpets, and upholstered furniture. In fact, most U.S. homes have detectable dust mite allergens in at least one bed.

These mites and their droppings can significantly affect indoor air quality, posing a risk for those with allergies or asthma.

Since dead skin cells are a major component of dust, spending more time indoors can actually increase dust levels in your home.

Home Maintenance Reduces Dust

Though dust becomes more visible as it accumulates, it’s often present long before you notice it. Completely eliminating or eradicating dust from your home is an impossible task because you and members of your household are primary contributors to it.

However, you can greatly reduce household dust levels by following some of the recommendations below.

Air Filters Combat Dust

Your HVAC system contains an air filter to trap dust and other airborne debris flowing through the unit. Use the best filter you can afford (and recommended by your system’s manufacturer) to trap dust traveling through the air.

Pay attention to your filter’s Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV), a measurement scale created by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to rate the effectiveness of air filters. Be sure to purchase filters with the appropriate MERV rating for your HVAC system and indoor air quality goals.

You also want to change your filter on a regular basis, depending on how dirty it becomes. Optimally, we recommend changing it every month but at least every two to three months, especially if you or someone in your home suffers from allergies, asthma, or chronic respiratory conditions.

A good rule of thumb is to check your filter monthly. If it’s dirty, change it. A clogged filter hurts your HVAC system and obviously can’t reduce the dust in your home.

Clean Air Ducts

If you have a forced-air HVAC system, air ducts carry your home’s air to and from your heating and cooling system. If your ducts are not sealed well or have tears, unfiltered air will sneak into your home and transport debris through your ducts and registers.

It can be worse if your air ducts haven’t been cleaned in a while; dust and other particles will accumulate. The air passing through the ducts will pick up additional dust and dirt, depositing them throughout your home.

If you notice a continuously high level of dust in your home, call one of our indoor air quality professionals to check the seals on your ducts and inspect for leaks. Also, seriously consider getting your ducts cleaned, especially if you have never done so in the past.

Clean Your Home Regularly

In addition to the numerous HVAC steps you can take to reduce dust, there are some things you can do while cleaning your house to help:

• Eliminate clutter as it collects and holds on to dust.
• Vacuum at least one to two times a week using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
• Dust with a microfiber or damp cloth, starting the cleaning motion from top to bottom to grab and remove dust and not push it into the air.
• Shampoo or steam carpets and fabric upholstery monthly.
• Wash fabric curtains monthly.
• Wash bedding routinely––sheets and pillowcases once a week; blankets, duvets, and pillows every three to four weeks.
• Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting because it can be an ideal habitat for dust and dust mites.

Keep a Constant Tab on Your Humidity

Be sure your home has the appropriate level of humidity. Too high encourages dust mites, and too low, dust accumulates more. Try maintaining a relative humidity of 35 to 50 percent, an industry standard.

Get Yourself an Air Purifier

A whole-home air purifier works with your HVAC system to purify the air, ridding it of dust, other particles, and allergens—the dust never makes it to your home’s living spaces.

A major benefit of a whole-home purifier is that it purifies all the air in your home at once. Portable units typically can only purify the air in one room. To achieve a similar result, you would need a separate purifier in every room.

Clean Air Conditioning & Heating Inc: Indoor Air Quality Experts

Don’t let your home be another one that bites the dust.

If you notice more-than-normal dust levels in your Phoenix, AZ home, please call Clean Air Conditioning & Heating Inc at 623-516-8373 or request service online and discover how our experienced professionals can help. Our team specializes in offering whole-home IAQ and dust solutions to keep you and your loved ones healthy, comfortable, and safe throughout the year.

The post How to Reduce Dust in Your Home first appeared on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating and is written by Clear Air Conditioning & Heating.