15 Reasons You Should Have an Air Purifier

15 Reasons You Should Have an Air Purifier

You’re tired of allergens and pollutants invading your home and disrupting your daily life. As you explore your options for cleaning your air, you may at some point ask yourself, “Are air purifiers a waste of money?” Luckily, the short answer is no. But we’ve outlined 15 reasons you should have an air purifier in your home to help you decide if an air purifier is the right choice for you. Air purifiers bring many benefits to your indoor air quality. But taking steps in combination with an air purifier will help it work its best. Clean your home regularly, especially soft surfaces like rugs, carpeting and upholstered furniture. Use quality air purifier systems and change the filter as recommended, as well. With those additional measures, your air purifier will increase your air quality even more. 1. Ease Allergies Allergens can find a way to get inside your home. If you have pets or someone in your home is a smoker, allergens are already inside. Or if you like to have the windows open as the seasons change, allergens welcome themselves into your home. If you have allergies, you know how disruptive they are. The sneezing and irritated eyes interrupt your day. Luckily, air purifiers help with allergies. If your air purifier has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, it can filter up to99.97% of pollutants in the air. That’ll trap airborne allergens like pet dander, dust mites, pollen and other pollutants and help reduce your allergy symptoms. 2. Ease Asthma Symptoms So they ease allergies, but do air purifiers help with asthma, as well? Asthma is often caused by the same air contaminants that create allergies. Dust, pet dander, smoke and other pollutants trigger symptoms for many with asthma. Because an air purifier can remove those contaminants from the air in your home and replace it with clean air, those with asthma may have eased symptoms. 3. Improve Sleep If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you might wonder — can an air purifier make you sleep better? While that’ll depend on the cause of your sleep troubles, an air purifier can help some who have difficulty sleeping. When the air you breathe as you sleep is less pure, you could develop issues like snoring or get a poor night’s sleep. Your sleep may also be interrupted if you have asthma, which an air purifier can help you control. When you lose sleep due to poor air quality or different factors, it takes a toll on your body. Lack of sleep has negative impacts on your mood, concentration, immune system, blood pressure and other functions. Add an air purifier to your bedroom and take other steps to improve your sleep to prevent those issues. 4. Improve Concentration and Energy Maybe you don’t have allergies, asthma or sleep issues. In that case, you still want to know — do air purifiers really make a difference? Let the improvements to your focus and energy answer that. With fewer dust particles and other concerns inside, your lungs can take in better air. Breathing better air has been found to improve a variety of mental functions. You can focus better, make better decisions and be more productive. An air purifier also combats poor air quality, which is associated with fatigue. That’s ideal for anyone looking to improve their energy and concentration, but it’s especially useful for those who work from home. 5. Cut Down Pollutants From Fireplaces If you have a wood stove or fireplace, you’re breathing in pollutants from wood smoke. That could irritate existing issues like allergies or asthma and create a generally unpleasant environment. An air purifier can make a difference so you can continue using your fireplace or wood stove as you please. 6. Create a Cleaner Home You may find yourself dusting only to have to do it again more frequently than you’d like. In that case, you’ll wonder — do air purifiers help with dust? And they do. With regular use of your air purifier, you’ll eventually see less dust in the air. That means there’s less dust that will settle onto your furniture and surfaces. You’ll get to put the duster away and relax in your home, noticing the cleaner air around you. 7. Manage Pollution From Attached Garages You likely store various hazardous materials in your garage. And when you start your car inside or use those dangerous products, those pollutants can make their way into your home if you have an attached garage. Air purifiers can filter those dangerous materials from the air in your living space. That’ll give you peace of mind that you and your family members are breathing safer air inside. 8. Manage Air Quality Impacts by Art Supplies If you or someone in your household is an artist, you have to deal with different chemicals making their way into the air. Paints, glues, resins and other supplies release fumes throughout your home. Those airborne chemicals may seem harmless, but they do impact your air quality. Using an air purifier in your craft room or throughout your home helps eliminate any concern that your art supplies could cause. 9. Eliminate Odors When you cook dinner and still notice the scent lingering the next day, it creates an unpleasant environment. Put away the air fresheners, candles and sprays and turn on an air purifier instead. These devices can help filter out unpleasant scents in your home caused by anything from smokers to cooking and any unwelcome smells from outside. 10. Keep Air Clean During Home Renovations Home renovations kick up dust and bring in various pollutants. Fibers from new carpeting, paint, stains, varnishes, commercial adhesives and other construction supplies impact your air quality. Run an air purifier during and after renovations to keep your air cleaner and get the benefits of healthy air. 11. Manage Rooms With Mold Moisture damage or flooding can lead to mold. While you’ll have to take control by making repairs and cleaning the mold completely, an air purifier

Indoor Air Quality: Now More Than Ever, It’s Important

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality often doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but recent events — shelter in place orders, working from home whenever possible, masks everywhere — has brought air quality to the forefront of everyone’s mind. In the HVAC industry, we know that breathing stale, humid, debris-infested air can have serious health consequences, especially for those with respiratory problems. As consumers, we’re ready to answer your questions and discuss the many options available to you to improve your home’ indoor air quality so you breathe better air every day. Many people don’t even realize just how bad their indoor air quality is. Some common signs are a persistent stale or musty smell, having to dust more frequently than normal, or having allergy problems even when it’s not allergy season. If you suspect there’s a problem, a call to A/C Contractors can set up a time for one of our technicians to assess the situation. If your home’s indoor air quality is a problem, there are a number of ways to deal with it. Typically the best results come from using several different products and services, each with its own purpose, for the greatest possible overall benefit. A common problem is the buildup of dust, mold, particulates, pollen, dander and other pollutants in the ductwork of your HVAC system. An average home accumulates 40 pounds of dust and debris every year, and without proper cleaning, this circulates throughout the home every time the HVAC unit turns on. This not only can affect the breathing of everyone in the home but can also increase energy costs as the unit has to work harder to move the air. Thorough cleaning and sealing of the ducts, done by A/C Contractor’s expert team can produce a dramatic improvement in air cleanliness that you’ll notice immediately. Many homeowners are choosing to have positive pressure ventilation systems installed, similar to those used in hospitals and industry. Positive pressure systems use fans and ducts to push fresh (usually filtered) air into the home throughout the day, pushing the stale air out. These systems typically have a humidity control system integrated with them, which can also have positive effects on the breathing of those in the home. Stand-alone humidity control systems may also be an option for you to consider. Air that is too dry can make it hard to breathe, while air that’s too humid can promote the growth of mold and mildew. Extreme humidity, be it high or low, can damage your belongings and be detrimental to your health. Most humidity control systems can be integrated into your existing system, and work to control the spread of pathogens, protect your furniture, books and other belongings, and even help your dry skin and make you more comfortable. Air purification, above and beyond the typical air filters we’re all familiar with, is another common addition to home HVAC systems. UV germicidal lights, again similar to those used in hospitals and industry, can limit the growth of mold and bacteria by degrading the DNA of these pathogens. These lights safely kill germs and sanitize the air, resulting in a cleaner, healthier home environment. Some homeowners go a step further, choosing a carbon “Matrix” system along with the UV germicidal lights. This system captures contaminants and slows them down as they pass under the UV lights. This allows more exposure time to the light, which gives better sanitization. This higher level of sanitization is why it’s highly recommended to combine UV and Matrix systems, to give the best possible results. As we all adjust to the times, ensuring your home contains clean, healthy air must be a priority. If you have any questions or concerns about the quality of your indoor air or want to take the steps to improve it, call A/C Contractors today! Our skilled, highly-trained technicians and representatives will work with you to give you the high quality, economical home HVAC system you and your family deserve.

Common A/C Problems in Your Longview Home

Common AC Problems at Home

When you live in Longview or Tyler, Texas, you know you’re going to get a lot of hot weather. While it’s true we get a few rainy days, Tyler and Longview get sunshine almost 220 days out of the year. Those sunny days bring warm weather. You can expect temperatures to be above 80 degrees Fahrenheit from late April until early October, and above 90 degrees for much of June, July, August and September. While we all love warm weather, living with so many days above 90 degrees quickly becomes uncomfortable and even potentially dangerous for seniors and infants. Keeping your air conditioning in tip-top condition all year long is not just a good idea, it’s a necessity. Since Tyler and Longview only have a few months you could consider “cool” or even a touch cold, you want to know your air conditioner will start working without problems when the warmer weather appears. If your air conditioning does fail, however, life can be unbearable. Air conditioning repairs can be expensive, so you want to ensure your air conditioning receives regular maintenance throughout the year. An air conditioner is a complicated system that requires the perfect combination of airflow, pressure and temperature to operate correctly. Complex systems, however, mean there are many places your air conditioner can develop problems. Fortunately, not all these problems require expensive repairs. Regular maintenance also means your HVAC technician can catch potentially costly problems before they become severe, thus helping you save money in the long run. 10 Common A/C Problems and Solutions You know you’re going to need your air conditioner to work properly, so here are a few of the more common problems that can plague an air conditioning system and prevent your home from being the cool oasis you desire. 1. Filter It’s amazing how often an air conditioner fails to work properly because of a clogged or dirty filter. You need to follow the manufacturer’s suggestion on how often you should change the filter. Some manufacturers recommend you change it every three months, while others require you to do it monthly. One way to determine if your filter is too dirty is to hold it up to a light. If light passes through the filter, it is still good, but if it doesn’t, it’s time to change it. Clogged and dirty air filters not only block the flow of cool air into your home, but they can also cause the air conditioner’s evaporator coil to freeze, literally creating a block of ice that prevents cooler air from circulating. The Fix: One of the easiest solutions for how to fix an air conditioner that’s not cooling is to check your air filter regularly and change it if it looks dirty or clogged. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for how frequently you should change the filter. 2. Refrigerant Leaks When an air conditioner is low on refrigerant, your air conditioner will struggle to cool your home. There are two reasons for an air conditioner to be low on refrigerant — either it did not get charged correctly at installation, or there is a leak. Fixing it is not merely a matter of adding more refrigerant. If it is leaking, you need to get it repaired quickly. If you notice puddles or pools of liquid next to your air conditioning unit, it can present a health problem. Air conditioning refrigerant can irritate eyes, cause headaches or nausea and induce coughing. If the problem originated at installation, the technician can add the right level of refrigerant. Too much refrigerant can be even worse than too little. There are several ways to tell specifically if you have a refrigerant leak: Ice forms on the outside unit and on the refrigerant line You hear a hissing or bubbling noise coming from the air conditioner Your air conditioner won’t cool your home on hot days, but works perfectly on cool days or during the nighttime. The Fix: If you have either of these problems, your best bet is to call an HVAC professional right away. Refrigerant leaks are not something to ignore. You need to get a leaky unit fixed as soon as possible. If the problem is with the refrigerant level, an HVAC technician has the tools to measure the level of refrigerant in your system and make sure you get the right amount. 3. Drainage Dirt, lint and dust can clog your air conditioner’s drain line, just like a clogged air filter. That is especially true when the weather is excessively humid. If the drain line gets clogged, however, that means your drain pan will quickly fill with water. If this water overflows, it may not only damage the rest of the air conditioning unit, but anything near the unit will become soaked and potentially ruined. The Fix: Regularly check to make sure the drain line remains clear. If you know the weather is going to be humid for a few days or even weeks, it’s always a good idea to check for clogs regularly. If you’re using a room air conditioner anywhere in your home, make sure it is level when mounted, or else overflow will be a problem. 4. Breakers or Fuses There are a lot of reasons that your air conditioner may trip your circuit breaker or blow a fuse. If some other part of your air conditioning system is not working properly, the air conditioning unit will draw too much energy trying to keep your home cool. Sometimes, a tripped circuit breaker is the result of a homeowner using too many appliances at once. If you have the television on while you’re doing laundry and someone else is vacuuming at the same time, then you add in the air conditioning unit on a hot day, the circuit breaker may trip. A tripped circuit breaker is a good thing. Circuit breakers exist to make sure that your home doesn’t catch on fire. The Fix: Circuit breakers have three positions — on, off and somewhere in between. If you check the

Indoor Air Quality For Your Longview Home

In the subject of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, it is impossible not to touch on the issue of pollution. Governments around the world are working hard to fight air pollution through passing and implementing new environmental laws and policies. Air especially in the cities cannot be called fresh anymore in as much as it has already been contaminated by dust and pollutants brought by industrial plants, vehicle smoke, and many other sources. This air consequently gets into our homes, causing poor Longview indoor air quality, discomfort, irritation, and health risks. One special area in the field of Longview air conditioning and heating is indoor air quality improvement. Since homes and buildings are basically enclosed, they are capable of manipulating the flow of air and the pollutants that it carries. This is where the topic of air filters comes in. Air filters screen the air to remove irritating and health-hazardous particles such as pollen, dust, spores, and other contaminates. Note that what heating and cooling systems do is to circulate the air around the house, so the absence of air filters to the equipment pose high risks of contact with harmful and unwanted pollutants. Now that the importance of Longview indoor air quality has been pointed out, let’s proceed to what is out there for homeowners. There are basically two types of air filters: one, a centralized furnace or air con mounted unit that works for the whole house; and two, a portable unit that serves individual rooms. Both types offer various models with different cleaning methods and features. Choosing between furnace-mounted and portable, single room unit filter basically depends on the type of house the equipment will be serving. A condominium or apartment unit, for example, may be advised to use a single-room air filter, while a town home may be advised to employ a furnace-mounted system. When you consult with your trusted HVAC contractor, you will be given several options on the types of air filter technologies you may use. Among the most common are media air filters, HEPA or high efficiency particulate air filters, electrostatic air filters, and electronic air filters. The first two are the most popular today for their efficiency. Media and HEPA air filters, in a nutshell, both employ pleated media to remove particles. Both are proven to eliminate 99 percent of irritants. The difference, however, is that the former is more efficient in screening very small particulates like bacteria, viruses and dust than the other. Media and HEPA air filters are cost effective Longview indoor air quality enhancers in as much as the screening media are replaced only once in every one or two years. In these times when the world becomes more industrial and urbanized, it is important for homeowners to protect themselves from health risks brought by air pollution. Air conditioners, furnaces, ventilators, and other heating and cooling systems should be accompanied by necessary air filtering devices to ensure the household’s health and safety. Call your HVAC contractor today and inquire how you will further improve the house’s Longview indoor air quality.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]