Why Is My House So Dry?

November 12, 2024

Dry indoor air can cause all kinds of problems, such as dry skin, headaches, sinus discomfort, and more. It can even lead to breathing difficulties. If you want to make your house a more comfortable place to live, it helps you to know what’s causing the dry air. Many variables affect how dry the air inside your home may be, including changes in the weather and structural problems. Cold Winter Weather Cold winter weather is a major contributor to dry air in houses, especially in areas like St. Louis, MO. The air’s relative humidity drops as temperatures fall. This is because cold air can’t hold as much moisture as warm air. The lower the temperature, the less humidity in the air. A lot of people experience uncomfortable dryness, including skin cracking and nasal dryness, because of the reduced moisture. Central Heating Systems Central heating systems are great for keeping the house warm, but they can also cause the air to become dry. When these systems are operational, they dry out the air by heating it and lowering its relative humidity. Central heating can reduce interior humidity levels by 20%, according to research from the National Center for Biotechnology. One solution...

View Article

Read More

What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and What Are Its Signs?

November 5, 2024

Many homeowners rely on a heating system that burns fuel to create heat during winter. Because all these fuel-burning heating systems rely on combustion to produce heat, they all create toxic exhaust fumes. While these fumes are generally vented through a chimney to the outdoors, sometimes a system malfunction can happen that allows them to back up inside your home. Here is what carbon monoxide poisoning is and the signs you inhaled too much of it. What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Carbon monoxide is an odorless and toxic fume that can be created from the combustion process of a household heating system. This flammable and poisonous gas comprises one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. When carbon monoxide is inhaled by the body, it can be poisonous, and in high amounts, it can even be fatal. This is because carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood. This binding prevents the body from carrying oxygen to all your vital organs. Without adequate oxygen to your organs and brain, your body will experience a wide variety of symptoms. What Are Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms? It’s important to note that the symptoms a person experiences will highly...

View Article

Read More

How Do Air Scrubbers Work?

October 24, 2024

Indoor air quality is getting a lot of attention as everyone looks for ways to stay healthy. Air scrubbers are one of the devices that are commonly considered in both residential and commercial settings. We’ll explore what an air scrubber is, its key features and benefits and the different types available. What Is an Air Scrubber? People often think of air scrubbers and air purifiers as the same device, but they are technically different. Learn the technology that makes up air scrubbers and the big differences between scrubbers and purifiers. Air Scrubber Technology Stand-alone air scrubbers are a packaged system that uses various technologies to treat a wide range of airborne contaminants. They start with a fan that circulates a lot of air, with the most common size circulating about 500 cubic feet per minute (CFM), creating substantial noise as it runs. Air scrubbers also have multi-layered filtration, ionization, UV light and oxidizing molecules. The oxidizing molecules allow air scrubbers to not only clean the air but also help clean some surfaces throughout your home. Difference Between Air Scrubbers and Other Air Purifiers The major differences between an air purifier and an air scrubber are the scrubber’s ability to neutralize...

View Article

Read More

Dual-Fuel Systems Explained

October 17, 2024

Hybrid heating systems combine a heat pump and a furnace. The furnace may be fuel-burning or electric. When the furnace is gas-powered, these hybrid systems are also referred to as dual-fuel. The heat pump component of this system is nearly always electric. It is the main heating and cooling component of the system, while the furnace provides an auxiliary boost on cold days. Let’s explore dual-fuel technologies in greater detail and why hybrid heating may be the right choice for your next HVAC system. Heat Pumps and Transferring Heat Heat pumps don’t generate heat. They use the process of compressing and expanding refrigerant to transfer it from one medium to another. This process is also used in refrigerators and air conditioners. A reversing valve allows the heat pump to choose to transfer heat into or out of the home. Heat pumps are most efficient in temperate climates where there is enough heat in the ambient air to transfer. As temperatures drop, this becomes more difficult to do efficiently. Warming your home on the coldest days with just a heat pump can be slow and may require a heat pump to run consistently. When this happens, a dual-fuel system will activate...

View Article

Read More

What Is a Zone Damper System?

October 10, 2024

Your central HVAC system heats and cools your St. Louis, MO home uniformly. When you turn on your heater, heat pump, or air conditioner, it runs until all rooms reach the temperature that you’ve set on your thermostat. Unfortunately, this isn’t the most efficient solution for most households. Standard central HVAC systems regulate temperatures in spaces even when no one is actively using them. With a zone damper system, you can customize the delivery of heated and cooled air to suit your real-time needs. What Is a Zone Damper System? Zoned HVAC systems, also known as zone damper systems, allow residents to customize the distribution of conditioned air in their immediate areas. In some households, residents close nearby air vents when they no longer want heating or air conditioning. Although this tactic works, it places tremendous stress on heaters and air conditioners. With nowhere to go, unwanted air builds in HVAC ducting. The resulting increases in static pressure inhibit airflow in other areas and cause problems like: Rising humidity Short cycling Icing Overheating Shutdown Zone damper systems have built-in mitigation features that prevent increases in static pressure. They’re also easier to adjust than standing on chairs to reach vent levers...

View Article

Read More

Air Filtration vs. Air Ventilation

September 27, 2024

Indoor air pollution is a serious concern that can impact your short- and long-term health. There are two crucial aspects to improving indoor air quality in a home: air ventilation and filtration. Let’s explore the roles they play and the differences between them. Air Ventilation Air ventilation refers to the circulation of air through your home. A residence with good ventilation has an influx of fresh air. If you’ve ever noticed your air getting stale, it indicates inadequate ventilation. A primary benefit of good ventilation is that it dilutes the concentration of airborne pollutants and contaminants. Natural Ventilation Opening your windows and doors is one example of natural ventilation. There is also natural or passive ventilation that occurs unintentionally. This includes air that seeps in through gaps and cracks in windows, doors, walls, foundations, and so on. Builders construct modern homes with tight building envelopes. It’s highly effective for optimizing energy efficiency. The problem is that there’s little to no natural ventilation, which causes higher pollution concentrations. Attic Ventilation Passive or active attic ventilation has little effect on air quality. The purpose of this ventilation is to normalize the temperature between the attic and outdoor air. It makes heating and...

View Article

Read More

Is My HVAC Fuse Blown?

September 20, 2024

Is My HVAC Fuse Blown? Even seemingly insignificant problems, like blown fuses, can reduce the performance of your HVAC system, which is crucial to keeping your home at a pleasant temperature. Fortunately, you can avoid more costly and troublesome issues in the future by learning how fuses work, how to identify a blown fuse and what to do. Understanding HVAC Fuses: What They Do Fuses, to put it simply, are safety devices that cut power to the circuit in the event of an overload or short circuit. One of their components is a metal wire that, when heated to a certain point, melts and cuts power to the unit. By halting electrical issues before they worsen, this safety feature helps avoid overheating, possible fires and costly repairs. Types of HVAC Fuses When it detects an excessive current, the blower motor fuse interrupts the circuit, protecting the blower motor from damage. A control board fuse does the same thing, protecting it against electrical problems that could cause it to fail or malfunction. The transformer fuse prevents the transformer from getting too hot because of electrical surges or shorts. It is the job of each fuse to isolate the faulty part of...

View Article

Read More

What Should I Set My Thermostat When I’m On Vacation?

September 13, 2024

Preparing your home for your absence during a vacation is an essential part of holiday planning. Keeping tabs on your thermostat settings is an important part of getting ready. Saving money on energy bills and keeping your house at a comfortable temperature are both possible with well-adjusted thermostats. Preparing Your HVAC System for Short Trips To save energy without sacrificing comfort for short trips of a few days to a week, try turning the thermostat up a notch in the summer or down a few degrees in the winter. A good rule of thumb is to keep the thermostat between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. In addition to lowering energy usage, these settings protect your home’s structure from dangerously high and low temperatures. Before you depart, double-check the filters, clean the vents and arrange for any required maintenance on your HVAC system to make sure it is in good operating condition. By getting everything in order before you go, you can rest assured that your system will continue to function smoothly and without hitches. Ideal Thermostat Settings for Long Vacations If you’re going to be away for an...

View Article

Read More

What Is a MERV Filter?

August 21, 2024

MERV filters are HVAC filters, also called furnace and air conditioner filters. They serve several purposes. MERV filters keep an HVAC filter free of dust and other debris without restricting airflow too much. They also help improve indoor air quality by removing particulates from the air. Let’s explore HVAC filters and the MERV rating system in further detail. History of MERV The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is a U.S.-based but global professional association for the HVAC industry. ASHRAE developed the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) scale in 1987. It was not the first rating system for air filters, but the existing systems didn’t fully meet industry needs. ASHRAE wanted to provide an indicator of minimum filter performance to HVAC professionals and customers at a glance. It was so effective that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited the system. The Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both recognize it as the standard and use it as a criterion in their studies. MERV Rating System ASHRAE limited the MERV scale to a range of filtration relevant to the HVAC industry. This is important because denser filter materials can cause a pressure drop. That...

View Article

Read More

Are Gas Furnaces Phasing Out?

August 15, 2024

Over the last few years, speculation has circulated about whether gas furnaces are being phased out. Some government action, both state and federal, has caused the rumors to swirl throughout the country. This article will explain why there’s some fuss about them and whether you have to plan for a gas furnace ban in Missouri. What’s the Fuss About Gas Furnaces? Gas furnaces have received increasing attention from politicians and regulatory agencies. The main focus is moving homes toward more efficient heating options. This controversy boils down to environmental and safety concerns versus heating efficiency and operational costs. Environmental Concerns The first thing that usually comes up when discussing gas furnaces is their environmental impact. Every home burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide, one of the primary greenhouse gases. However, it’s not just the burning of natural gas that’s of concern, but also its extraction and processing. By eliminating gas furnaces, many with political power believe they can reduce the overall carbon footprint of homes in the country. Safety Concerns It’s not a prominent part of the public conversation, but gas furnaces have safety concerns. The obvious problem is the use of combustible gas in homes. However, there’s also the...

View Article

Read More