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...

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Can HVAC UV Lights Damage Coils?

August 7, 2024

Updated September, 2025 Indoor air quality is developing into an increasingly important concern for homeowners across the nation, leading to a rise in using ultraviolet (UV) lighting in HVAC systems. These lights enhance air quality by decreasing the number of dangerous microbes in the air. However, whether these UV lights could harm the system’s coils is a typical worry among homeowners and HVAC experts. Protect Coils and Boost Results With the Right Pairings Properly applied UV targets microbial growth on damp surfaces. For the best outcome, pair UV with filtration and routine tune-ups. Capture particles and odors upstream with advanced filtration so coils stay cleaner longer. Keep UV output and system performance in spec under our Maintenance Agreement. We’ll verify placement, shielding, and replacement intervals to protect nearby materials while improving coil cleanliness. Benefits of HVAC UV Lights for Better Indoor Air Quality UV lamps for HVAC systems are a perfect choice for homeowners who want to make their homes healthier because of the positive effects they have on indoor air quality. The UV light from these bulbs can destroy or render inactive a wide variety of germs, viruses, and mold spores. Cleaner, fresher air can circulate throughout the house...

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Portable vs. Whole-Home Air Purifiers

July 15, 2024

Portable vs. Whole-Home Air Purifiers While you can’t see it, the air you are breathing right now likely has bacteria, mold, pollutants, and viruses in it. Gas combustion from cooking on a natural gas stove, mold growth, and wildfire smoke can all cause your home’s air quality to plummet. Fortunately, whole-home and portable air purifiers can help filter out harmful contaminants and protect your respiratory health. What Are Whole-Home Purifiers? A whole-home air purifier filters the air inside your home. It can reduce allergens, like pollen and dust. Additionally, it can remove chemicals and other contaminants. If you don’t want to replace your entire heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system to purify your air, a whole-home purifier is a good choice. Designed with electrostatic and ultrasonic technology, whole-home purifiers can remove any particles that are greater than 0.3 microns from the air. While each system is different, they typically use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This kind of filter is incorporated into your ventilation system so that the purified air can circulate throughout your home. Other than HEPA filters, purifiers can use ion filtering or physical barriers. With ion filters, electronic filters use a high voltage to attract and...

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How Often Is IAQ Testing Necessary?

May 10, 2024

It’s incredibly important that we pay attention to the quality of our indoor air. Many homeowners in the St. Louis, MO, area spend a great deal of time indoors. Your home should be a healthy refuge from the pollen and pollution that you’re exposed to outside. Indoor air quality testing, or IAQ testing, is something that should be performed periodically to gain knowledge of what contaminants you’re encountering. A professional can perform this service at your request. The Frequency of IAQ Testing If you’ve never had indoor air quality testing performed before, you should expect your first appointment to take a little longer. The technician will explain the process to you and complete the testing. They will ask you a bit about your lifestyle, your health, and whether you have pets in the home. After this initial visit, you can expect your IAQ testing to take less time in the future. Ideally, you should schedule testing once every year, even if you think that your air quality is adequate. You may need to have testing performed more than once in a 12-month period, especially if you are trying to fix a problem that was discovered during your initial testing. Typically,...

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6 Most Common Commercial HVAC Repairs

February 12, 2024

6 Most Common Commercial HVAC Repairs Running a commercial property or business is a lot of work, so the last problem you want to deal with is your heating and cooling system. When it’s operating well, the HVAC system is an excellent feat of engineering. But when an HVAC system is inoperable, it can be a source of frustration for you and the occupants. Workers cannot operate optimally when subjected to too cold or hot weather conditions. No one plans for HVAC breakdowns, but when the system fails, is ready to repair with dependable, speedy service. Our courteous and trained electricians can troubleshoot the problems and restore comfort in your commercial property. Let’s dive and explore common commercial HVAC repairs. 1. Malfunctioning Thermostat Repair A thermostat is like the engine oil of the HVAC system. It communicates about your commercial heating and cooling needs, with its components telling HVAC what to do. Several factors, such as faulty furnace switch, wrong programming, or installation, can cause thermostat malfunction. A wrongly installed thermostat can sense the inaccuracy of the commercial setup needs. For example, a thermostat placed directly below or above a register will shut prematurely as it will sense the room...

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How to Find the Best Indoor Air Quality Technology for Your Home

December 13, 2023

How to Find the Best Indoor Air Quality Technology for Your Home The air quality in your St. Louis, MO home could be far worse than the air quality outdoors. In fact, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it’s likely two to five times worse. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Whether you live near a busy freeway or have multiple indoor pets, advanced indoor air quality (IAQ) technologies can help. However, the key to optimizing IAQ improvements is finding the right one for your household. HVAC Air Filters: What They Can and Cannot Do All heaters and air conditioners have pre-installed HVAC air filters. Equipment manufacturers install these components to keep the interiors of furnaces, ACs, and heat pumps protected and promote long equipment lifespans. These standard, pre-installed filters collect larger airborne particulates like dust motes, hair, textile and carpet fibers, and pet fur. However, due to their larger mesh, many allergens and contaminants pass right through them. Thus, while they do provide limited air quality benefits, these benefits are hardly enough to meet the IAQ needs of most households. The Importance of Keeping Your HVAC Equipment Clean According to HVAC equipment manufacturers,...

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Combatting Indoor Air Pollution in St. Louis

November 15, 2023

Combatting Indoor Air Pollution in St. Louis Most people are aware of contaminants that cause outdoor air pollution, but you might not be aware that air pollution can exist inside a home as well. Pollution inside your home can cause difficulty with breathing or even severe respiratory problems down the road. Indoor pollution is worse than outdoor pollution due to the fact that air doesn’t circulate as effectively indoors as it can outdoors. St. Louis is hard hit by both indoor and outdoor pollution, especially during certain times of the year. Let’s explore the causes of indoor air pollution, the seasons during which you should take particular care, and the things you can do to improve the air quality in your home. What Causes Indoor Air Pollution? The main cause of indoor air pollution is contaminated air outside the home coming in through open windows, doors, or poorly maintained HVAC systems. St. Louis is prone to ground-level ozone pollution, otherwise known as smog. Smog is a mixture of pollutants emitted from factories or other industrial sites, car exhaust fumes, construction debris, or particles from burning waste. St. Louis specifically has a high number of industrial plants that release harmful chemicals...

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Addressing the Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

October 29, 2023

How To Address Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality At , we help St. Louis residents keep their homes comfortable during every season. While our primary focus is heating and cooling, we also provide solutions to address indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns. The quality of your air has a direct impact on the quality of life in your home. If you experience any common symptoms of compromised IAQ, our team would be happy to provide services to make things more comfortable. Symptoms Caused by Low Humidity The level of humidity in your home has a strong effect on your overall comfort. When the air is too dry, it draws moisture from any available source. You may notice that wooden instruments like guitars and pianos go out of tune more quickly as dry air warps the wood. Wooden furniture is also susceptible to damage under these conditions. Since water makes up most of your body, low humidity produces several physical symptoms. Dry Skin Dry, itchy skin can be a chronic problem, especially in winter. This condition can also make it difficult to get comfortable when trying to fall asleep. Itchy Eyes Your eyes contain a great deal of moisture, so low...

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Weighing Your Options: Baseboard Heaters vs. Central Heat

October 24, 2023

Baseboard Heaters vs. Central Heating When considering building a brand-new house or updating your current climate system, considering what type of heating to install is a big decision. As a homeowner, you have several options for heating your house, each with many things to consider. Central heating units and baseboard heaters are two of homeowners’ top choices. Let’s explore the upside and downside of each so that you can make an informed decision on heating your home in St. Louis, MO. Baseboard Heaters Baseboard heaters have a heating element that heats up when turned on. This heating element releases warm air into your room. An HVAC technician will place these heaters on the wall just above the floor or on the baseboards, hence the name. Placing the units on perimeter walls is a common practice, as this works to combat the cold from outside. The most popular baseboard heater models run off electricity. These electric heaters are wired into your home’s electric grid during installation and are generally not portable. You can also find gas and hydronic (hot water) units, though they are far less common. Pros of Baseboard Heating Quiet Operation Electric baseboard heaters typically run with little to...

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The Costs of Installing a Wi-Fi Thermostat

September 22, 2023

The Costs of Installing a Wi-Fi Thermostat With energy rates on the rise around the country, many households are making the smart choice of upgrading to a Wi-Fi thermostat. These smart devices are programmable, energy-efficient, and much more convenient than previous models. They allow you to better track your energy consumption whether you’re at home, working, or across the world. Learn more about the potential costs of a smart thermostat installation today to help you decide if it’s a good fit for your family. Installation Costs Breakdown On average, a smart thermostat will typically cost between $200 and $500 depending on a variety of factors. If you opt for a more advanced option, you may find the price can reach as high as $1,000. When considering calling a professional, you should include both the material costs and the price of labor in your projected budget. The Wi-Fi thermostat model alone can add anywhere from around $100 to almost $800 to your price. If you don’t already have a smart thermostat, your technician will have to install a C-wire or common wire. This line is responsible for powering your thermostat’s LED screen and internal functions. It takes the place of a...

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