Category: Air Filters

Whole-House Air Cleaner and UV Lights – for That Breath of Fresh Air You Need

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you’re looking to improve the quality of your indoor air with one simple purchase, a whole-house air cleaner and ultraviolet (UV) lights are two of your best choices. Knowing what pollutants trigger allergy or asthma symptoms for you or members of your family is the first step. However, if multiple contaminants trigger these symptoms, there’s an even better solution.
Manufacturers such as Lennox now recognize the advantages of various technologies, such as whole-house air cleaners and UV lights, and you can now choose equipment that combines multiple indoor air-quality solutions in one system.

One such system, Lennox’ PureAir, utilizes a whole-house air cleaner and UV lights, along with odor and vapor protection to optimize results.

Whole-house air cleaner

This portion of the PureAir system relies on a filtration technology to target a range of problematic pollutants, including pet dander, pollen and dust particles. Utilizing a Precision Pleat MERV 16 filter, when the air first passes through the system it is able to capture the smallest of particles, down to 0.01 microns, taking them out of your home’s airstream.

UV lights

Next, the air passes over UV lights, designed to specifically target mold, viruses, dust mites and bacteria. Instead of trapping these pollutants, powerful ultraviolet rays zap them, so that they are harmless after coming into contact with the UV rays.

Odor and vapor protection

During the final phase, the PureAir utilizes powerful odor- and vapor-reducing technology to filter out volatile organic compounds, in addition to removing odors from a variety of sources, including those from cleaning solutions, paints and cooking.
When choosing a system, consider the following factors:

  • Clean air delivery rate (CADR). Select an system with a CADR rating that will match the square footage of your home
  • Operating costs. Air cleaners will generally work only as long as you run your furnace blower, even if your furnace or A/C is off, in order to circulate air. Run the numbers with an expert to estimate each system’s annual operating costs.

With a whole-house air cleaner like PureAir, you can expect cleaner air. For expert advice in greater Charlotte, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.

Is an A/C Tune-Up on Your Spring To-Do List?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

An A/C Tune-Up should be at the top of your spring to-do list. The largest consumer of energy in your home is your heating and cooling system. Keeping your HVAC equipment running efficiently will help control energy costs.

Having a spring A/C Tune-Up will get your A/C unit ready to operate safely and efficiently throughout the summer cooling season. You’ll also avoid the panic of having to repair a malfunctioning unit in the middle of the hot summer months to come.

When you schedule an A/C Tune-Up, your technician will:

  • Conduct a thorough inspection of the entire system and its related components
  • Test the A/C’s refrigerant. An incorrectly-charged system will waste energy and not cool properly.
  • Test the system for refrigerant leaks
  • Safely capture refrigerant that must be removed, according to industry standards
  • Check the ductwork portion of your HVAC equipment, ensuring that it doesn’t leak and allows for proper airflow
  • Assess the A/C’s airflow over the evaporator coil, and clean it. Improper airflow over the coil will lead to decreased cooling capacity
  • Test the thermostat, ensuring that its controls will deactivate the heating system when you set the thermostat to cooling mode, and making sure that it will meet temperature settings
  • Inspect all electrical elements, lubricating and tightening connections as necessary
    Test the motor, checking that belts are tight, warding off wear and tear, and lubricating the motor, too

As a homeowner, you can participate in maintaining the air conditioner by:

  • Changing the air filter before you start up the A/C
  • Checking the air filter monthly once you begin to use the air conditioner regularly, ensuring that the filter is not dirty, which will restrict airflow and lead to dirt buildup
  • Assessing the conditions around the outdoor unit, cleaning up debris that has accumulated throughout the winter, as well as vegetation that can block the unit and potentially restrict airflow and reduce efficiency
  • Inspecting the registers and grilles throughout your home to ensure that airflow is optimized

Contact the home-comfort experts at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical to schedule an A/C tune-up appointment, or ask about our annual maintenance plans. We’ve served the Greater Charlotte area as a local, family-owned company since 1972.

Boost Your Heat Pump System’s Performance With 3 Insider Tips

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

According to research from Energy Star, 50 percent of all heat pumps have significant problems with leaky air ducts, inadequate airflow and incorrect refrigerant pressure. These factors affect the performance of your heat pump system, making it work harder and use more energy.

Your HVAC technician can improve the performance of your heat pump system by performing these tasks and checks:

  • Check the refrigerant charge and correct it, if necessary.
  • Make sure the duct system is properly sealed, clean and insulated.
  • Check the airflow and fan speed.

If you have an annual maintenance plan, your technician can check the ducts, airflow and refrigerant on his next visit. If you hear noises in your ducts or coming from the blower, you should call for service right away.In addition to the maintenance performed by your HVAC technician, there are a few things you can do to improve airflow and performance of your heat pump system:

  • Make sure there is no furniture blocking vents and air returns.
  • Vacuum dirty vent and air return covers.
  • Change air filters regularly.

Homeowners in the Charlotte, North Carolina area can call Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for guaranteed service and maintenance by trained technicians. For your peace of mind, we offer maintenance and service plans to ensure that your system is always operating at peak performance.

Air Filters Don’t Get a Break – Change Them All Year Long

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

A clean air filter is vital to the performance of your home’s heating and cooling system. As air flows to and from your system, the air filter traps dust, dust mites, pollen, pet dander and other particles, removing them from your air. Over time, these particles build up on the filter, reducing its effectiveness.

Check the filter monthly. If it appears dirty, change it. At a minimum, the filter should be changed every three months.

Dirty air filters:

  • Affect the air quality in your home.
  • Restrict the air flow into your system, making the fan motor work harder, consuming more energy and costing you more money to stay comfortable.
  • Forcing the motor to work harder will shorten the life of the motor again costing you more money to have the motor replaced prematurely.
  • Reduced air flow across your furnace will cause the temperature of the furnace to rise which will put more stress on the metal heat exchanger and could cause it to crack and even leak dangerous Carbon Monoxide into your home.

There are many types of air filters available. Using the correct size and type of filter for your system will provide optimum results. The most efficient filters may not be the best option for your system. Today’s highly-efficient filters cause an increase in the level of airflow resistance, which can restrict airflow and cause damage to older heating and cooling systems. Consult your system’s operating manual for recommended filters.Here at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we’re happy to answer your questions about air filters, or to offer expert advice regarding your heating and cooling needs. For more information, contact us today!

Indoor Air Quality Control With 3 Prevention Methods

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

You home’s indoor air quality is measured based on the level of contaminants present. Your home may contain any combination of biological or chemical contaminants. Good air quality means that there are very low levels of these contaminants in your home. You can improve indoor air quality by eliminating or controlling contaminants using three basic strategies.

Source control

The most effective method of controlling your indoor air quality is to eliminate or reduce specific sources of pollution. Primary methods of source control include:

  • Smoking outdoors
    Eliminating the use of candles, incense or liquid fuels, which can emit carbon monoxide, VOCs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and soot as by-products of combustion
  • Avoiding the use of chemical pesticides
  • Using natural cleaners instead of chemically-based cleaners
  • Changing filters in all appliances regularly

Ventilation

By increasing the outdoor air coming inside your home, you allow the contaminated air to circulate out, and fresh air to move in. Bathroom or kitchen fans should be installed so that they exhaust outdoors to remove contaminants directly from the room where they’re located.

Air cleaners

Air cleaners can also be a valuable tool in improving the air quality in your home. There are a variety of types and sizes of air cleaners available. Some are inexpensive, portable models, while others are whole-home systems. Air cleaners aren’t typically designed to remove gaseous air pollutants, but the right one (Lennox PureAir) can be effective at removing germs, dust, pollen, odors, and other contaminants.

Controlling your home’s indoor air quality is vital to ensuring the health of your family. If you live in Charlotte, North Carolina, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical to discuss your options for reducing the air contaminants in your home

Increase Whole-House Energy Savings in 5 Quick and Easy Steps

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

When you approach energy savings in your house, there are a couple different paths you can take. You can focus on small tasks in each room that add up to energy savings, or you can think big. Consider these five quick and easy steps to maximize energy savings throughout your home.

1. Change your air filters.

Filters get clogged and dirty as they remove dust and other particles from the air. When this happens, your heating and cooling equipment has to work harder to blow air through, which eats up energy and drives up your utility bills. Changing your filters every one to three months eliminates this unnecessary expense. Filters may need to be changed more frequently during the peaks of the heating and cooling seasons.

2. Boost your insulation.

Insulation seals in heat in winter and helps keep your house cool in summer. Your whole house should be well insulated, but the attic is the most important area, since heat rises. Also consider insulating your ductwork to minimize heating and cooling losses.

3. Invest in preventative maintenance.

Stopping problems before they develop is much less expensive than trying to fix them later, and annual service is the best way to keep your heating and cooling appliances running efficiently.

4. Update your lighting.

If you still have old incandescent light bulbs in your house, they are wasting money and should be replaced. Fluorescent bulbs are much more energy efficient, and they also last longer. Of course, it goes without saying that turning off the lights when you leave a room is also essential to energy savings.

5. Install a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat allows you to program a heating or cooling schedule that varies by time of day and from one day to the next, allowing you to save energy by using your furnace and air conditioner less when you don’t need them, like at night or when nobody’s home.

For more information on ways you can save energy in the Charlotte area, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’ve been locally owned and operated since 1972.

Merv Filters: Keep Both Family Health and Furnace Efficiency in Mind When You Make Your Choice

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

To keep your furnace operating at its highest level of efficiency, you must keep the unit well maintained and equipped with high-efficiency filters. Regular filter changes using high-MERV units give you good levels of indoor air filtration and keep your furnace working well. Regular filter changes also decrease your monthly utility bills.

MERV stands for “Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value,” and is an HVAC industry-standard rating of filter efficiency. MERV ratings indicate how effectively the filter captures and holds airborne particles ranging from 0.3 to 10 microns in size.

An additional advantage of high-MERV filters is their benefit to your family’s respiratory health. Efficient filters improve the air quality in your home and remove dust, pollen, fibers, mold and other particles that can be inhaled. They also eliminate airborne contaminants that can cause or aggravate allergies, asthma and respiratory conditions.

MERV ratings range from 1-16. The higher the MERV number, the smaller the particles the filter can trap and remove from the air. A MERV 16 filter, for example, traps very small particles such as bacteria, tobacco smoke and powders. A MERV 1 filter can capture only larger particles such as dust mites, textile and carpet fibers, mold spores and pollen.

Low-cost furnace filters usually bear MERV ratings of 1-4, so they are only minimally effective. A MERV 4 filter, for example, will capture as much as 80 percent of the particles 50 microns and larger, but only 25 percent of particles between three and 10 microns. Industry sources recommend using filters of MERV 6 or higher.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters provide even higher levels of air filtration. They filter the air at a MERV level of 17-20. HEPA filters are commonly used in hospitals, clean rooms and other locations where airborne contaminants must be kept to an absolute minimum.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been providing professional HVAC services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Contact us today for expert help choosing MERV filters that will provide you with the best level of air filtration and indoor air quality.

A Comprehensive Plan to Clean Up Your Indoor Air

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Maintaining your home’s indoor air quality is critical for good health and contributes to your family’s overall comfort. Most people don’t consider their indoor air quality until something happens to remind them they need to be actively maintaining a healthy environment. Maintaining clean, healthy air in your home isn’t difficult or expensive. It simply requires knowing what to look for and what to do. By implementing a few of the steps listed here, you and your family can breathe easier.

Here are ten of the most commonly recommended ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality:

  1. If you have a water heater or furnace that is fueled by fossil fuels, make sure they are power vented or combustion is sealed outside your living space.
  2. Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms should always be vented directly outdoors using an energy-efficient fan.
  3. HVAC systems and ductwork should never be placed in the garage. Since your garage is susceptible to accumulating air contaminants, try to reduce the amount of contaminated air by installing weather stripping around the door.
  4. Enjoy fireplaces and wood stoves responsibly by properly venting them and keeping the doors affixed tightly.
  5. Installing air filters directly on to your home’s HVAC system will reduce the amount of dirt in the air. Change your home’s filters every one to three months for maximum effectiveness.
  6. Clothes dryers and central vacuum units should always be vented outdoors.
  7. Solvents and cleaners should always be stored outside of your living space.
  8. Reduce the amount of indoor combustion sources that cannot be vented, like decorative candles or indoor barbecues. If you smoke, smoke outside or by an open window.
  9. Encourage outdoor airflow in your home with a home ventilation system or fans in the windows.
  10. If you plan on using a solvent or cleanser, make sure to use it only in a well-ventilated space.

Contact us at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for more information on how you can improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Maintaining Your HVAC System: Easy Things You Can Do to Minimize Problems and Optimize Efficiency

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you want your HVAC appliances to remain in good working shape for as long as possible, some effort will be necessary on your part. Some of the things you’ll need to do may seem like a bit of a hassle, but the potential damage you’ll prevent will be well worth the time.

  • Regularly change your air filter. Ideally, you should check your air filter just about once a month. If it looks dirty, have it changed right away, and the absolute longest you should go without changing it is three months. Dirty air filters put a strain on your HVAC appliances, causing energy to be wasted and breakdowns to become more likely.
  • Get yearly equipment tune-ups. For heating and cooling systems to keep working properly, it’s imperative that you bring in a professional to tune them up annually. These tune-ups will go a long way towards preventing any major issues or breakdowns, as well as allowing the appliance to work more efficiently.
  • Consider sealing heating and cooling ducts. If you’re using a duct system in your household, you would be wise to have it sealed and insulated. You can use mastic duct sealant or foil tape for sealing ducts, and it can increase the energy-efficiency of your HVAC system by up to 20 percent. After you’ve sealed them, wrap them up well in duct insulation.

By following these steps, you can all but guarantee that your HVAC equipment won’t be having any problems in the near future. If you put in the work now, you’ll be minimizing the amount of work you’ll need to do — and money you’ll need to spend — down the road.

For heating and cooling needs in the Charlotte  area, contact the good people at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.

Choosing Your MERV Filter: Do You Know What Those Numbers Mean?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Your air filters play a huge role in the indoor air quality of your home, so it’s important to know how to pick the ideal filter for your system. Knowing how to compare various filters is the first step towards achieving the quality of air that you want for you and your family.

The easiest way to compare filters is by their MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). This is a measurement of how effectively a filter can capture particles from the air that passes through it. Comparing the MERV of various filters will give you an easy way to figure out which filters are the most efficient.

A controlled test is performed on a brand of filter to determine its MERV. A pre-determined amount of particles of various sizes are sent through a filter and based on the difference of particles before and after filtering through, the MERV is established.

The lowest rated filters (1-4) are found frequently in new residential spaces. They are not designed to improve your air quality and only capture the largest particles. They are meant mainly to filter out the type of particles that could damage the heating equipment.

Filters rated between 5 and 12 are best for most homeowners, with 9-12 being the absolute best for controlling the amount of pollutants in your air. It is vital to replace them when necessary (1-3 months minimum) so that they continue to operate efficiently. If filters are neglected for too long, the captured debris will form a thick screen that actually makes your heating equipment work harder just to pass air through. This strain on your system also results in increased energy costs.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are rated between 17 and 20 but are not commonly found in residential spaces because of the extensive ductwork modification that is frequently required to install them. They are more commonly found in hospitals and other places that rely on super clean environments.

For more information on MERV and how it impacts you and your family, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today. We serve the Charlotte area.