Category: IAQ – Indoor Air Quality

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!

Duct Sealing Helps Manage Unruly Energy Bills

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps use a series of ductwork to transport heated and cooled air to every room of your home. In most homes, as much as 15 to 20 percent of this air is lost through leaks in the ductwork. You can prevent these leaks by having professional duct sealing completed.

Here’s a look at four benefits of duct sealing.

1. Lower energy bills:

When conditioned air escapes into the attic or garage through which your ductwork is traveling, your energy bills go up. Therefore, by sealing these gaps, you enjoy more of the air that you paid to heat or cool. You might even be able to downsize your heating and cooling equipment to a unit that is smaller and less expensive to operate, saving you even more on your energy bills.

2. Improved comfort:

Many homes have comfort issues that involve some rooms being too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. The problem is most likely that leaky ducts are wasting air on the way to these rooms. Sealing ductwork ensures that every room is kept at a more constant, comfortable temperature.

3. Better indoor air quality:

Air can certainly escape through gaps in ductwork, but air from unconditioned spaces can also be picked up. This brings dusty air, particles from insulation, fumes and odors into your home. Seal these leaks and prevent your air quality from deteriorating.

4. Environmental responsibility:

The production of electricity is a huge contributor to global warming. You can do your part by having duct sealing done and conserving energy as a result. This is certainly a step in the right direction.

For more information about duct sealing, please contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’re happy to answer your heating and cooling questions, and offer to our expert advice and services to Charlotte-area residents.

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

Neat and Tidy Ways to Keep Your Indoor Air Dust-Free

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

When you close up your home against seasonal cold or heat, you also reduce the amount of ventilation and fresh air getting to your living spaces. In this restricted environment, the amount of dust in your indoor air could increase. You could see more dust on your shelves and furniture, and may experience dust-related aggravation of allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Keeping your indoor air dust-free requires some extra attention and effort, but the results can be fresher air in your home and a more comfortable living area. Here are some tips for reducing the amount of dust inside your home.

  • Remove clutter – Shelves full of souvenirs, figurines, or other small items attract dust and make it difficult to clean them and the shelves they’re on. Pack some of these items away and keep shelves accessible for easy dusting. Display special items inside a closed glass case or shelf.
  • Clean electronics – Televisions, computers, DVD players, stereos and other home electronics readily attract dust, so clean them often, front and back.
  • Wipe down appliances – Refrigerators, clothes dryers and other appliances quickly accumulate dust behind and on top of them, and on their back panels. Wipe these areas clear of dust regularly. Keeping these items dust-free will increase their useful life.
  • Clean, dust and vacuum bedrooms – Dust is produced in part by our dead skin cells, and by tiny particles and fibers from our clothing, blankets and bed linens. Dust and vacuum your bedroom at least as often as you do your living room.
  • Clean soft furniture – Carpets, curtains and upholstered sofas and chairs accumulate a lot of dust. Clean and vacuum these items regularly.
  • Use a system – When cleaning and dusting, be methodical and use a system that covers every area in the room. For example, dust from one side of the room to the other, then vacuum in the same sequence.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been providing professional HVAC services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on reducing dust, increasing your home’s ventilation and improving indoor air quality.

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.

Ventilating Fans: You Need Them in Your Living Space, and Could Use One in Your Garage

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Proper ventilation in your home is critical for two reasons: It provides a way for fresh air to enter your home and a way for old, stale air to exit. Using ventilating fans is part of a good indoor air quality plan to ensure healthy air.

If your home is sealed and well insulated, you’re likely saving energy and money, but it’s also likely that the air in your home needs a way to cycle out, and ventilating fans can help to ensure that your home has a means to do that. Without ventilation fans, dust, dirt, and other pollutants remain locked in your home’s circulation pattern, continually moving around your home, day in and day out.

Ventilating fans, generally installed in bathrooms and kitchens, are basically exhaust fans and used as part of a ventilation strategy to remove factors that contribute to poor indoor air quality, such as moisture and pollutants. In order to be effective, the fans should:

  • Exhaust outside: If the fan exhausts into your attic, it can cause moisture issues and damage.
  • Emit low noise levels: If the fan is loud, you’ll be less likely to use it. Fan noise is rated by “sones,” and you should look for a fan with noise emissions below 1.5 sones.

It’s also helpful to install ventilating fans in your garage, as studies have shown that carbon monoxide released by your vehicle, and other chemical components or gas-powered equipment stored in your garage, will enter your living spaces. A ventilating fan will help to exhaust pollutants out of the garage space, before they have a chance to seep into your home.

Ventilating fans are an effective means to ensure fresh air in your home, and along with a whole-house ventilation system and natural ventilation, combine to produce a comprehensive, effective ventilation strategy for your home.

Ventilating fans can help to advance your home’s indoor air quality. To devise a ventilation strategy for your home, or to have ventilating fans installed, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today! We’ve been serving the Greater Charlotte Area as a local family-owned company since 1972.

Your Home’s Relative Humidity, Whatever the Temperature

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

The humidity levels in your home, in part, will determine comfort. Too much, and your home can feel like a hot, muggy summer day in North Carolina. Too little, and your health can become affected, not to mention impacting the health of wood products in your home. Therefore, it’s important to understand how relative humidity works, and know what you can do to keep your home’s humidity at healthy levels.

Relative humidity, in the simplest of terms, means the amount of moisture that the air can hold at a given time, compared to complete saturation. So, if the relative humidity is 50 percent, the air is capable of holding 50 percent moisture when compared to saturated air at 100 percent.

Being able to control humidity is particularly helpful during the winter season. When air becomes cooler, it also becomes drier, and cool air is less able to hold or retain moisture. That’s why hot summer temperatures generally mean more humid temperatures. So, as the air gets colder, most Charlotte homeowners are looking for a respite from dry air, and for good reason.

Dry air can irritate nasal passages and allergies, because our bodies need moisture for healthy functioning systems. Wood materials in your home also need moisture, but not too much. Again, a balance is ideal here, as dry air can warp and damage wood, while too much moisture can also damage wood, causing it to expand. Continually expanding and contracting over the seasons can wreak havoc on your wood products.

To ward off dry air and the problems it causes, implement the use of a whole-house humidification system. Working in tandem with your heating system as it produces conditioned air, the humidifier will emit moisture into that heated air, which is then distributed throughout your home. Plus, a whole-house humidifier can be programmed to maintain healthy levels of humidity between 35 and 55 percent.

The experts at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, serving the Greater Charlotte area since 1972, are happy to help you solve your home comfort problems. Just give us a call today!

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.

Furnace Replacement: Use This Guide to Find the Unit That’s Right for Your Home

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

There are a lot of variables to consider if you’re facing a furnace replacement. But if you’re motivated by the desire for increased efficiency, stable utility bills and improved comfort, replacing your heating system can get those results — if you keep in mind the following factors when selecting a system:

  • The efficiency of your system is the main factor that will determine your energy bills. Look for a system that’s rated higher than 90 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) for the maximum return on your investment, which will use 90 percent of the total fuel it consumes to generate conditioned air for your home.
  • Sizing your system is also critical. A system that’s too small won’t keep your home comfortable, where as a system that’s too large will turn on and off more often, leading to increased wear and tear and energy consumption.
  • You can select a furnace replacement system that uses gas, oil or electricity, but you should work with a reputable HVAC contractor to determine which fuel will get you optimal results, as some fuel prices will be too high to get efficient results. Selecting an oil system, for instance, will require that you have access to a supplier, and it often means that you’ll have to purchase all of the oil you’ll need over the winter at the beginning of the season.
  • The advanced features you select for your furnace system will also determine its energy-saving potential. For instance, systems with a variable-speed blower will use less electricity to move conditioned air into your home. Additionally, a system with a variable valve can deliver precise amounts of fuel on a minute-by-minute basis, avoiding wasted fuel consumption when the weather doesn’t call for high levels of heating.
  • Finally, the brand you choose will dictate quality. Choosing a system from a well-known and respected manufacturer, like Lennox, Carrier, or Trane, will ensure a quality system and generous warranty.

Select your furnace replacement system using this guide, and get the results you need and deserve. In the Greater Charlotte area, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical – a local family-owned company since 1972.

Common Ductwork Problems That Interfere With Airflow

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Since they are out of sight, your home’s vents and ductwork may also be out of mind — until, that is, something is amiss. Maybe one room in your home is always too cold or too hot, or another room seems more humid than the others.

If you’ve installed weatherstripping and caulk, the problems may very well be stemming from your ductwork, in which case it’s time to call a professional to pinpoint the problem, fix it and restore efficiency to your ductwork system.

Those, metal and flexible ducts that snake around your home may look fierce and indestructible, but actually they are rather easy to bend, kink, crack and break. In fact, if you’ve ever accidentally bumped up against one, you know that the “thundering” noise of impact is quickly followed by a ripple of damage. A splintered duct is just one problem that may interfere with airflow in your home. The others include:

  • Supply and return leaks
  • Furnace leaks
  • Disconnected or loose ducts
  • Insulation that has fallen out of place
  • Duct tape failure
  • Leaky duct connections

Before you call us, make sure that you are not unwittingly restricting the airflow in your home; check that furniture, book shelves, toy boxes and other objects are not obstructing registers and returns. In fact, it’s a good idea to identify the registers in your home, and if you can’t find any in one room, chances are good that they are being blocked.

It’s time for your fall/winter HVAC check, we will thoroughly inspect your heating system and ductwork to deliver on what we promise to you and all our customers: year-round comfort. Call Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical to schedule your appointment today.