Category: IAQ – Indoor Air Quality

Now That It’s Fall, Your Whole-House Humidifier Needs Attention

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

With the heating months approaching, inspect and clean your whole-house humidifier to get peak-performance from it this winter. It’s beneficial to your comfort, your health, and helps achieve full energy-efficiency in your home.

Scale and mineral deposits can quickly accumulate on the interior of the humidifier, which promotes the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. These deposits can lead to clogged water panels and valves, causing a reduction in efficiency which increases energy costs, reduces comfort, and exacerbates health issues like asthma, allergies, dry skin and nose, and itchy eyes.

With this in mind, it is important to replace water panels regularly in order to promote proper humidity control. Luckily, most systems provide easy access to this panel by way of a removable cover. Seasonal changes require little more than removing this cover, discarding the clogged, contaminated pad, and making the necessary replacement. To ensure you have positioned the pad correctly, look for a marking indicating the direction in which the pad should be inserted (most have a paint marking to differentiate the top from the bottom).

Of course, it’s a good idea to clean away existing moisture, lime and scale in the area before replacing the pad. You can also ensure that the drain pan and hose are free of obstructions and/or contaminants (bleach is a good option here). You’ll also want to inspect and clean the orifice to ensure that buildup is not impeding proper water flow.

Keep in mind that whole-house humidifiers differ slightly in layout from model to model. If you are unclear about any of these procedures or parts, please refer to the manufacturer’s guide of your system or seek the assistance of a trained professional. Also make a mental note to give your system another cleaning after the heating season is over. Cleaning your whole-house humidifier at least twice a year is good preventive maintenance.

Once you have performed this simple maintenance, your system should do well to provide you with humidified air. If you continue to experience issues, seek professional assistance.

For more energy-saving and cool-weather preparation tips, call the professionals at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.

Take These 10 Steps to Breathe Easier in Your Home

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Your indoor air quality has a big impact on the health and comfort of your family. If you follow these 10 steps now, you can make sure that your family breathes easy for months to come.

  1. Be sure that your heating equipment is properly vented so that combustion fumes, debris and toxins are vented outdoors, instead of leaking into your home.
  2. Vent any complementary heating sources you may be utilizing this winter, such as fireplaces or wood stoves.
  3. If you have fans in your kitchen or bathrooms that don’t directly vent outdoors, pollutants may be recirculated through your house rather than piped outdoors. Upgrade to fans that will remove these pollutants from your indoor air.
  4. Be sure to change your air filters monthly. As dust and pollen is captured by the filters they start restricting the airflow and make you fan motors use more electricity and not move enough air to maintain the correct temperature.
  5. Remove anything that creates unvented combustion indoors, such as candles or cigarettes. If you can’t completely eliminate these items, reduce their use as much as possible.
  6. If you are using volatile compounds indoors, such as paint, be sure to ventilate the area by opening windows.
  7. Store any volatile compounds like paint thinner or pesticides away from your home. That way, there is no risk that the harmful chemicals will be circulated indoors.
  8. If your air handler, furnace or ductwork are outside of your home envelope be sure there are no openings or air leaks that can introduce outside pollutants and unconditioned air into your home.
  9. Incorporate UV lights into your air system. They work alongside your air filters as a germicidal tool. They target dangerous microorganisms like viruses, bacteria and fungi that can have deleterious effects on your health.
  10. Vent your dryer and central vacuum system outside of your house.

If you have any questions or need help implementing these strategies for boosting indoor air quality, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.  We have proudly served the Charlotte Metro Area since 1972.

Winterize Your Home Before the Nip in the Air Takes a Bite Out of Your Heating Budget

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

With winter hitting the Charlotte area soon, you need to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible so that the cold air doesn’t overwhelm your heating budget. Use some of these tips to make sure that you and your family stay nice and toasty all winter long.

  • Upgrade your heating equipment. Old furnaces can have operating costs that double those of modern heating systems. Upgrade for better overall comfort and substantial energy savings.
  • Utilize government offers. Tax credits and rebates add to the energy savings that new, energy efficient equipment generate, all helping to eventually offset the cost of an upgrade.
  • Patch up your ducts. Use duct mastic to ensure that all of your warm air makes it to your living spaces, instead of being wasted in areas like your crawlspaces or attic. Duct mastic is a caulk-like material that can be spread over cracks and holes. It then hardens to prevent air from escaping.
  • Keep cold air out, warm air in. Weatherstripping can be used on the perimeter of your doors and windows to help control your indoor temperature. Plastic insulation and caulk can help seal up your windows as well.
  • Install storm doors and windows. These can boost your home’s efficiency by up to 45 percent.
  • Run ceiling fans in reverse. Setting them to rotate clockwise actually pushes warm air down and helps heat your living spaces.
  • Use alternate energy sources. Newer methods such as solar are increasingly popular because of their enhanced efficiency.
  • Get preventive maintenance. The most important thing you can do to prepare your home is to have an HVAC technician check out your heating equipment before the winter hits. They run through an intensive checklist to make sure everything is working efficiently, and to ensure that you will not face any sort of unexpected breakdown. Now is the ideal time to have preventive maintenance done.

For even more helpful tips on how to make sure you stay within your heating budget, contact Acosta Heating and Cooling today.  We have proudly served the Charlotte Metro Area since 1972.

Take Advantage of 2011 Federal Tax Credits for Maximum Savings On Your Home-Comfort Purchases

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

A lot of North Carolina residents are looking for ways to save money these days. At Acosta Heating and Cooling, we have some big savings available for you in the form of components eligible for 2011 federal tax credits, and the potential for lower home energy bills.

How much can you save? Well, that depends on which tax-eligible components you’re planning to install. If your central air conditioning didn’t provide the cooling performance you required this past summer, a qualifying upgrade could earn you $300 back; the same holds true for qualifying air-source heat pumps.

If you’re considering an upgrade to your furnace this season, you may be eligible for $150 back in tax credits, provided the systems qualify in terms of annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). Requirements vary based on the equipment and fuel source, but a good rule of thumb is to look for systems carrying a minimum 95 percent AFUE.

In addition, the main air circulating fan of your tax-eligible furnace may qualify for an additional $50 back. To qualify, this fan can consume no more than 2 percent of the total energy used by the furnace. Many fans qualify for tax credits even when the furnace does not, so be sure to ask your technician. In this instance,  you could still be eligible for a tax credit of 30 percent on the total cost of the fan.

Remember, these tax credits are good only through the end of 2011. However, the savings and comfort improvements from your home heating and cooling systems will continue for years and years to come. In fact, the long-term savings on your electricity and gas bills could easily exceed thousands in operating cost and you save now via the 2011 tax credits.

To find out exactly how much you can save, contact us at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’ll help you choose the right systems for your home, and ensure that they qualify you for the maximum savings possible. We’ve been serving the Charlotte Metro Area for nearly 40 years, and guarantee that we leave our customers satisfied. Call us today with any questions.

Your Autumn To-Do List: Check Ductwork and Vents for 7 Common Problems

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Your ductwork and your vents are just as important as the rest of your HVAC system, and they should be checked every year as part of your autumn to-do list. A number of common problems can make your heating and cooling equipment less efficient, and can cause extensive wear over time.

When putting together your autumn to-do list:

  1. Make sure all ductwork was sealed or vented properly when construction of the home took place.
  2. Ducts should be inspected for leaks that hamper air flow. Check for even the smallest cracks that aren’t immediately visible.
  3. Seal leaks with professional grade material. The number one mistake people make is sealing cracks with duct tape. It dries out very quickly and doesn’t close the leak off for very long.
  4. Clean your ducts every so often to remove particles that could overload the components inside your HVAC system. Indoor air quality is also important, as an excess of irritating particles can cause allergies, asthma and respiratory illness.
  5. Inspect for mold inside the ducts, vents and furnace. When moisture reaches a high point of 60 percent, mold spores can thrive, and over time this can cause your heating and cooling equipment to become less efficient.
  6. Do not block air intake registers from being able to have air flow through them easily.
  7. Do not allow delivery vents to be blocked off by cardboard or other materials.

Contact Acosta Heating and Cooling for more information on checking your ductwork and vents for common issues. We are happy to serve the North Carolina area, and to help you enjoy your home all year long without issues.

The AFUE Rating: What It Means and Why It Matters When You’re Replacing Your Furnace

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you’re in the market for a replacement furnace, then AFUE ratings are something you won’t want to take lightly. AFUE stands for “annual fuel utilization efficiency”, and it’s a measure of how well a furnace converts energy into heat. As an example, if a furnace has a rating of 85 percent, that means it’s able to convert 85 percent of the energy it uses into heat, while the remaining 15 percent essentially goes to waste. AFUE is currently the most reliable measure of fuel efficiency for heating systems, and it gives you an easy method of comparing different potential replacements.

Because furnaces with higher AFUE ratings are more fuel-efficient, they’re able to save you money.  To illustrate how much you’ll save, if you were to upgrade from a 70 percent AFUE furnace, to a 90 percent AFUE furnace with sealed combustion, you’d immediately begin saving that 20 percent difference on your heating bills.

Granted, brand new furnaces are expensive, but their fuel efficiency allows them to pay for themselves over time. These high-efficiency appliances can sport AFUE ratings up to 98 percent due to their sealed combustion method and the use of condensing flue gases. As recently as 10 years ago, you’d be hard pressed to find a furnace rated higher than 80 percent. So, even if you’re replacing a fairly new heating system, there’s a good chance you have the potential to make a big upgrade in energy-efficiency.

With this new knowledge of efficiency ratings in mind, you can make an environment-friendly choice, as well as save yourself money in the long run when upgrading your furnace. For your HVAC needs in the Charlotte area, consider the good people at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.

UV Lights: Hospital Technology That’s Now Available for Your Home

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

When putting together a clean-air strategy for your home, why use anything less than the absolute best in air purification? If you are serious about having the best indoor air quality for you and your family, you need to include ultraviolet (UV) lights in your plan.

UV lights are extremely effective germicidal tools that can be implemented in your air system to reduce the levels of harmful microorganisms. UV light emits a low level of radiation that kills things like fungi, viruses and bacteria. UV lamps are available in various strengths that will determine how effective they are at eliminating these contaminants.

UV light has even been shown by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to be effective at stopping the spread of infamously contagious diseases such as tuberculosis. They recommend that hospitals install UV lamps into their air systems to prevent staff and other patients from spreading germs. Fortunately, UV lamps are priced so that any homeowner can have them installed in their own air system.

It is important to note the true job of UV lights, so that you don’t expect unrealistic results. They only target living particles, not non-living things like dust or pollen. But when UV lamps are used together along with high-efficiency air filters, you will be sure that you are generating the highest indoor air quality possible.

For more information on UV lights and the benefits they deliver, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.  We have proudly served the Charlotte Metro area since 1972.

Elements of Expert Ductwork Design

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

It is important to not underestimate the importance of your ductwork design when installing a new HVAC system. It will have a huge impact on how comfortable you are in your home each day, as well how energy efficient your home is. Your HVAC system is only as strong as the weakest link and if you neglect the ductwork, you compromise your system’s performance and efficiency.

The first step in determining how your ducts should be laid out begins with figuring out what size air system is ideal for your home. A properly sized unit will provide optimal comfort while also keeping energy costs minimized. A professional HVAC technician can perform heating and cooling energy loads to determine how much energy is needed to provide adequate comfort to your home.

The actual ducts need to be sized as well. If they are too big, your HVAC system won’t efficiently circulate the air and your air will never be properly dehumidified, leaving a sticky, clammy feeling in the air.  If they are too small, not enough conditioned air will be distributed throughout your home, and it will put added stress on your HVAC system to try and move the air.

Once these steps are out of the way, your HVAC technician will begin to draft possible duct layout configurations. This also includes figuring out where the return and supply ducts will be placed throughout your home so that a natural airflow is established. Constructional features that may constrict where ducts can be placed also need to be taken into consideration.

The installation itself is, of course, the most important part. You should partner with a reliable HVAC technician to make sure they properly seal all of the ducts when installing them. This will ensure that they aren’t leaking valuable conditioned air into unnecessary spaces like the attic and crawlspace. Because most of the ducts get concealed in the walls or floors after installation, it is important that the job be done right the first time.

For more advice and help with designing the ideal ductwork design for your home, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.  We proudly serve the Charlotte area.

Fall Is Almost Here — Time to Schedule Your Service Check

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

With the chilly autumn weather rapidly approaching, it is time to schedule a service check to ensure that your furnace is up to the challenge of keeping your family cozy and warm. In fact, it can be downright risky to turn on the unit prior to having a check up.

Regular maintenance is essential not only for safety, but neglecting to have an annual service check on your heating device can decrease the longevity of the unit substantially. When a professional comes out to perform this service, they will take several steps to insure the unit is working in peak form, which will keep your home warm while keeping money in your pocket.

The most important step that a qualified HVAC technician will take is to inspect the furnace for any signs of leaks or cracks. If either of these is present in the flue or within the furnace at the heat exchanger, there is a high risk of carbon monoxide seeping into your home’s air supply, which is quite dangerous. These cracks and leaks must be taken care of immediately to protect you and your family.

The next step of the service check involves cleaning the combustion chamber thoroughly to remove any soot build up on the walls of the unit. This buildup can increase the likelihood of corrosion, so its removal is beneficial in extending the lifetime of the device. Some furnaces call for annual lubrication of the blower motor, and the technician will take care of this if necessary.

Make sure to do your part by checking your furnace’s air filters each month to help keep the indoor air quality cleaner and the system running more efficiently.

To schedule your service check, contact us at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today. We have been taking care of customers in the metropolitan Charlotte area since 1972.

Feeling Cooped Up? Here’s How to Upgrade Your Indoor Air Circulation

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

The quality of your indoor air circulation can greatly affect your health and how you feel. You can begin to feel cooped up or fatigued if your indoor air quality and circulation are poor. A few simple steps can help you upgrade the quality of your air.

Open your windows and doors each day, even if it’s for a short period of time. If you are sensitive to high pollen levels or high ozone levels, your best bet is to wait until late evening to open up. Even 30 minutes each day can help recycle the air in your home and replace the old, stale air with new, fresher air.

Utilizing an air purification unit in your home can remove dust, dander, pollen, mold and odors from your air. Surfaces in your home such as countertops, painted walls and carpet can all off-gas volatile organic compounds into the air you breathe. These can cause a host of health problems, including allergies and asthma. Purifying your indoor air this way can have a great effect on how you feel.

Change the filters in your HVAC system monthly to make sure irritating particles are not circulating in the air you breathe. A clogged filter will have a negative effect on your equipment and on your indoor air quality.

Have your HVAC system regularly serviced to make sure the heating and cooling components are clean and working efficiently. Acosta Heating and Cooling can help customers in the Charlotte, North Carolina area upgrade their indoor air circulation by performing routine maintenance and ductwork cleanings on an annual basis.