Category: Mold

Your A/C’s Air Filter: MERV By the Numbers

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Taking the mystery out of what MERV ratings are and how they affect the air quality of your home doesn’t have to be a chore. We’ll break it down for you in an easy and comprehensive way. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, by which your indoor air filter is measured according to the filter’s ability to arrest airborne particles. Filters are measured on a MERV scale from 1-16.

Choosing the right air filter can greatly improve the indoor air quality of your home and give your family relief from common irritants such as allergens, tobacco smoke, spores, dust mites and odors. Your air filter will vary in efficiency depending on its composition. Let’s break it all down by the numbers.

  • The most common air filter type found in most homes and apartments has a MERV rating of 1-4. These filters capture contaminants 10 microns and larger, such as carpet fibers, pollen, dust mites, sanding and spray paint dust. These types of air filters need to changed very often.
  • Filters with a MERV 5-8 are basic commercial filters and are highly recommended for home use due to their ability remove mold spores, fine cement dust and particles as large as 3 microns in size.
  • Commercial and industrial air filters that are rated between 9 and 12 have the ability to arrest particles that are 1-3 microns in size such as smoke, lead and insecticidal dusts.
  • Hospitals, sterile environments and clean rooms require extra protection and use filters rated MERV 13-16. These air filters will capture particles as small as 0.3 microns in size, such as viruses, bacteria and fumes from cooking. These Merv 16 filters are available for home use and are highly recommended for homes.

It’s also important to note that electrostatic filters are not listed and do not have MERV ratings due to the fact that they use a different method of capturing particles.If you’d like more information or a consultation, our friendly and knowledgeable experts at Acosta Heating and Cooling will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today!

Seven Moisture-Fighting Strategies That Will Keep Mold From Multiplying

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you’ve ever had a problem with mold in your home, you know just how problematic removing it can be. Mold can quickly multiply once it gets a stronghold in your home, but with moisture-fighting strategies, you can keep mold at bay in your Charlotte-area home.

Here are seven tips you can use immediately:

1. Don’t let plumbing leaks go unchecked

– Not only can these leaks lead to higher water bills, but they give mold a chance to grow. Quickly fix leaks yourself, if you have the skills, or a call in a plumber.

2. Keep your home dry

– Any time that an area in your home becomes wet, or even damp, you’re giving mold spores the opportunity to gather—and rest assured that they will reproduce quickly once they gain a foothold. When you shower, for example, use the exhaust fan to dry out the space, and wipe down shower and tub walls.

3. Watch indoor humidity levels

– You can purchase a hygrometer, which will allow you to monitor your home’s relative humidity. Ideally, humidity should remain below 60 percent, with 30-50 percent being an optimal range. If you find your home is overly humid, consider purchasing a whole-house dehumidifier.

4. Schedule regular maintenance

– Proper cleaning and inspections will help to keep your air conditioner working properly, and ensure that it can dehumidify the air.

5. Watch A/C drainage

– Because lots of moisture is produced during the cooling process, your A/C system must drain this moisture properly. Homeowners should keep an eye on the A/C’s drip pan and condensate drain, cleaning and unclogging as necessary.

6. Check equipment ventilation

– Equipment that emits moisture, like a clothes dryer, should be vented outside.

7. Keep the foundation dry

– This is one of the best moisture-fighting strategies. Be sure that the area around your home slopes away from your home, and keep drainage systems clear.

Don’t let mold get the upper hand in your home. Use moisture-fighting strategies to prevent it from ever getting a foot in the door. For expert advice contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, serving the Greater Charlotte area as a local, family-owned company 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.

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.

Worried About Summer Allergy Season? Here’s How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you’re worried about your allergies bothering you this allergy season, you can find respite in your home. With these tips, you can easily bolster your indoor air quality so that you can breathe easy in your house.

Upgrade Your Air Filters
The efficiency of air filters is designated by their MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value). This allows you to compare the benefits of different filters more easily. Higher quality filters, such as those rating a 16 MERV, are installed by an HVAC professional into your ductwork rather than placed at your return ducts. These capture a high percentage of particles of any size.

Install A UV Lamp
The light they produce has a low level of radiation that is harmless to people but will immediately alter the DNA of dangerous microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses, which prevents them from being able to reproduce. Though UV lamps can’t stop the circulation of things like pollen or dust, when they are used in conjunction with high-efficiency air filters they are able to deliver the highest quality air possible.

Allow For More Ventilation
Ventilation in areas like your attic can help you keep the humidity down by creating natural airflow. This is helpful because it eliminates your attic as a place likely to foster mold growth. Replace the soffit covers in your attic with ridged vents to create such an air flow while still keeping out the elements.

Prevent Mold Growth
Eliminate other areas or problems that would allow mold to grow. A leak in your roof can allow puddles to form and stagnate so any leaks should be repaired immediately. Leaky pipes can do the same and should be quickly addressed.

For more tips on how you can improve your indoor air quality and escape allergy problems, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today.  We have proudly served residents of the Charlotte Metro Area since 1972.