Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Tag: IAQ

Wildfires

We’re taking a bit more of a serious approach to today’s topic of discussion. We always love sharing helpful tips and information with our readers, but the current situation with wildfires in our area has added some amount of urgency to this post. With the Pine Gulch fire having just surpassed Hayman fire as the largest in our history—burning over 139,006 acres—and the Lewstone Fire having just been contained, these issues are at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

We want to take this opportunity first and foremost to express our sympathies to those directly affected by these blazes, but we also want to address those homes being more indirectly affected by the flames and heat of the fire. Even for those homes relatively removed from the fires themselves, the issue of indoor air quality in Fort Collins, CO demands more attention than ever. We want to make sure that you’re aware of how you can protect your IAQ this season.

Air Purification Is the Answer

You’ve certainly seen us talk about what a good air purifier can do for your indoor air quality during regular seasons. To protect yourself from the odors and health issues related to smoke and its inhalation, though, you really want to be sure that you are using the right air purifier for your needs. Remember, not every air purifier is going to resolve every issue.

When it comes to smoke, you do want something that can remove particulates from the air. It’s not just an air freshener that you’re after. A good HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter will be able to remove particle concentrations in your home, up to 85% according to the environmental protection agency. Electronic air filters are a great option for removing smoke particles, and you don’t have to replace them the way that you do something like a carbon filter. You do need to scrub them on a regular schedule to keep them clean, though.

Click here to see how you can get a Free Indoor Air Cleaner

You Want a Whole-House Solution

The unfortunate truth is that this is not the first time we’ve dealt with wildfires and the resulting smoke in our area. It certainly won’t bet the last, either. If you are serious about avoiding the odors, the burning, watery eyes, and the respiratory issues related to smoke and its inhalation in your home, you want a whole-house air purifier. They’re more effective than room units, they’re much more convenient, and they’re going to save you money over time.

However, they must also be professionally installed. When you’re talking about air quality, you’re really talking about your health. Our HVAC professionals can help you to protect your own health and that of your family. We may not be able to do much about the situations leading to these devastating wildfires, but we can and will do everything possible to help protect the comfort and the health of our valued customers. Reach out to discuss your air purifier options.

Schedule IAQ services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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Wave to Better Health

We’ve always been proud to offer quality iWave products for installation in our clients’ homes. Why? because we’ve always known that iWave air purifiers are some of the best in industry. And, with the current pandemic putting homeowners on high alert, we’re excited to share that iWave has proven this fact yet again.

Through testing, the iWave-C proved a formidable foe to SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 disease. Using the iWave-C, and based on viral titrations, it was determined that 84.2% of the virus was inactivated at the 10 minute mark. This number jumped to 92.6% at 15 minutes, and all the way to 99.4% inactivation at 30 minutes!

If you’re interested in protecting your health and your family’s health with a tried and proven system, contact a member of our team today. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big Enough to Serve, Small Enough to Care.

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Indoor Air Quality

Homeowners tend to put a lot of emphasis on the temperatures in their homes. When you live in a place like Colorado, you need to make sure that your home is kept cool and comfortable in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter. It’s totally understandable that, given our spectrum of temperature extremes, you’d put a lot of focus on your HVAC systems. However, as a trusted HVAC company in Loveland, we have to remind you to look beyond temperature.

Why? Because temperature is really only a part of the comfort equation. Is it an important part? Yes, of course it is. But so too is your indoor air quality, and that is a component that is too often ignored or simply overlooked by homeowners. That’s a shame, because poor indoor air quality can really lead to problems not just with comfort, but with overall health, as well. Our team can help you improve your indoor air quality.

 

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality

Now that is a loaded question. There are a ton of different causes of poor indoor air quality, and some of them are actually beneficial in other ways. Take your home’s air seal, for instance. Yes, a very tightly sealed and well-insulated home is great for energy efficiency purposes. However, it also really limits the natural ventilation that older, less efficient homes would have. That means that air can get really stale, really quickly, if you’re not addressing that concern. Other potential issues include:

  • Humidity levels in the house
  • General cleanliness
  • Proximity to major roadways, construction sites, or wooded areas
  • Pets in the house

Now, you obviously cannot be expected to just up and move because the dust and fumes from a nearby freeway are becoming an issue for you. And we certainly wouldn’t suggest giving up a beloved furry friend to combat air quality issues! So what’s the solution?

The Solution Is—Finding the Right Solution!

Much as we would love to tell you otherwise, there is no single solution that is going to fix every indoor air quality problem in every home. Different homes have unique needs, and different homeowners have different concerns and sensitivities. The good news is that there is a solution to your problems out there. You just need to work with professional IAQ technicians like ours to be sure that you’re approaching the issue in the right manner. We install and service:

  • Air filters and air cleaners, to deal with airborne pollutants
  • UV germicidal lights, to deal with biological pollutants
  • Humidifiers and dehumidifiers, to balance humidity levels

We also offer great duct services to ensure that your air ducts are properly sealed and clean within. The last thing that you want is for something as important as your ductwork to be actively contributing to your indoor air quality problems! Whatever your IAQ needs may be, we’re here to make sure they’re met.

Schedule your IAQ services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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 Protecting Indoor Air Quality

Very few homeowners are going to ignore the need for keeping temperatures in their homes at comfortable levels. You aren’t going to overlook the need for an effective heater when it is freezing cold outside, right? Of course not. That need is obvious. Not all needs are quite as obvious, though, even if they are equally important. Take, for instance, the need for great indoor air quality in one’s home. Make IAQ services part of your ongoing HVAC services in Loveland.

The problem with indoor air quality is that there are just so many different ways in which it may suffer. Fortunately for you, the IAQ professionals on our team are here to ensure that, no matter what is wrong with your indoor air quality, you’ll have the right solutions in place. Reach out to us today with any concerns that you have surrounding the quality of the air that you breathe in your home. We’ll outfit your home with the systems and services that it needs.

Humidity Issues

Humidity is a tough nut to crack. Too little humidity in your home is certainly not desirable and can have a number of unpleasant consequences. These can include dry, itchy skin, nosebleeds, increased instances of illness, and more. However, too much humidity is not great, either. If the air in your home is too humid, then you may run into musty odors, issues with warping wooden floorboards, wood rot, and even the promotion of mold growth.

Now, we’re sure that some of you have some amount of experience with portable humidifier and dehumidifier units. However, if you are serious about optimizing humidity in your home, these are not what you should choose! You want whole-house solutions to your humidity problems, and that means that you want a whole-house humidifier and/or dehumidifier installed in your residence. And that means hiring a professional like ours to do the job right.

Airborne Pollutants

Perhaps the most common issue that homeowners encounter with their indoor air quality is that of airborne pollutants. Think about dust, dirt, pet dander, pollen, and other debris that can get into the air in your home. Now, think about breathing all of those pollutants into your lungs! But hey, what can you do about it, right? It’s not like you’re going to ditch Fido just because he sheds.

Well, no, we’re certainly not advocating for that—no more than we’d suggest that there’s any way in which to completely eliminate the risk of airborne pollutants making their way into your home. However, you can remove those pollutants from the air that you breathe quite effectively with the right equipment in place. Whole-house air filtration systems, for example, or more advanced air cleaning systems, may be used to clean the air that fills your home.

Biological Pollutants

We know this one sounds scary. And we are not alarmists. However, it has to be said. Biological pollutants in your home pose a health threat. And we can help.

With UV germicidal lights, you can destroy biological pollutants like viruses, mold spores, and bacteria that are putting your health at risk. Call today to learn more.

Schedule your IAQ services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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air quality

When you think about air quality in Colorado, you’re probably thinking about smoke from wildfires and exhaust from cars lowering the quality of our outdoor air. Environmental pollutants are a big issue in our world, but it’s important to pay attention to the air quality inside your home too.

You might think of your home as a safe haven away from this pollution. But your indoor air quality is often worse than the air quality outdoors. Air quality inside homes is so low because homes modern home across the country are tightly sealed and impeccably energy efficient. This is great for your energy bills but bad for your lungs. If you’re wondering what factors cause low indoor air quality, keep reading below, if you’d like Loveland HVAC services you can contact our team.

Factors That Lower Your IAQ

You might be surprised to learn how many things can bring down the quality of your IAQ here in Loveland. When people think of Colorado, they often think of fresh air and mountain ranges. You’re a resident here, however, so you know that our reality isn’t always this idyllic. Additionally, indoor air quality plays by different rules. Indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality because of the following factors:

  • Dirty Ductwork: When was the last time you had your ductwork cleaned? If you’re completely drawing a blank or if you’re realizing that it’s been years then it’s time to pick up the phone. Your ductwork is responsible for circulating all the conditioned air in your home in summer and winter. Your ductwork naturally accumulates dirt, dust, grime, and other debris over time. You need a professional team to deep clean your ductwork. Just dusting at the air registers in your room isn’t enough.
  • Humidity: Excess humidity or a lack of humidity is a real problem in your home. There’s a “sweet spot” of the humidity in your home. It should always hover around 30% to 50%. If it dips below 30% then it’s likely that you’ll feel dried out and cold in winter with a heightened chance of sickness. If it swells above 50% then it’s likely that you’ll feel hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable in summer. Balancing your home’s humidity can help you feel comfortable for a lower cost. If you’d like to get more from your HVAC system, then you can contact our professionals about our humidifier and dehumidifier services.
  • Bacteria, Viruses, and Volatile Organic Compounds, Oh My!: Airborne contaminants in your home can have a wide-ranging effect on your indoor comfort and personal health. If you’re coughing, wheezing, sneezing, or dealing with constant headaches, the real culprit behind your discomfort could be contaminants in your indoor air. We have a wide variety of IAQ systems including air purifiers, air filters, and UV germicidal lights that we can install in your home to alleviate these issues. You can contact our team to learn more. We’ll help you breathe easier.

Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment for our IAQ services. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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Take Advantage

If you have visited this blog before, then chances are you’ve seen us talk about the importance of indoor air quality in relation to comfort and overall health. Heating and cooling your home successfully is essential, but doing so should not overshadow the need for maintaining high indoor air quality in your home. One product that can help you to do so is the TrueEASE™ Evaporative Humidifier from Honeywell.

Why Choose the TrueEASE™ Evaporative Humidifier?

Honeywell needs no introduction to homeowners interested in the best products on the market. Their great — and well-earned — reputation aside, there are a lot of reasons to choose the TrueEASE™ Evaporative Humidifier for humidifying your home.

  • Automatic monitoring of home dryness ensures that the system runs only when needed, saving water and preventing oversaturation.
  • Sufficient humidification means lower heating bills.
  • Versatile design makes the TrueEASE™ Evaporative Humidifier appropriate for installation in any home.
  • Enjoy a five-year warranty and professional installation.
  • Easy access to pads allows for simple maintenance on your part.

Schedule your IAQ services in Fort Collins, CO with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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Picture this–and it shouldn’t be too hard this Woman-Blowing-Nose-300x224time of the year: The temperature outside is soaring, and you have to run your air conditioner pretty much around the clock to stay comfortable. Okay, that’s fine. Your system is tuned up and ready to go. Of course, you also want to ensure that you are using your system efficiently while you live comfortably, so you double check to make sure that all of your windows are closed. This is the problem.

When you seal up your home in order to keep conditioned air inside, you are cutting off your supply of fresh air. Air conditioners dehumidify the air as they run, so sealing up your home to keep your AC bills down can really have a negative affect on your indoor air quality. Using an energy recovery ventilator in Timnath, CO can help you to avoid this issue.

How It Works

An energy recovery ventilator is as ingenious as it is simple in theory. Basically, the device is just a ventilator that also acts as a heat exchanger. It is integrated into your HVAC system, and allows you to use the air exiting your home to pre-condition the fresh air coming in. It also helps to balance humidity between the airstreams.

When you are using your air conditioner to cool the air in your home, it gets stale and dry. When venting this air out of the house, the ERV allows it to absorb heat from the fresh air coming in. This takes some strain off of your air conditioning system.

During the winter, the air outside is obviously very cold. When the ERV allows it into your home, the outgoing warm air preheats it. That means that you are recovering much of the energy that you paid for to heat that outgoing air, while also enjoying improved indoor air quality.

Schedule your IAQ services with Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning. Big enough to serve, small enough to care.

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