Home Is Where the Health Is - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Maintaining Good Air Quality During Winter

Now that the colder months have made their arrival, our homes are shut and sealed to keep the low temperatures outside. But it’s still important to get a breath of fresh air, even inside your home during the winter season. There are a few simple things you can do around your home to maintain good air quality this winter.

Start by changing the filters in your heating system. This should be done every three months, so change them if it has been awhile. Have your appliances, such as gas stoves, fireplaces, boilers and furnaces, inspected to make sure they are working properly and not leaking anything dangerous into the air.

Inform yourself on the sources of carbon monoxide and the signs of its presence in your home. If you don’t have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home, install them. If you already have them, make sure they are working. Also check your smoke detector and your fire extinguisher.

Once the winter appliances are inspected and good to go, check your plumbing. Fix any leaks and be sure to get rid of excess moisture in the bathroom, kitchen and basement of your home. Throw away any items that have been contaminated with mold or mildew. Thoroughly clean all surfaces that come in contact with mild or mildew, such as bathroom tiles. Make sure all of the exhaust fans in your home vent to the outdoors.

While cleaning seems to be a popular activity for spring, it’s a great idea in the winter, too. Clean, dust, and vacuum on a regular basis to reduce allergens in the home such as dust mites, pet hair and dander. You can also freshen and clean the air in your home with non-toxic products or an air purifier.

With these simple tips, you can maintain good air quality in your home all year long. 

 

{Photo by Howie Luvzus}

How Often Should You Change Your Furnace Filter?

Furnace filters help keep the air in our homes clean and our heating cooling systems running efficiently. That is why it's important to make sure your filters are clean and installed properly.

Most furnace filters need to be changed or at the very least checked once a month when in use. For those worried about forgetting to perform this monthly check-up, there are filters on the market that last up to 90 days. Having cats, dogs or a smoker in the home are factors likely to cause faster wear and tear to your filter. These elements will require more frequent filter replacements in order to keep the air clean in your home.

Here are some steps to follow when changing a filter. First, locate the filter. In an air system, it will be in the air return. In a gas or an electric furnace, it will be in the furnace unit.

Next, remove the filter and hold it up to a light. If you can see through it easily, it is clean enough to still use. Otherwise, the filter will need to be cleaned or replaced.

If you decide to go the cleaning route, you need to determine the material of the filter. If the filter is plastic or metal, clean it by following the manufacturer’s instructions, before putting it back in the unit. However, if you have a fiberglass filter, you will need to purchase a new one. Check the measurements of the filter in order to purchase the correct size.

Using the arrows printed on the new filter, slide it into the unit. Maintaining this habit will keep your air system running efficiently.

(Flickr photo by ambimb)

What Are Air Purifiers? Do They Really Work?

Air purifiers, or air cleaners, are devices that can remove particles in the air related to smoke, pet dander, or pollen. While air purifiers are said to help people with allergies, it’s difficult to state that as fact.

So, do they work and if so, how?

Air purifiers have many different cleaning technologies.

First, there’s HEPA, which is a form of disposable filter that is effective at removing smaller particles. Secondly, there’s Ozone, a gas that is deadly to humans in large doses, but in smaller portions kills off germs in air purifiers. There’s also Ionization, designed to get dust out of the air. And there’s Ultraviolet, which is included in many air purifiers as it is a way to kill germs.

Whether or not an air purifier will work for you depends on many factors.

Consider the money you are willing to spend—air purifiers that are less expensive are likely to do less work than one that costs more money. Also consider where you want to put your air purifier. Is it for a smaller room or the entire house? You want to purchase one that is in proportion to the area you are trying to clean.

Take a look at the air you’re looking to clean—do you think it’s highly polluted or average? The more polluted the air is, the longer it will take for you to notice a significant change in air quality. Compare models to see what is going to work for your needs.

(Photo Credit: twilsie @ Flickr.com)

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Using Bleach Safely In Your Home

Chances are you want your home to be as clean as possible, rid of germs and bacteria. Bleach is a great way to accomplish this, but it can be harmful to our selves, animals, and the environment. However, there are ways to include bleach in your cleaning routine in a safe and helpful way.

Bleach can come in many forms such as liquid, gel, or powder and is composed of sodium hypochlorite. The main problems with bleach occur because of the harsh fumes.

When cleaning with bleach, avoid using it in close quarters where the fumes can become concentrated intolerable, such as cabinets or storage areas. If areas such as these must be cleaned with bleach, use a face mask and dilute the bleach with water (usually, the bleach container will have proper measurements on its label). Use gloves and never let bleach touch your skin. Open windows and use fans to air out the rooms well. 

Also consider using products that aren’t quite as harsh as chlorine bleach, but nearly as effective. For example, oxygen bleach will remove stains, but it may take a longer soaking period. Diluted vinegar is also good for cleaning sinks and surfaces, as is borax and baking soda.

For laundering purposes, chlorine bleach can boost the power of your regular laundry detergent, but might shorten the overall life of the garment. Read the labels on the garment and the bleach container before beginning. Dilute the bleach before adding it to the washing machine and add laundry detergent to the machine first. Start the washing machine and add the bleach after the washer is full of soapy water.

Moisture in Your Windows: Could Your Home be Growing Mold?

Mold indoors is unwanted and unsafe! Of the many severe and sometimes deadly potential health effects and symptoms include allergic reactions, asthma and respiratory constriction. According to the EPA, indoor mold growth is often a result of excessive accumulation of moisture in not-so-obvious places, such as doors, windows and carpet. Mold can grow on just about anything that’s porous, including wood, paper, carpet and foods.

When mold reproduces, it multiplies into tiny spores which continually waft through the air (indoors or outdoors), and when they land on wet spots inside your home they grow by digesting the surface they are growing on. Unfortunately, it is not possible to eliminate all molds and mold spores indoors. The only way to control these micro-monsters is to address the moisture inside your home. 

Windows are one of the most common sources of unwanted moisture in the home. Window condensation is a result of temperature interaction (contact between hot and cold temperatures), lack of air movement and humidity.

Any one or combination of these could be the source of your moisture problem; therefore, you should consider each of these factors carefully to help you establish an eventual solution to rid the condensation in your windows.

Window tips:

• Keep a good amount of air circulation in your home:
• • Check to make sure all ventilation equipment is properly adjusted.
  • Vent clothing dryers and gas burners outside.
  • To reduce condensation in your kitchen, laundry room and bathroom, make use of exhaust fans.
• Try to control the humidity levels in your home (you can do this with a humidifier, dehumidifier or humidistat). Homes with humidity levels above 50% are more likely to have formation of window condensation (even if they are low-e and insulated).
• Inspect the ventilation in your attic and crawl spaces. If you are unsure if you have proper ventilation, contact your local heating and cooling contractor. Also inspect to see if your attic louvers remain open year round.
• In a worst-case scenario of replacing windows, low-emissivity, inert gas fill and Energy Star Qualified windows help to keep the surface temperatures of the glass higher, thus reducing condensation. For more information on low-e windows, consult the U.S. Department of Energy.

General household tips:

• Always dry water damaged areas within 24-48 hours.
• Fix leaky plumbing and other sources of water leaks in and outside the home.
• To wash mold off of hard surfaces, use detergent and water, and be sure to dry thoroughly.
• Do not try to wash mold out of porous, absorbent materials such as carpet and ceiling tiles—these should be replaced.

For more information on the formation and health consequences of indoor mold, refer to the EPA.

When to Clean Air Returns and Duct Work

Check out Tuesday’s blog post for more information on the importance of cleaning your air returns and ducts.

As always, you should consult a professional before attempting any cleaning or maintenance on your heating and cooling components. However, you should consider having your air ducts cleaned if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Visible mold growth inside the hard surfaces (sheet metal), ducts or on any other component of your heating and cooling system.

Please take into consideration that many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, therefore, it is extremely important to ask a HVAC Professional to inspect your system as to properly view these spaces.

Although a substance may look like mold, please be aware that positive determination can only be made by a laboratory analysis. You can send a sample of a questionable substance to a local microbiology lab to be tested.

This procedure typically runs $50. To do so, send a sample of the substance on a clear strip or household tape.

• Your air ducts are insulated and the insulation becomes wet or moldy, please remember that you cannot effectively clean it. All wet or moldy insulation should be replaced.

Always dig deeper than just replacing or cleaning the mold—find the root of the problem and solve it as well. If the conditions causing the mold growth are not corrected, growth will reoccur in the future.

• Your ducts are infested with vermin, insects or rodents.

• Your ducts are clogged with dust and debris or dust and debris particles are released into the home from your supply registers.

Image by frankenstoen

The Importance of Cleaning Air Returns and Duct Work

Earlier we explained how air ducts are cleaned, so now we want to go further in depth to explain why you should clean your air returns and duct work. We hope our explanation will also help you understand why they should be cleaned on a consistent basis.

Well-designed duct work plays a major role in assuring that your home has correct air circulation. Air return cleaning will not only improve the overall air quality but will also help the HVAC system to work more efficiently – and that means saving money and energy. Who wouldn’t want to use their air conditioner less in the summer and heater less in the cold winter?

What are air return vents?

Return vents are used in buildings and homes that use forced hot air as a means of heating the building. Air return vents, also referred to as registers and cold air return vents, work just their name implies: they return air through registers and duct work to the furnace. Return vents also act to provide proper air circulation throughout the structure. Return air vents are used in both heating and cooling systems; however their configuration is slightly different.

Why do we need them?

Air return vents help us prevent health problems by eliminating structure pressure buildup such as mold, mildew and deterioration as a result of moisture buildup. When warm air is forced into a room through your vents, it replaces the cold air already in the room.

If the air is not pushed out of the room it becomes uncomfortable and over-pressurized, so the cool air is forced into the return vent, back to the furnace to be reheated and returned into the cycle. The same process occurs when cooling the home, only opposite in manner. Overall, air returns prevent over-pressurization. 

When should you clean your air returns and ducts? Check back for Thursday's Post and we'll tell you!

Image by dulasfloyd

How did they do it? Air Duct Cleaning (Part II)

As we explained in yesterday's post, it is very important that the duct cleaning process is done correctly by a professional. We are explaining this process so you can understand what the professional is doing in your home. Please DO NOT take this on as a DIY project.

Duct cleaning services vary from provider to provider although industry associations have established some standards. In most cases, a service provider will:

• Dislodge dirt and debris in the ducts with specialized tools.
• Use a high powered vacuum to collect the loosened debris.

Some service providers may propose the use of chemical biocides and a “sealant” for preventative care. The chemical biocides are used to kill bacteria, fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. The "sealants" are used to prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. Please take the time to understand the pros and cons of each of these chemicals as neither have been fully tested and there has been no research to test the health consequences of exposure to them.

Note: Applying the above sealants is not the same as sealing air duct leaks. Sealing air duct leaks can help save energy on heating and cooling bills. To learn more about sealing air duct leaks, check out this week’s post on Temperature Talk.

Whether or not you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, the best way to minimize duct contamination is preventative maintenance. To prevent dirt from entering the system, follow these suggestions designed by the EPA:

• Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
• Change filters regularly.
• If your filters become clogged, change them more frequently.
• Be sure you do not have any missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.
• During construction or renovation work that produces dust in your home, seal off supply and return registers and do not operate the heating and cooling system until after cleaning up the dust.
• Remove dust and vacuum your home regularly. (Use a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take. Vacuuming can increase the amount of dust in the air during and after vacuuming as well as in your ducts).
• If your heating system includes in-duct humidification equipment, be sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Promptly and properly repair any leaks or water damage.
• Pay particular attention to cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air and can be a major source of moisture contamination of the system that can lead to mold growth. Make sure the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial standing water and/or debris indicates a problem requiring immediate attention. Check any insulation near cooling coils for wet spots.
• Make sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (e.g., attics and crawl spaces).
• If you are replacing your air conditioning system, make sure that the unit is the proper size for your needs and that all ducts are sealed at the joints.

Image by Frederick Md Publicity

How did they do it? Air Duct Cleaning (Part I)

Just like dust and allergens on the surface of you home can cause irritation and allergens – fungi and debris that build up in your air ducts have the same effect. However, the EPA recommends that air ducts should only be cleaned on an ‘as needed’ basis; instead of routinely.

If you currently use a fuel burning furnace, fireplace or stove, you should have your air ducts inspected to ensure proper functioning. To do this you should have the ducts serviced before each heating season. Taking such preventative measures will help protect your home from carbon monoxide as well.

If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, please DO NOT take this on as a DIY project. It is very important that this process is done correctly by a professional. To help you better understand the procedure, we decided to outline the process and share some preventative tips. This way you will know exactly what to expect.

How are they cleaned?

The air duct cleaning process typically entails inspecting and cleaning the following heating/cooling components: air ducts, cooling coils, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans, fan motors and fan housing, and the air handling unit.

The following image displays an EPA diagram of a typical home heating/cooling system. This should help you identify the parts of the unit being cleaned:

 

Tomorrow we will give you a little more insight on how air ducts are cleaned, outline standards behind duct cleaning, and tell you a few preventative measures to keep them clean longer. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Image from EPA

Air Cleaning Services in Your Home

When you think of ways to improve your family’s health and well-being, you probably don’t think of air cleaning as a viable option. It may not cross your mind that there are millions of particles floating around your home, but indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks. So the question is; what can you do about it?

The two major categories of indoor pollutants are particle matter and gaseous pollutants. The types of particle matter that you would find in your home include things such as pollen, mold and animal dander while gaseous pollutants could be vehicles whose exhaust infiltrates from attached garages, building materials or furnishings or even carbon monoxide.

The best way to address the risk of pollutants is to control or eliminate their sources and ventilate your home with clean outdoor air. The ventilation method, however, may be limited by weather conditions or undesirable levels of contaminants in outdoor air.

If these measures are insufficient, an air-cleaning device is your best bet. Air-cleaning devices may help control the levels of airborne particles including those associated with allergens and, in some cases, and gaseous pollutants in a home. Air cleaning also may decrease adverse health effects from indoor air pollutants on your family. 

Some air-cleaning devices are designed to be installed in the ductwork of the central heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HAVC) system in order to clean the air in the entire house. There are also portable air cleaners that can be used to purify the air in a single room, or in a small area; however, they are not intended for whole-house filtration. 

 

There are two types of air cleaning devices that can remove particles from the air: mechanical air filters and electronic air cleaners. The mechanical air filters remove particles by capturing them on filter materials, such as high efficiency particulate air filters.

Electronic air cleaners, such as electrostatic precipitators, use a process called electrostatic attraction to trap the charged particles. These cleaners pull air through an ionization section where the particles gain an electric charge. Then, the charged particles accumulate on a series of flat plates called a collector, which is oppositely charged.

There are also ion generators, sometimes called ionizers, which disperse charged ions into the air, similar to the electronic air cleaners, only without the collective flat plate. The ions attach to the airborne particles, giving them a charge so they attach to nearby surfaces, such as walls or furniture, or even to one another and they settle faster. Air filters address pollutant particles, but are limited in that larger particles escape the filter because most settle from the air quicker than they reach the filters.

Another type of air cleaning system is the gaseous pollutant removal. Gas phase air filters remove gases and odors by using a material called a sorbent, such as activated carbon, which absorbs the unwanted pollutants. Gas-phase filters are used much less frequently in homes than the particle air filters. Keep in mind their lifetime for removing pollutants may be short. These filters are typically intended to remove one or more gaseous pollutants from the airstream that passes through them and they will not reduce concentrations of pollutants for which they were not designed. However, none of these air-cleaners are expected to remove all of the gaseous pollutants present in the air of a typical residence.

It is important to think about your home and decide which of these air-cleaning systems will work best. An HVAC specialist will be able to help you weigh the good and bad factors of each system. Having an indoor air quality tests may also help you decide which system will be better in your residence.  

Image by Melvin Schlubman