How Pets Impact Indoor Air Quality: Manage Dander and Smells for a Fresher Home

October 22, 2024

Pets are beloved members of the family for numerous households across the country. According to the National Pet Owners Survey from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), approximately 86.9 million U.S. families own at least one pet. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 97% of pet owners view their animal companions as vital members of the family, and many individuals can bond with their pets as much as they can bond with other humans. While pets enrich the lives of families, they can also bring unique challenges into homes. Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pets produce various biological pollutants, allergens, and odors that can affect indoor air quality (IAQ). Fortunately, there are steps homeowners can take to minimize the negative effects of sharing a space with furry or feathered friends. A look at the top strategies for managing pet pollutants can provide a blueprint for maintaining a clean and comfortable home. How Do Pets Impact Indoor Air Quality? Pets affect indoor air quality in several important ways. All mammals and birds shed flecks of dead skin cells. Scientists refer to these tiny, microscopic flakes as dander. In addition to the flakes that attach to skin, dander...

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Is a Backup Generator a Good Investment?

October 11, 2024

You likely feel inconvenienced when the power goes out in your Kirkland, WA, home. You won’t be able to cook on the stove or oven, watch TV, power your appliances, or take a hot shower. If you or someone in your home has a health condition that requires the use of medical equipment, it can be life-threatening. Backup generators are available as an option to ensure the power stays on. Let’s consider if this investment is worth your time and money. What Is a Backup Generator? Before we look at the benefits of a backup generator, let’s consider what this equipment does. There are two main types of generators. The first is a standby generator, a permanent installation outside your home. Portable generators are mobile, so you can store them when unused. The most practical use for powering your entire home during a power failure is a standby generator. Installed by a professional, a backup generator is wired into your house’s electrical panel. When the power goes out, the generator will automatically turn on. Depending on the setup you have, you may need to flip a switch to get your backup power going. There are also fuel-powered backup generators. Benefits...

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Why It’s Important to Schedule Visits from Heating Contractors

September 12, 2024

Although you and your family members likely rely on your home heating system several months out of the year, you might not think about your system very much. After all, it’s easy to ignore a heating system that seems to be working properly. However, it’s still important to schedule regular visits with a home heating contractor like in Seattle, WA. There are a few reasons why you should schedule regular appointments with an HVAC contractor in the future, even if you haven’t always done so in the past. Keep Your Heating System Working Effectively It’s easy to forget about your heating system when it isn’t cold outside or when your unit is doing a sufficient job of heating your home. When your unit suddenly stops working properly (or at all) on a cold day, however, you’ll probably wish you had paid more attention to it. Unfortunately, issues can pop up at any time, particularly if you don’t take good care of your heating system. Older systems can be even more prone to issues. Luckily, regular maintenance can help you prevent unexpected repair issues and can help you ensure your unit is operating as effectively as possible. By keeping your unit...

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Zoning Your HVAC: Personalized Comfort in Different Areas of Your Home

September 5, 2024

Improve your home comfort by upgrading your HVAC to a zoned system. With a zoned system, you can program each part of your house to whatever temperature you desire. You can eliminate hot and cold spots and ensure every part of your house is fully comfortable. How HVAC Zoning Works Most homes have a single-zone HVAC system, controlled by a centrally located thermostat. The thermostat signals the AC or heating to run as needed, and the HVAC system always supplies conditioned air to every room at the same time. A zoned HVAC system essentially splits the home up into smaller areas that are each controlled by their own thermostat. In more technical terms, a zoned system splits the home’s ductwork up into different zones. This is done by installing metal gates, known as dampers, at the point where the smaller branch ducts that supply different parts of the home connect to the main trunk duct. Each of the dampers is individually controlled by the thermostat in whichever zone the damper is for. Once any of the zones is warmer or cooler than it should be and the thermostat in that zone calls for heating or cooling, the HVAC system will...

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Why is My Ductless AC Not Keeping Up?

August 20, 2024

As with any HVAC system, a mini-split can develop various issues that affect how well it works and potentially lead to it using more energy than it should. In this article, we’ll look at the most common problems that can cause a mini-split system to struggle and what you can do to solve the issue. Coils Are Dirty Ductless mini-split systems are a type of heat pump that, like central air conditioners, rely on evaporator and condenser coils to facilitate the heat transfer process essential for cooling and heating. They can both heat and cool a space by reversing the flow of refrigerant. In cooling mode, the system absorbs heat from inside the home and releases it outside. In heating mode, it absorbs heat from the outside air and transfers it inside. However, when either the outside or inside coils become dirty and covered in dust, the system’s efficiency drops significantly. Dust acts as an insulator, reducing the coil’s ability to transfer heat effectively. When in cooling mode, a dirty evaporator coil cannot absorb enough heat, and a dirty condenser coil cannot release heat properly. As a result, the air blown out of the indoor air handler is not as...

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Ventilation Systems and Their Role in Improving Indoor Air Quality

August 7, 2024

High-quality indoor air is essential for sustaining a healthy and comfortable living environment. The air inside your home can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. This issue can quickly impact your respiratory health and general well-being. Dozens of credible studies have shown that poor air quality in homes is linked to multiple respiratory ailments such as asthma, allergies, and other long-term complications. The following sections will explore how your home’s ventilation system helps mitigate indoor air pollution to support a safe breathing environment. We’ll demonstrate how home venting solutions can substantially improve indoor air quality while enabling an optimally comfortable and healthy living space. What Are Ventilation Systems and How Do They Work? Home ventilation systems allow you to exchange stale indoor air with fresh air from outside. These systems are crucial for reducing air contaminants and balancing humidity. There are multiple different ventilation system types. Let’s examine a few of the most common solutions you’re likely to encounter below. Exhaust Ventilation Systems Home venting technologies that expel indoor air outside with fans are known as exhaust ventilation systems. This option can rely on single or multiple fans. They operate by creating negative pressure inside buildings....

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Choosing the Right AC Contractor for Your Home Comfort

July 20, 2024

Your AC contractor can make a big difference in home comfort. Selecting the right company can save you money and make your life more convenient. Choosing the wrong company can be a major headache and end up costing you more. Let’s explore some tips on how to find the perfect AC contractor. Consider Local and Established AC Contractors Prioritize companies that are local to the communities they serve. Proximity makes it easier if anything goes wrong. It also shows a vested interest in your community. If you have family and friends in the area, referrals are a great way to start a list of prospects. You may also want to ask neighbors and coworkers. When selecting companies from listings and marketing, gravitate toward ones with years of experience. Selecting a company that’s been in business and successful for decades gives you confidence and peace of mind. Explore an AC Company’s Full Range of Services Consider the installation, replacement and maintenance services offered by the company. Ensure that they offer a full range of AC repair services. Maintenance services are important too, and a maintenance plan can save you money while keeping your equipment on schedule. You may also want to...

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Air Purifiers for Allergies and Finding Relief from Seasonal Irritants

July 9, 2024

Allergies are often a year-round concern in the Pacific Northwest. Indoor allergens can cause flare-ups at any point. Pollen is present throughout spring, summer and fall. Winter is often the only time you get a reprieve, but then, you have to deal with the dry air. That’s why many allergists in this region recommend an air purifier for your home and a whole-home air purifier in particular. With enough air purification, you’ll avoid inflammation and triggers and reduce your symptoms when they do occur. Whole-House Air Purification If you want to reduce allergens in your home, experts recommend a whole-home air purification system. Portable units can be effective but only in the immediate space where you use them. Whole-house systems provide you with cleaner air in every room, all the time. Treatment Volume and Air Changes Per Hour Treatment volume, which some manufacturers call coverage, is an important concept when choosing an air purifier. If you have a 2,000-square-foot home, you want a whole-home system with a treatment volume of 2,000 square feet or more. Most air cleaners, including those that use ions or hydrogen peroxide, provide coverage between 3,000 and 6,000 square feet. When choosing a traditional air purification...

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How Do I Fix a Noisy Ceiling Fan?

June 20, 2024

Ceiling fans make an excellent addition to any Kirkland, WA home’s comfort arsenal. They can cut your summertime cooling costs by 12% if you use them in concert with your AC unit. They can even cut your winter heating costs by up to 15% if you run them in reverse to redistribute heat. However, you must coexist with your running ceiling fans, so it’s more than a small annoyance when they’re noisy. For that reason, you can’t afford to ignore a noisy ceiling fan. To help, here are all the major reasons why your ceiling fan may be too noisy and what to do about each. Reasons for Excessive Ceiling Fan Noise There are multiple reasons why a ceiling fan could begin making excessive noise while it runs. Some of them are easy to fix, while others are less so. Here’s what they are and how to fix them. Loose Screws One of the most common reasons for a ceiling fan to make too much noise is a loose screw. The good news is that fixing that kind of noise problem is simple. The bad news is that you need to figure out which screw is the problem first. To...

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Ensuring Proper AC Maintenance With Condensor Coil Cleaning

June 12, 2024

The best way to stay cool inside your Seattle home this summer is to schedule proper maintenance for your air conditioning system, including cleaning the condenser coils. Aside from changing your filters, you’ll need a professional HVAC technician to perform this routine service. Once the maintenance is complete, your air conditioner will provide efficient, comfortable, and reliable cold air throughout your house. What Are Condenser Coils? Your outside air conditioning unit has large metal shells with rows of tubes inside. These tubes may run vertically or horizontally, depending on your model. The refrigerant in your air conditioner absorbs heat from inside your home and releases it in the condenser coil. What Is the Importance of a Condenser Coil? As stated, the condenser coil is responsible for heat exchange. The coil releases heat outdoors to keep your home cool. The larger the coils, the more cooling they provide. Cleaning the Coils Keeping your condenser coils free of dust and debris is critical to the efficiency and reliability of your air conditioner. Your professional HVAC technician will wipe these coils clean during annual maintenance. The coils are an intricate and essential part of your air conditioner and should only be handled by...

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