Tag: indoor air quality

Your Airtight Home Needs a Ventilating System, and Here’s Why

Posted on by kerry

ventilating system, Long Island, New YorkHow Air Moves Through Your Home Helps Determine Comfort

Nowadays, efficient home are known to be airtight. Most all of the heating and cooling remains where it’s needed and intended, while saving hundreds of dollars on your electric bill throughout the year. However, if you’re lucky enough to have an airtight Long Island home, you may not realize you could benefit from a proper ventilating system to refresh the air you are breathing. Continue reading “Your Airtight Home Needs a Ventilating System, and Here’s Why” →

Air Cleaners to the Rescue When You’re Sickened by Your Home’s Air

Posted on by kerry

air cleaners, Long Island, New YorkChoose an Air Cleaner That Works for You and Your Family

Air cleaners come in many varieties. They’re especially useful for people with allergies, asthma, or other medical conditions. The market’s filled with different kinds of air filters and cleaners, making it difficult for the average homeowner to figure out what’s best for their home. Continue reading “Air Cleaners to the Rescue When You’re Sickened by Your Home’s Air” →

What Can Home Air Cleaners Do for Your Long Island Home?

Posted on by kerry

Home Air Cleaner Long IslandIndoor air pollution poses a serious health problem  when left unaddressed.  Health problems associated with indoor air pollution include irritation to eyes, nose and throat, as well as fatigue, dizziness and headaches. Incorporating air cleaners in your house can significantly reduce the chances of these problems.

The first thing to do to improve the  poor air quality in your home is to eliminate the source. Many types of indoor air pollutants exist that are easily removed with an air cleaner. Tobacco smoke, radon gas and various vapors from cooking, heating appliances and even building materials such as paint and varnish are just a few of the culprits. Once the source pollutant is removed, incorporating indoor air cleaners can remove the remaining particles from your home, which greatly increase the quality of your indoor air.

Many types of air cleaners exist,  but choosing one depends on your particular problem. It could be as simple and inexpensive as replacing your heating and cooling system’s air filter with a high-quality filter.

For superior indoor air quality, consider a stand-alone air filtration system, such as an ozone generator, electrostatic precipitator or ionizer. The method you choose to clean your indoor air will depend on the type of pollutant causing the problem. After you identify and remove the source, you can then choose the appropriate type of air cleaners needed to clean the air.

Hiring a professional is the most effective way to  eliminate your indoor air pollution problem. Because they’re highly trained and  possess the proper equipment and measuring devices, they can quickly track down and address indoor air pollution problems accordingly. Whether you do-it-yourself or hire a professional, reducing the pollution inside of your home will reduce the chance you suffer from the short and long-term illnesses associated with indoor air pollution.

For more expert advice about what air cleaners can do for your Long Island home, contact T. F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ve been serving the Long Island area since 1934.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics,  download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Image via  Shutterstock.com

Let a Whole-House Humidifier Put Viruses in Their Place

Posted on by kerry

Whole House Humidifier Long IslandKeep Your Home Humidified and Remove Virus Breeding Grounds

 

If you think you’re completely safe from diseases in your own home, you’ve got to do some serious rethinking. Viruses like the flu thrive in cold temperatures for a reason — because cold weather comes with lower humidity.

To prevent viruses from taking up residence in your home, consider a whole-house humidifier to curb sickness and improve comfort.

Viruses love the cold

Low humidity and cold temperatures leave your body with less moisture, as it evaporates into the air, leaving your skin, nose and throat dry. As a result, nasal passages also dry out and crack, leaving you more susceptible to the flu and other airborne viruses that would normally be trapped by mucus in your nose. Also, the flu virus thrives in the air longer in these dry, cold conditions, which explains why more people are affected by viruses like the flu in the winter months.

Why a whole-house humidifier works

Turning up the heater to the warmest temperature isn’t enough. A furnace makes the air less cold, but it can’t make the air less dry. What you also need to fully protect yourself from the flu is a humidifier. Humidifiers release moisture into the dry, warm air, which protects your skin, nose and throat while also improving the conditions so the flu virus won’t linger and is less likely to affect you. Together, a whole-house humidifier and a furnace can improve indoor air quality, making your home an unwelcome environment for the flu and other viruses.

A whole-house humidifier draws water from your home’s current plumbing system. Once installed, it requires very little maintenance aside from occasional preventive maintenance like other whole-house systems.

For more information about whole-house humidifiers and to determine if your home could benefit from increased humidification, contact the pros at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ve proudly served homeowners throughout Long Island since 1934.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics,  download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Image via  Shutterstock.com

A Home Duct System That’s Designed to Deliver

Posted on by kerry

home duct system design, Long Island, New YorkDelivering Air Evenly to the Whole House is Important

 

A well-designed home duct system is a fundamental component for maximizing your house’s overall energy efficiency. Continue reading “A Home Duct System That’s Designed to Deliver” →

Are You Letting The Contaminated Air From Your Garage Get Into Your Home?

Posted on by kerry

contaminated air from your garage, Long Island, New YorkKeep Dirty Air Out of Your Home or Purify It

 

If your home has an attached garage, contaminated air from your garage could be degrading the quality of your indoor air. Continue reading “Are You Letting The Contaminated Air From Your Garage Get Into Your Home?” →

A Guide To Using Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Posted on by kerry

using carbon monoxide detectors, Long Island, New YorkKeep Your Home Safe by Placing Detectors Strategically in Your Home

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, invisible gas that can be emitted from any number of systems that are powered by a combustible fuel, such as ovens, fireplaces, water heaters and furnaces. Using carbon monoxide detectors in the home is vital for ensuring protection against this deadly gas. Continue reading “A Guide To Using Carbon Monoxide Detectors” →

Have You Changed Your Furnace Filter Lately? You Should

Posted on by kerry

changing the furnace filter, Long Island, New YorkYour Furnace Needs Fresh Air and Changing Your Filter Does Just That

 

When the colder seasons get into full swing, it’s time to make sure your furnace is in proper working condition. Scheduling preventive maintenance for your furnace is important, but so is changing the furnace filter. Continue reading “Have You Changed Your Furnace Filter Lately? You Should” →

Mechanical Or Electronic Air Cleaner: How To Choose

Posted on by kerry

improve indoor air quality, Long Island, New YorkFind an Indoor Air Cleaner That Will Work for You

Experts estimate that many residential buildings have poor indoor air quality, resulting in unnecessary sickness, aggravated allergy symptoms and general discomfort. With an air cleaner on the scene, homeowners can greatly improve indoor air quality. Continue reading “Mechanical Or Electronic Air Cleaner: How To Choose” →