July 12, 2020
Many pollutants such as pesticides and greenhouse gases lurk around outside, but did you know that a variety of common household products may be polluting your environment? Read on to learn about five household products that could be contributing to poor indoor air quality inside your home. 1. Cleaning Products You work hard on a regular basis to maintain a clean and tidy home, but many types of household cleaning products may be packed with harmful VOCs. When directly inhaled, products containing high amounts of VOCs can be harmful. Beyond their immediate effects, VOC-containing products can react with other chemicals in the air, making it difficult to breathe. They can also contribute to allergic reactions and headaches. You may enjoy the smell of certain cleaning products like furniture and floor polish, oven cleaners, dishwashing and detergent liquids and other cleaners. However, to prevent the release of harmful airborne particles, consider opting for natural cleaning products. Alternatively, you can make your own cleaning products using inexpensive ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water. 2. Air Fresheners and Scented Candles Many air fresheners and scented candles contain a cocktail of harmful chemicals that can cause allergic reactions, headaches and breathing issues. While…...
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June 13, 2020
Nobody likes sitting in a dry, hot home. It feels like you’re in a desert with no way out, and the air conditioner doesn’t solve the problem entirely. Fortunately, humidifiers are great solutions to this issue. They add moisture to the climate and make it much more bearable. However, there are questions about whether humidifiers are good for your health. Whenever an appliance is changing the environment around it, these sorts of questions are natural and sensible. Let’s take a look at whether humidifiers are good for your health. Alleviating Conditions Humidifiers are good for alleviating a number of conditions. Some of the more common ones include cracked lips, a dry cough, irritated vocal cords, a bloody nose, nose irritation, a dry throat, and sinus congestion. If you have any of these health conditions, consider installing a humidifier in your home. The device will introduce more moisture into the air, and water droplets are naturally a good remedy for your condition. A lack of water droplets aggravates your symptoms and leads to discomfort in your house. While none of the above conditions is life-threatening, there’s no good reason to live with them when such a simple solution is within reach.…...
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May 11, 2020
For those who live in the Monrovia, CA, area, the hot summer months make owning an air conditioner a necessity. If you do own an air conditioner, you will want to keep it running as well as possible. While an air conditioner can be a very durable appliance, there are eight common mistakes that people make that can make them less efficient and lead to more repairs. 1. Not Having an Annual Service When you have an air conditioner, the most important thing you need to do is to have it serviced on an annual basis. An annual service is important because it will allow a technician to inspect and clean the unit. If necessary, technicians can also recommend a variety of other repairs and improvements. Ultimately, this service will help to keep your unit running efficiently and can help you to avoid more serious repairs. 2. Delaying Filter Replacement While there are some repairs and services that should be handled by a professional, there are a variety of maintenance tasks that you can complete at home. One thing you should always try to do to keep your air conditioner running well is to replace the filter. The air conditioner…...
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April 15, 2020
When you need a new air conditioner, you may think a larger unit would be more effective for cooling your spaces. You may land on the false conclusion that an oversized air conditioner would be the best bet for the hot summer. However, an oversized air conditioner can do you more harm than good. Here are some of the problems caused by such an air conditioner. 1. Consumes Too Much Energy The heat of the summer may require you to keep your air conditioner running round the clock. An oversized unit has to work harder because of the load of its components. Turning those giant blades, and keeping them running, will draw more energy than necessary. This will lead to increased utility bills. Unfortunately, there would be nothing to show for the elevated energy bills in the summer. This is because your giant air conditioner will have problems cooling your spaces. It will be using more energy, but it won’t do a satisfactory job in lowering the temperature in your house. The bottom line: bigger may not necessarily be better. 2. Won’t Remove Humidity Truth be told, an oversized air conditioner won’t do you much good in as far as…...
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March 19, 2020
Split systems continue to gain attention as more households and businesses seek energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable options. Also known as mini-split systems or ductless systems, split systems consist of an outdoor unit with connecting indoor units dispersed throughout the different areas in the home that require heating and cooling. At [company name], our customers often ask our opinion on which HVAC setup can save them money on their heating and cooling bills. If you are considering upgrading your HVAC system or if you have a new renovation or construction project that requires a heating and cooling solution, a split system is well worth considering. Cooling Your Home With a Split System Instead of traditional HVAC ducts, split systems distribute heated and cooled air through pipes that connect the interior units to the central outdoor appliance. Refrigerant travels through the pipes to produce cooled air. Split air conditioning works well in older houses that do not have ductwork. They can also keep different temperature zones in your home cooler as different areas receive direct sunlight throughout the day. Ductless systems are completely customizable; therefore, you can control how much you would like to cool each area of your house hour by hour.…...
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February 20, 2020
Poor indoor air quality can either subtly or obviously impair our health. Types of health problems it can cause include respiratory illnesses, weakened immune system, allergies and cancer. Here are four causes behind poor indoor air quality and what you can do to protect your health: 1. Formaldehyde You’ve probably heard of this chemical being dangerous. It’s found in the adhesive of many consumer products, including carpeting, upholstery and plywood paneling. The EPA has classified formaldehyde as a potential carcinogen. Not much is yet known about the long-term effects of this chemical, but we do know the short-term effects can cause coughing, wheezing, skin irritation, watery eyes, nausea, and a burning sensation in the throat, nose, and eyes. 2. Cigarette Smoke Secondhand cigarette smoke in the air is just as dangerous than firsthand smoke, and it’s difficult to get out of a home. Cigarette smoke that gets into the ducts, walls, floors, furniture and basically every part of your home is called thirdhand smoke. It greatly reduces your indoor air quality. You shouldn’t allow smoking inside of the house for these reasons if you want to maintain healthy air. Also, make sure no one smokes near the condensing unit outside…...
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February 10, 2020
HVAC systems can stop working at inconvenient times. If your HVAC system is having problems, don’t panic. Here are five things to check when your HVAC system isn’t working properly. 1. Circuit Breakers Your home’s wiring may not be strong enough to handle all its electrical demands. An overloaded electrical system can trip the circuits. When your HVAC system isn’t working, inspect the circuit panel for tripped circuits. 2. Air Filters It isn’t unusual for people to forget to change the air filters in their HVAC systems. This is especially true if you have a busy schedule. Clean air filters boost your HVAC system’s efficiency. When filters are filled with airborne particles, your HVAC system will slow down. 3. Return and Supply Vents Keep furniture and other items at least two feet away from return and supply vents. Remove the vent covers to determine if there are blockages. Our technicians at in Monrovia can inspect your vents for obstructions during HVAC maintenance services. 4. Thermostat Digital thermostats are powered by batteries. Batteries can last up to three months. Put new batteries in your thermostat if it has stopped working. If you have an outdated thermostat, our technicians can replace it…...
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January 20, 2020
If you want clean air in your home, consider getting an air purifier. These units are especially important if you live in a city with a pollution problem or next to a busy street. Air purifiers can improve the overall air quality in your living space and rid the indoor atmosphere of particulates that could cause a variety of respiratory problems. Once you’ve arrived at this decision, you’ll want to place the equipment for maximum efficiency. Placement of Air Purifiers By carefully placing individual air purifiers, you can get maximum filtration throughout your home. For spaces without many walls, a single unit might be sufficient to clean the air. If you have a bigger home, multiple units would be needed to provide a high level of air purification. You’ll want to put individual air purifiers in rooms that see a lot of use. Since you sleep in your bedroom for many hours every day, having clean air in there is important. Spaces such as kitchens and living rooms can also benefit from an air purifier. You’ll want to place units where they can circulate large amounts of air in order to purify as much volume as possible. Whole-home Air Purifier…...
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January 11, 2020
Coming home to a cold house isn’t enjoyable. Waking up in the morning to discover burst pipes would be a nightmare. A properly running furnace can prevent these things and more. That’s why people run their furnace day and night during the winter season. Homeowners do, however, wonder if running a heating system 24/7 is a smart plan. Added Wear and Tear Running the furnace 24 hours a day for several weeks at a time can lead to wear and tear. Now, if the temperatures drop very low for weeks at a time, running the furnace at this pace may be unavoidable. Therefore, you have to be on top of routine maintenance and be mindful of any needed repairs. Furnaces in Monrovia homes that run a lot during the winter will need service at some point. employs technicians capable of performing repairs on request. Routine maintenance services allow for preventative inspections and tune-ups. Be Prepared to Pay Running the furnace 24/7 comes at a cost. All that gas used to light up the furnace drives up your monthly bill. If you want to run the furnace at high temperatures all the time, you must pay accordingly. Granted, you can’t live…...
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December 20, 2019
You expect the heating bill to go up during the colder months, but perhaps it has reached an abnormally high amount. There are several possible reasons for this. Poor Heating Performance Unusually high bills are often coupled with bad heating performance, and this, in turn, can be the result of some defect in the heater or the thermostat. You may have noticed that the heating is uneven between rooms and between floors. This may be due to a blockage in the air ducts, or the cause may be as simple as a piece of furniture blocking an air vent. Such obstacles force the system to work harder to blow out air, which can mean higher electricity bills. An Overused Heating System It could be that you’re using your heating system more than is necessary. Perhaps you’re letting it run all day, even while you’re sleeping or while you’re out of the house, in which case it would be wise to create a heating schedule. You can do this with a programmable thermostat. At , we offer Côr Wi-Fi thermostats in Monrovia, CA. A related issue involves the temperature. Some will set it extremely high, but to stay comfortable, one only…...
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