Valley Services Blog - The Heating Guys » Air Quality

Should you get your ducts cleaned?

Valley Services HVAC — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:34:36 +0000

Should you get your ducts cleaned?

Sometimes it is not an easy decision whether or not you should maintain or pay for services on household appliances and equipment. When times are tight it seems that people cut back on maintaining certain appliances to save some money. This can be a risky move considering that your furnace and air conditioner perform at their best and safest when cleaned regularly (annually). Scheduling furnace tune-ups and air conditioner tune-ups are the best way to prevent costly repairs in the middle of a cold winter or hot summer!

When we are at your home performing a tune-up, ask for our FREE RotoVision Ductwork Video Inspection. We can show you what the inside of you ducts look like and you can decide if you would like to schedule a RotoBrush Whole-House Duct Cleaning.

If you never have had your ducts cleaned before, chances are that there is dust and debris in your ductwork. It is also a good idea to have the ducts checked for mold and mildew growth which can cause sickness.

Possible Reason to have your Ducts cleaned:

1. Either you or someone in your family has symptoms of allergies or asthma.

2. Most household dust contains mites, mold, mildew, pollen, and animal dander and you don’t want to breathe that!

3. If you see dust on your registers and around your house in general.

We Proudly Serve these and locations and more:

In Wisconsin: Hudson, River Falls, Somerset, Baldwin, Roberts, Prescott, New Richmond, and Hammond.

In Minnesota: Lakeland, Stillwater, Afton, and Woodbury.

Call now to set up the FREE RotoVision Video Inspection!

Air therapy, Air in your home making you sick?

Valley Services HVAC — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:59:43 +0000

Your furnace, air conditioner, and duct system function as the respiratory system of your home. When it becomes contaminated and congested it should be cleaned so it can “breathe” normally and efficiently.

Take the survey below, don’t worry it is easy it only has YES or NO questions. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, it may be time to get your furnace or air conditioner clean and maintained (now ONLY $73 (reg. price $128)! Call Valley Services, Heating and Air Conditioning Specialists!

715-386-7131

Indoor Air Quality Survey

Does anyone in the house have any allergies, asthma, or other respiratory health problems?

Does anyone in your family suffer from headaches, nasal congestion, or other sinus problems at night or in the morning?

Is there a smoker in the house?

Do you have dogs, cats, or other pets?

Do you notice a musty or stale smell when the furnace or air conditioner runs?

Do you notice dust on your furniture shortly after cleaning?

Does it seem like there is not enough air flow coming from your vents?

Is your furnace equipped only with a standard “throw-away” fiber glass filter?

715-386-7131

Dust, dirt, pollen, animal dander, and other airborne contaminants are pulled into your duct system every time the furnace or air conditioner runs. These contaminants build up inside the ductwork over time and can help make your duct system an ideal breeding ground for mold spores, bacteria, fungus, mildew, and other microbes. The removal of contaminants (HEPA Filtration) from the entire HVAC system is recognized by industry experts as the most effective way to eliminate air duct pollutants.

During these Furnace Maintenances (aka Furnace Clean and Tune) we also check the heat exchangers for cracks which can leak Carbon Monoxide into your home and clean out the blower so it circulates cleaner air.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Dirty, Dusty Ductwork

Valley Services HVAC — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:25:17 +0000

Yuck! You could be breathing this!

You don’t want to breathe this! Change your Filters Regularly and get your furnace maintained and cleaned and duct work cleaned!

Dust and dirt can ruin blower motors and cost you money!

715-386-7131

Cold Areas in House? Need Variable Speed Blower!

Valley Services HVAC — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:37:12 +0000

If you are like me, you like to be comfortable year round. You paid a good chunk of money to put in that furnace and it has treated you pretty well over the years. Unfortunately, no matter how many annual tune-ups/maintenances you have done to lengthen the life and efficiency of your furnace, there is a time when it becomes necessary to start looking for a new, more efficient furnace.

If you are finding that there are areas in your home which are too hot or too cold, it could be because of a blower motor or air flow issue. Most older furnaces have a single speed blower motor, which translates to your furnace fan blows air only when the thermostat calls for heat or cool. When your home reaches the desired temperature, your furnace fan turns off and waits for it to need a temperature change again.

There are some high efficient and technically advanced furnaces out there now that are worth taking a look at. The Goodman 95% efficient furnaces include a Variable Speed Blower Motor (and a Two-Stage Gas Valve) which allows your furnace fan to run all the time at a low speed (1/10th of the electricity of regular blower fans). Having your fan run all the time improves your home comfort for multiple reasons. One of the reasons is it improves air quality because it constantly circulates air through your air filter then back through your home. Another reason is by constantly circulating air, areas that get cold or hot when furnace shuts off, will be the same temperature as the rest of your home.

Thanks for reading!

Bryan Corbett

Prevent Mold Growth in you home

Valley Services HVAC — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:00:56 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I like being healthy. I like it when my family is healthy. I want to create an environment which gives my family the best chance to stay healthy. Keeping your home humid in the winter is a great way to stay warm and save money, but in the summer you do not want to create an environment which can allow mold to grow.

If there is mold in your home, your family risks these possible symptoms:

Allergic reactions.
Flu-like symptoms.
Increased severity of asthma.

How do you minimize or prevent mold growth?

Consider installing a dehumidifier. They remove the moisture from your home which takes away the water component for mold growth.
Do not leave your Air Conditioner off for long periods of time. In humid climates moisture levels can become quite high in buildings.What else can you do for keeping away mold growth in your home?HVAC systems that are notwell maintained could allow mold to grow. Please do the following:
- Schedule your Preventative Furnace Maintenance in the fall and the Air Conditioner Maintenance in the spring.
- Change furnace filters regularly and humidifier pads yearly.
Hope this helps keep your family healthier and more comfortable in your home.

Bryan Corbett

How do you change a forced-air furnace filter?

Valley Services HVAC — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:10:23 +0000

As we have been discussing air quality and the importance of changing filters, it is necessary to explain exactly how to change a forced-air furnace filter. Knowing what is in the air should be enough to convince you to change yours regularly. The air in your home is filled with dead skin, dust mite feces, dust, mold spores, and more particles that can be filtered out as long you change the filter. It is fairly simple.

There are a variety of sizes, styles, and prices of furnace filters, but changing each of them is similar.

Before you start, turn off your furnace fan. Either switch off at your furnace, or on the thermostat, switch to off.
Locate your filter. It should be located near the bottom of your furnace where the ductwork meets with the furnace. This is where the air comes from your home, to be filtered and then sent back as warm or cold air through the top of your furnace.

It might be hidden behind a slot of sheet metal that can be moved. If you cannot find it, consult your furnace manual or call a service technician.

3. Grasp the edge of the filter and pull out of slot.

4. Take the new filter, look at which way the arrow points, have it pointing toward furnace, the direction of air flow. Putting in backwards decreases efficiency.

5. Close up slot, if needed. Change filter as recommended, for the 1 inch pleated filter, usually 2-3 months, depending on how much usage.

6. It only filters the air if your blower is running. If you have a variable speed blower, keep it running at a low speed all the time for the best air quality.

Other questions concerning your furnace? Click here.

Thanks again!

Bryan Corbett

Humidifier not working? Check Humidifier Pad

Valley Services HVAC — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:45:53 +0000

Well, here we are in the winter months and it is so dry in my home. I think I turned on my humidifier but nothing is happening. I had it installed a few years ago (4-5), so it should still be working. What is the problem?

I looked into it and found out that if I would have had my annual furnace maintenances, a qualified technician (Valley Services tech for Eastern MN and Western WI) would have checked my Humidifier Pad and suggested to change it. Humidifier Pads should be changed annually to keep your humidifier working efficiently. If your home is at the proper humidity level, you can keep your furnace running at a lower speed because the humidity keeps your body warmer.

Now, what is the purpose of the humidifier pad? The water passes through this pad and is then put into the air in the ductwork which travels throughout your home keeping you and your family warmer. Also, you will have less sore throats and dry skin. After a year or two, this pad becomes full of lime and calcium and can clog your water line which could leak all over your floors. After two plus years, we are talking about mold, colors we do not need to discuss. Now, you and I both paid good money to have a humidifier installed with the forced air system and it is worth the upkeep.

Now there are a few other possible issues that could be going on, but changing the humidifier pad is the most common.

Hope that helps!

Bryan Corbett

Air Quality, Clean your Air! HEPA Filtration

Valley Services HVAC — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:39:42 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I do not enjoy going to the doctor. I also do not like paying doctor bills. Do not get me wrong, if myself or anyone in my family is sick, we go to the doctor. With all the germs that kids are in contact with(adults as well), you have to look for ways to stay healthy. Washing your hands goes without saying. The air you breathe can play a big part in how healthy you stay throughout the year. An air to air exchanger (aka heat recovery ventilator) is a great way to bring fresh air into your home but it does not filter out all the allergens and dust and other microscopic particles that you are breathing everyday. Using a HEPA Filtration system can be a great addition to your HVAC arsenal and be the difference in keeping you and your family healthier and happier.

Air to Air Exchanger (basic diagram)

What is HEPA Filtration?

HEPA Filtration (or High Efficiency Particulate Air) removes 99.97% of airborne particles. Airborne particles larger than 10 microns get caught in your throat and nose and airborne particles smaller than 10 microns you breathe into your lungs. The Environmental Protection Agency has ranked indoor air pollution as a high priority health risk. Keeping your air clean will keep your family healthier and lead to a more comfortable and stress free environment.

How does HEPA Filtration work?

HEPA Filtration removes 99.97% of particles .3 microns and larger. The thickness of human hair is 100 microns.

Fantech HEPA Filter

HEPA Filtration uses a 3 step process to clean your air:

First, the Pre-filter captures the larger particles (such as dust, pollen, mold spores, smoke, dust mites, etc)

Second, the Carbon filter attracts and captures odors from cooking, tobacco smoke, and other gas particles.

Third, the HEPA filter captures the tiniest particles, germs, allergens, and bacteria that die in the filter because they cannot survive in an environment without humidity.

Lower your doctor bills and get on your way to a happier and healthier home with a HEPA filtration system. Valley Services happily installs Fantech HEPA Filters and Lifebreath HEPA filters. If you have more questions, check out Valley’s FAQ page.

Call Valley with questions 715-386-7131.

Bryan