You are here: / Clean Air

Tips on How to Keep Your House Cool During the Summer

/in ,

Tips on How to Keep Your House Cool During the Summer

As summer approaches, keeping our homes cool becomes a top priority. In addition to air conditioning, there are several effective ways to beat the heat and maintain a comfortable indoor environment. This blog post explores practical strategies for a refreshing and cool home.

Optimize Your Windows

Close curtains, blinds, or shades during the hottest part of the day to block out the sun’s intense rays. Use reflective window films or solar screens to reduce solar heat gain. Consider planting shade-providing trees or installing awnings outside your windows.

Enhance Ventilation

Open windows strategically during cooler times of the day to let in fresh air. Utilize ceiling fans or portable fans to circulate air throughout your home. Install attic vents and use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to expel hot air and reduce humidity.

Keep Your House Cool During the Summer

Control Indoor Heat Sources:

Switch to energy-efficient LED bulbs. Opt for stovetop cooking or outdoor grilling instead of using the oven. Turn off electronic devices and appliances when not in use, as they generate heat even in standby mode.

Implement these tips to create a cool and comfortable home environment during summer. By reducing reliance on air conditioning, you can save energy and minimize utility bills. Embrace these practices for a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. Stay cool!

Are you looking to improve the well-being of both yourself and your family?
Call your friends at BNG Heating & Cooling to schedule an inspection or maintenance checkup. We’ll be able to spot any signs of trouble before they become expensive mistakes

 

 

Indoor Air Quality During Ozone Alerts

/in ,

Indoor air quality during ozone alerts.

Indoor air quality is essential for our health and comfort, and our HVAC systems play a crucial role in maintaining it. However, during ozone alerts, when outdoor ozone levels reach unhealthy levels, protecting indoor air quality becomes even more critical. In this post, we’ll explore how your HVAC system impacts indoor air quality during ozone alerts and offer tips for protecting your health.

Ozone Alerts and Indoor Air Quality

Alerts are issued when outdoor ozone levels reach unhealthy levels. Ozone is a gas that can cause respiratory problems, particularly for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. During an ozone alert, it’s crucial to protect your health and your home’s indoor air quality. Here are some tips for reducing exposure to outdoor air pollutants and maintaining indoor air quality:

  1. Keep windows and doors closed: During an ozone alert, keep your windows and doors closed to reduce exposure to outdoor air pollutants.
  2. Use air conditioning: Use air conditioning instead of opening windows for ventilation during an ozone alert.
  3. Maintain your HVAC system: Regular maintenance of your HVAC system, including changing filters, can help improve indoor air quality.
  4. Use air purifiers: Air purifiers can help remove pollutants from the air and improve indoor air quality.

ozone layer view from outer space

Understanding Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is affected by pollutants, temperature, humidity, and ventilation. Poor indoor air quality can cause respiratory issues, allergies, headaches, and fatigue. To maintain good indoor air quality, it’s essential to keep your HVAC system well-maintained and make upgrades as necessary.

The Role of HVAC Systems in Indoor Air Quality

Your HVAC system helps regulate temperature, humidity, and ventilation to ensure that your home’s air is clean and comfortable. However, HVAC-related issues, such as dirty air filters, improper ventilation, and mold growth, can contribute to poor indoor air quality. To maintain and improve indoor air quality, it’s crucial to keep your HVAC system well-maintained and make upgrades as necessary.

Indoor air quality is a crucial aspect of our health and comfort, and during ozone alerts, protecting indoor air quality becomes even more important. By maintaining and upgrading your HVAC system and following these tips, you can help protect your health and your home’s indoor air quality during high pollution days. Don’t hesitate to consult with one of our professional HVAC technicians to ensure that your system is functioning properly and efficiently.

Contact BNG
Do I need a dehumidifier? Black mold on wall closeup

Do I need a Dehumidifier?

/in , , ,

Humid summers are typical in the midwest. “It’s not the heat but the humidity!” is something you’ll hear often enough. When humidity levels reach 90% or even 100%, it can turn a pleasant picnic into a sweaty mess. We know what high humidity can do outdoors, but how does high humidity affect your home on the inside? Do I need a dehumidifier?

 

Meet Our Team of Trained Professionals

 

Mold and Mildew

High humidity makes for an ideal atmosphere for mold and mildew formation. Mold can not only cause mild to serious health issues like asthma and allergic reactions but left unchecked, mold can cause structural weakening of walls and ceilings. 

Paint and Wallpaper

 If you see peeling wallpaper and chipping paint, humidity may be the culprit. Exterior walls are especially susceptible to changing humidity levels. 

Furniture and Floors

 Wood floors and furniture can be affected by changing humidity levels. Stained furniture and buckled flooring can point to prolonged high moisture content. Expensive damage to tight-fitting wood frames around windows and doors can also occur in humid conditions. 

Walls & Brickwork

 Humidity can wreak havoc anywhere in your home that contains a moisture or vapor barrier. Drastic changes in moisture levels can cause cracking along drywall and brickwork inside the home, sometimes causing costly repairs. 

What Can I Do?

Preventing high humidity levels inside your home can be as simple as utilizing fans in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and the kitchen. Maintaining a relatively consistent air temperature inside your home can also contribute to lower humidity levels. Also checking your crawl space and/or attic for any moisture buildup or leaks is important for humidity control.

Lastly, tools like in-home air quality monitors and smart thermostats are great ways to understand the indoor humidity levels in your home throughout the year. The Mayo Clinic recommends humidity levels between 30% and 50%. Whole-home dehumidifiers and humidifiers can keep your home at optimum humidity levels all year long.

Contact BNG and ask how a dehumidifier could improve your air quality today.

 

Contact Us

Self-Cleaning Air Purifier for Home Use

/in ,

The average home has 6 different types of filters to clean or replace regularly. No need to add another to the list. You may be interested to know there is a self-cleaning air purifier available for residential use.

Many home owners have long enjoyed the benefits of having an air purifier because they can reduce allergens, smoke, static electricity, and pet odors. They can even kill mold, bacteria, and viruses. But in order to remain effective, some air purifiers need to be cleaned every 2-4 weeks. With more and more smart home products on the market, the automated dream home of the future is becoming a reality. But what’s the fun in having a self-cleaning home if you have to clean an array of devices? Well, at least we can check one off your list!

The Word’s First Self-Cleaning, No Maintenance Air Purifier

iWave-R is the world’s first self-cleaning, no maintenance air purifier of its kind. It fits virtually any residential duct A/C system. It has no need for maintenance, no replacement parts, and it cleans itself on a programmable cycle every 1, 3, 5, or 10 days. On average the product lasts the life of a new system, or 10-15 years.

If you’d like a more technical, in-depth analysis, please visit iWave online.

self-cleaning air purifier for home use

We offer professional installation for the line of iWave air purifiers including a three-year warranty. These purifiers are proven to combat mold and viruses, like coronavirus. Start breathing cleaner air today. Give us a call at (812) 858-4000 or contact us to learn more.

 

Disclaimer

The use of this technology is not intended to take the place of reasonable precautions to prevent the transmission of pathogens. It is important to comply with all applicable public health laws and guidelines issued by federal, state, and local governments and health authorities as well as official guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including but not limited to social distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and the use of face masks.

 

Improve Indoor Air Quality to Keep Your HVAC System Clean

/in ,

Improve Indoor Air Quality to Keep Your HVAC System Clean

Many homeowners aren’t aware of how indoor air quality affects an HVAC system, but there’s a direct relationship between the cleanliness of indoor air to how long and efficiently a cooling and heating system will run. Dust and biological contaminants pose the highest risks for your HVAC system and your family’s health.

Airborne Particulates

All forced-air HVAC systems require air filters that keep the components inside the air handler clean. As with all electronic and mechanical devices, efficiency can be affected by dust accumulation, which can even shorten life spans. Dust covering any component in the air handler has a negative impact.

When dust covers the heat exchange components of an HVAC system, including the air conditioner’s evaporator coil and the furnace’s heat exchanger, efficiency is lost, setting the stage for premature part failure. Repairs caused by too much dust can be expensive.

Bioaerosols

These are among the smallest particles that have an impact on how indoor air quality affects the HVAC system. They include bacteria, viruses and mold spores that can cover the evaporator coil, reducing efficiency in the same way dust does.

Mold is especially troublesome inside an HVAC system, since the spores can blow throughout your entire home, finding a place to grow wherever sufficient moisture and organic materials are present. Mold causes eventual deterioration of the materials on which it grows.

Solutions

  • High quality air filter – Selecting a higher efficiency air filter and changing ti when dirty will reduce the amount of dust entering the HVAC system’s air handler and ductwork.
  • UV lights – When mounted in the air handler and ductwork, these lights lower the population of bioaersols by preventing their reproduction, keeping the HVAC components and your home’s air cleaner year-round.
  • Dehumidifier – A central dehumidification system eliminates excessive summer humidity and reduces the potential health hazards mold poses while improving comfort and lowering energy bills.

The experts at BNG Heating and Cooling can give you more information about how indoor air quality affects the HVAC system, as well as your health and your home. We’ve provided HVAC services for the Evansville area since 1946.

HOW TO – Keep Your Home with Pets Clean For Better Air Quality

/in ,

HOW TO – Keep Your Home with Pets Clean For Better Air Quality

We love our pets. They are members of our family and we love to include them in our everyday activities. It is important to keep your home clean as part of improving your indoor air quality and helping to prevent breathing problems. We’ve provided several easy steps for you, to maintain clean indoor air quality in a home that has pets.

Groom Regularly

Whether it be a dog or cat, grooming regularly is important. While long-haired breeds shed noticeably more amounts of hair, most pets shed at least some of their hair every day. Brushing your pet frequently helps you controls how much of that shed hair ends up on your furniture and carpet.

Regular baths for your pet are also important. Both dogs and cats that are let outside tend to bring dust into the home and contaminate the air, affecting air quality. More frequent baths can help remove the dirt and allergens that cling to pet hair and fur.

Change Your Air Filters

Even if you groom and bathe your pets rather frequently, you will still need to change your air filters every month. While grooming your pet, at least some dirt and dander tends to get released into the air. Furnace filters catch the allergens that are floating in the air.

Your best bet is to use a high-quality air filter that collects even microscopic particles, like pet dander and keep your air clean. If you are unsure about what type of air filter is best for your furnace, feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable service technicians, and we would be happy to help.

Install an Air Purifier

Regardless of how often you bathe or brush your cat or dog, you may notice a distinct pet odor in your home. If you have a cat, the litter box needs to be cleaned every day and you should try to wash your pet’s bedding around once a week. Another great method for cleaning and refreshing the air in your home is to use an air purifier. Whole-house systems are available, and they work with your furnace to clean the air as it circulates and warms. There are even some systems that come with a germicidal fog sanitizing option that disinfects the air.

You may also want to consider installing an energy recovery ventilator. These units work great during the colder winter months when you might not open your windows and allow fresh air into the home. An ERV brings in fresh outdoor air and warms it before circulating the air into your HVAC system. The fresh air smells great and makes your whole house feel clean and deodorized.

Invest in Duct Cleaning

Another crucial step to having cleaner air is to have your HVAC ducts cleaned out around per year. It is common for pets to lay on the heat ducts and enjoy the warm air, which results in hair and dirt getting into the ducts. Even a vacuuming of the area will not sufficiently remove it all. In some situations, hair will actually shoot out of the vents when the furnace kicks on. This is a clear sign that you need to call a professional to sanitize and clean your ducts.

Cleaning your ducts not only keeps the air clean. It also increases the efficiency of the unit. Removing all the pet hair and dirt from the ducts will allow air to move freely. As a result, your furnace won’t have to work as hard, saving you money on your energy bills.

Is a Heat Pump Right For My Home?

/in , ,

warm home

We’re seeing an ever increasing number of inquiries from homeowners about heat pumps. What are heat pumps, and how do they work? Are they right for me? While heat pumps are more commonly utilized in the warmer areas of the country, they are becoming more widespread in all states.

What is a Heat Pump?

Heat pumps are an energy-effective option in contrast to furnaces and air conditioners. They give both heating and cooling utilizing heat transfer and electricity, the characteristic inclination for heat to move from spaces with higher temperatures to those with cooler ones.

In the colder time of year, a coil of tubing loaded up with refrigerant urges thermal energy from the outdoor air. After warming and vaporizing into a gas, it is brought inside to the pump’s inside unit and warms encompassing air that is then fanned all through the home.

Home Heat Pump

In the summer, heat pumps can cool your home by reversing this same cycle. Coils pull thermal energy from within the home to cool the inside and push warm thermal energy outdoors. This cycle utilizes thermal dynamics and eletricity to warm and cool the home, rather than coal, oil or flammable gas.

heating pump

Heat Pump Benefits

By having one framework that gives heating and cooling you can save money on upfront equipment costs by not having to buy a furnace.

Consolidating the mechanical proficiency with off-peak seasonal electricity rates in the cold weather months implies lower energy costs for heating.

Since heat pumps use power productively instead of consuming non-renewable energy sources, they are for the most part cleaner and environmentally friendly.

Heat Pumps with Secondary Heating Sources

While heat pump innovation is turning out to be increasingly more proficient at heating and cooling, there are still conditions where a furnace or optional heat source will be important. In zones of the U.S. that regularly get beneath 15°F for extended times, it may be valuable to utilize the heat pump with a helper heating arrangement, for example, a traditional gas furnace. Get some information about the most recent high-effectiveness heat pumps and double fuel frameworks accessible for your area of the nation.

With appropriate upkeep and support, a heat pump climate control system that does both heating and cooling can provide a low-cost, high-efficiency and environmentally friendly answer for your heating needs throughout the year.

How Viruses Spread and Why Air Purifiers Can Help

/in , ,

What Air Filtration Systems Can Do To Reduce Virus Particles

Most viruses spread via person-to-person contact, and most often through the air (coughs, sneezes, etc.), according to the CDC. Water vapor attached to the virus particles are carried in small droplets that move in a fine mist. The main symptom of most respiratory viruses is coughing, which just further adds to the chances that the air could be contaminated with virus particles.

One of the main reliable ways to remove these virus particles from the air is to circulate all of the air in a room or enclosed space, and to do this multiple times per hour. This increases the likelihood that a filter can catch the virus particles and remove them from the total volume of the air.

Air Filtration Is Just One Part of Prevention

Air purifiers aren’t the only preventive measure you can take to lower the chances of catching a virus. Keeping distance from someone thought to have a virus is necessary to lower the chances of breathing in virus particles. Also, keeping your hands clean and surfaces clean is an important part of keeping yourself safe from catching a virus. Taking one, or more of these preventive measures can drastically decrease your chances of catching an airborne virus.

Official Preventative Guidelines Given By The CDC

According to the CDC, here are the top seven ways to protect yourself from viruses every day:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

If you are interested in installing an Air Purifier in your home, please contact us on our website or give us a call.

The Benefits of Managing Your Home’s Air Quality

/in , ,

how is the air quality in your home

Would you say that you take your home’s air quality seriously enough?  With so much on your plate it’s easy to neglect or flat out forget to take care of your home’s air quality.  Traces of particle allergens, chemical pollutants, mold, harmful bacteria, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide can be lingering in your home.  It’s actually not very difficult to take the proper steps to ensure that the air quality in your home is both clean and safe for you and your family.  We’ll show you the downside of not monitoring your home’s air quality and the benefits of being proactive with your air quality.  We’ll also show you what you can do in order to make sure the air in your home is as comfortable, healthy, and safe as it it can be.

Poor Air Quality Increases Your Chance of Allergies

A major source of what causes allergies stems from dust and pollen in the air.  Studies show that the effects of dust and pollen are even more prominent in children.  It’s especially important that children four and under breathe clean air.  They have the highest chance of developing asthma because of harmful air pollutants.

Poor Air Quality Can Increase the Chance of Spreading Poisonous Mold in Your Home

If mold is found in the air, it can cause serious illness and even fatalities in some cases.  If ignored, the problem only gets worse and continue to spread.  Being proactive in monitoring and managing your home’s air quality helps to reduce the chances of mold repopulating.

Poor Air Quality Can Cause Expensive Problems

Issues due to poor air quality can become costly over time.  Excess pollen and dust means your HVAC system filters tend to need to be replaced more often.  In some instances, clogged filters made worse by poor air quality can force your HVAC system to overwork because of the dust, which can mean that its lifespan is reduced drastically.

A Solution…?

You may be wondering what you can do to monitor and prevent any of these problem from occurring due to lackluster air quality.  The first step is to get an air quality test.  We recommend an AirAdvice Indoor Air Quality Home Test.  These tests check for and detail any problems your home might have with humidity, heating/cooling, carbon dioxide levels, carbon monoxide, etc.  They only take around 30 minutes and are well worth the price, which is typically very reasonable (~$199).  The report you receive from the test will detail the health, comfort, and safety levels in your home, and provide solutions to improve your environment.  You can always contact us to get tested – Our number is (812) 858-4000 or schedule an appointment here.

 

How UV-C Lamps Purify Air and Save Money

/in

This month, we’re running a special on UV-C Lamps—both Bryant UV-C Lamps and other brands! We’ve found that many of our customers aren’t aware of the major benefits of using these lamps in your house, so we thought we’d write a quick blog post to explain the most major benefits!

Sterilized Coil Surfaces

We know, we know. This sounds super technical!

While it’s hard to think about the tangible benefits of having sterilized coil surfaces in your A/C unit, you should trust that this makes a HUGE difference in your day-to-day health.

Why?

Because the coils in your unit are notorious for accumulating mold, dust, and other bio-contaminants. If you’re not regularly cleaning your coils, you’re likely allowing the germs and allergens from that accumulation to be blown throughout your home. Keeping a UV-C lamp in your system is the easiest and lowest-maintenance way to keep those coils clean!

Maximize Efficiency

While your lungs and your allergies will be thankful that the UV-C lamp is keeping those coils clean, your wallet will thank you for the increased efficiency you’ll also see!

It’s simple. A clean coil is a highly functioning coil! And a unit that is clean and functioning at its best will always save you money.

It’s Simple

Adding one of these lamps to your unit is simple—our experts do it all the time! And, even better, they’re affordable! This month, we’re offering $25 off when you buy one from us.

So, what’s stopping you?

Go ahead and give us a call so that we can bring you a new, affordable UV-C lamp on our next maintenance visit!