How an Air Conditioner can Make or Break Indoor Air Quality

Given new studies, the typical American devotes about 93% of their time inside. Needless to say, this is quite a substantial quantity of time, specifically when you ponder the effect your HVAC system has on indoor air quality. If a home doesn’t maintain a good IAQ, it could in turn disturb your status of healthiness. That being said, if you or a family member seems to continuously be sick, your HVAC system could be responsible for it. Keep reading for five signals that should not be ignored.

1. Mysterious Tiredness
   After a lengthy day, it's normal to be worn-out and sleepy. Though, if your fatigue combines with faintness, nasal congestion, headaches, skin that has become dry, and an inexplicable outbreak of rashes, it could potentially be a mark of 'sick building syndrome.' Though pollutants and toxins are frequently the cause of this ailment, it’s furthermore likely that your body is battling with insufficient air circulation, meaning the function of how your HVAC system operates is disturbed.
2. Breathing Concerns
   For the most part, those with asthma or breathing-related health concerns receive a diagnosis before the age of twenty. However, it isn't uncommon for adults to suddenly begin developing asthma symptoms. In some instances, your home's HVAC system could factor into sudden asthma symptoms in adults due to the micro-organisms or even black mold that may be growing throughout the system, specifically in the ductwork.
3. Shared Sickness
   
   We all know how easy it is to become ill when someone in our home or office is also sick. However, it is possible to prevent these types of recurrent illnesses by avoiding "stale air," which can appear when a building doesn't have proper circulation. Regularly replacing air filters, maintaining the system and considering an upgrade are all options to help with these types of issues.
4. Lack of Moisture
   Another way to tell if your air conditioner might be making you sick is by looking at your skin and other parts of your body. If you are plagued by dry skin and nasal passages, even during months where there is a lot of moisture in the air, you may find your HVAC system is to blame.
5. Body Pain
   
   For those who already suffer from joint and body pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis or other joint conditions, the cold atmosphere created by an air conditioner may make those ailments worse. Colds and other illnesses caused by an unfit HVAC system could also exacerbate these conditions.

These are just a handful of signs that your HVAC system could be making you and your family sick, and needs to be serviced by a professional. If you notice any of these concerns, make sure you talk with an HVAC professional quickly to get to the bottom of the problem. One of the best ways to avoid these types of issues is by keeping your HVAC system maintained, your evaporator coils clean and drip pans and drains empty.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Kent Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. – we’re here to help keep your home a healthy oasis for you and your family!

How an Air Conditioning Tune-Up Can Save You Money

As a homeowner, you might feel as if you are always paying for some type of home maintenance or repair. If this is the case, then you might not be particularly excited about calling an HVAC professional to come out and give your unit a tune-up. However, what you should know is that doing so can actually save you money. Here's why…

Ensure Your Air Conditioner is Operating Efficiently

It's no secret that your air conditioning system can cause your electric bills to increase during the hot summer months. You might not think that there is much that you can do about it, but having your air conditioner serviced by a professional can actually help. An HVAC professional can ensure that your air conditioner is in good shape and operating at maximum efficiency. This can help you save money on your electric bill.

Catch Repair Issues Early

Repairing a broken air conditioning unit is a top priority for many families, particularly in the heat of summer. However, it can be expensive. If you have your unit serviced yearly, though, your HVAC professional can catch potential repair issues and repair them before they get worse.

Avoid an Early Replacement

Just as with many things, an air conditioner that is not serviced regularly and that is not properly taken care of simply will not last for as long. This can lead to you having to replace your unit years before you would have even thought to consider doing so. If you have it maintained regularly, however, you can help safeguard that it lasts for years to come.

As you can see, you can actually save money if you choose to hire an HVAC professional to come out and service your unit once per year. If you have questions or service needs, we encourage you to contact us at Kent Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

How to Take Care of Your Electric Heater

Whether you use small space heaters to supplement your central heating or you are storing them away from a bad storm, space heaters need the same care and attention that regular heaters do. Sometimes they need a little extra vigilance because they're mobile.

How can you make space heaters last longer and stay safe?

Many of the same maintenance steps and precautions you would take for your central heating also apply to space heaters, such as clearing away dust and fuzz from the vents and setting a temperature you're comfortable with instead of turning it on and off to regulate the temperature. Keep reading for some of the other steps you should take.

Keep the space heater out in the open.

Even though space heaters work best in small, enclosed rooms, you still want to give it plenty of room to breathe. Make sure it's away from the walls, furniture, and flammable curtains. You also want the heat output vents to stay at least two to three feet away from skin.

Don't keep it near your humidifier.

If your house has a humidifier, or separate rooms have individual humidifier units, keep the two away from each other. Electric heaters can handle moisture in the air, but shouldn't be exposed to water or a blast of humidity.

Train your pets to keep their distance.

Aside from investigating a new, noisy object, your pets will be interested in laying right in front of the vents to soak up all the heat. Teach them to stay away from it, or place it on a table that is too small for your cat to fit on top with it, for example.

Here at Kent Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., we want to provide you with information that will keep you and your loved ones safe. If you own an electric heater, it is important that you take the necessary safety precautions.

We encourage you to contact us with any questions and service needs that you may have when it comes to heating and cooling your home.