How Do UV Light Indoor Air Quality Products Work?

April 5, 2021

A great way to reduce harmful substances in your home’s air is to have UV lights installed. They’re placed inside your HVAC system and reduce the number of viruses, bacteria, dust mites, and mold spores in your home. UV lights are especially useful in homes where someone suffers from allergies. What Are UV Lights? UV, or ultraviolet, light is the same as the UV light the sun emits. It’s a natural disinfectant that cleans the air. UV lights have been used in medical, food service, and daycare facilities since the early 1900s. This light changes the DNA and RNA in small celled organisms, so they’re sterile and unable to reproduce. While you could use disinfectants in your home, many have volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are a health hazard. These cleaners also only work on surfaces, not in the air you breathe. How Are They Installed? A technician installs UV lights either in the evaporator coil or in a duct nearby to it. The evaporator coil is where your air conditioning system collects heat from your home. As humidity collects at the evaporator coil, it has a drain pan below it that collects water and sends it outside via a...

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Is It Normal to Smell Gas Near a Furnace?

March 16, 2021

Anytime you smell gas in your home, you should always investigate the situation. There’s probably nothing to worry about if you notice the smell after activating your furnace for the first time in a while. Furnaces emit a faint gas smell after turning them on, but the smell should disappear within a few minutes. What to Do You should be worried if the gas smell is strong and lasts for several minutes. In that case, leave the house immediately and evacuate other occupants. Also, avoid turning on appliances, lighting a match, or switching on lights. Since gas smells near a furnace can be hazardous, it’s wise to immediately call your local gas company. Remember to also shut off all gas lines around your home for your safety as you wait for the gas company to arrive. What a Gas Smell Means Gas smells around your furnace can be due to various problems, but you can track the primary issue back to the heat exchanger. A sure way to tell if the heat exchanger is the cause of the gas smell near your furnace is to check the smell’s origin. If it’s coming from the registers, then the heat exchanger is...

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How Often Should You Get HVAC Maintenance?

February 12, 2021

Mt. Airy, NC, has extreme weather. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are wet and cold. You’ll need a reliable heating and cooling system to maintain comfort in your home. In order for your heating and cooling system to work as intended, it needs regular maintenance. Follow these tips from our NATE-certified technicians at to know when and how often to schedule tune-ups for your heating and cooling system. Air Conditioning Maintenance Your house’s air conditioning system needs an annual maintenance visit every spring. During this visit, our technicians will check the refrigerant level, clean the condensate line, and test the system’s performance. We’ll also inspect the thermostat and make sure the fan blades are clean. We’ll clean the condenser and evaporator coils and lubricate all moving parts as well. Our technicians will also check and replace the air filter. Furnace, Electric Heating, or Boiler Maintenance Gas and electric furnaces, electric baseboard and resistance heating systems, and boilers need one annual maintenance visit. The best time of the year to schedule this is mid-autumn. Our skilled technicians will check the electrical and gas lines and connections, clean the blower motor, and check the flue. We’ll also inspect the heat...

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The Benefits of Aeroseal Duct Sealing

January 10, 2021

The average homeowner spends 30% too much on their energy bills because of leaky ductwork. Aeroseal duct sealing is a way to fix this problem. This process helps homeowners in other ways as well. What Is Aeroseal Duct Cleaning? Aeroseal is a technology that seals the air ducts in your home. It’s a water-based formula that a technician sprays into your ducts to seal holes. The formula is safe and non-toxic. In addition to homes, it’s been used in schools, hospitals, and other types of buildings. Increased Energy Efficiency When your home’s air ducts are leaky, you lose conditioned air out of them. You spend money to heat and cool air that is wasted. When your ducts are sealed with Aeroseal, the conditioned air goes where it’s supposed to. of Mount Airy, NC, does Aeroseal duct cleaning. Our locally owned and operated company is dedicated to offering exceptional services. Improved Indoor Air Quality When your air ducts are leaky, they draw in dirty air from unconditioned spaces in your home, like the attic or crawl space. This can cause health problems, especially for those with allergies or asthma. Improved Comfort Leaky air ducts can cause hot and cold spots in...

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Is There a Recommended Schedule for Duct Cleaning?

December 17, 2020

In general, when people have a problem with their HVAC system, they call a company like to come and take a look at their furnace or air conditioner. However, what many people don’t realize is that while these components are often the cause of the problem, there could also be something else causing the problem in their Mount Airy home. That’s because problems that seem to be caused by a faulty HVAC system can actually be caused by dirty ducts. Therefore, understanding how often to have your ducts cleaned is an important part of owning a home and protecting your HVAC system. Recommended Schedule The good news is that duct cleaning is not something that needs to be done every month or even every year. In fact, if your ducts are properly sealed and you keep a clean air filter in place, you might almost never have to have your ducts cleaned by . For most homes, though, where the ducts have a few leaks, and you occasionally forget to change the filter on time, the recommended frequency is every three to five years. Still, when you consider all of the benefits you get by having your ducts cleaned, this...

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Why Furnace Warranties Are Important

November 17, 2020

A furnace warranty protects you should something happen to your furnace during the covered period. One thing to know is that there are two warranties for furnaces. Both are important to have. Manufacturer Warranty Manufacturers offer a warranty that covers faulty parts. If a covered part breaks during the warranty period, it’s covered free of charge. The warranty covers the major components of your furnace. It doesn’t cover filters, electrical wiring or fan belts, for instance. Most manufacturer warranties are for five years. In most cases, if you register the furnace, the warranty is extended to 10 years. You either send in a warranty card or register the furnace online. Contractor Warranty Manufacturer warranties don’t cover labor. Labor warranties are offered by HVAC contractors when they install a furnace. These warranties are very important because how the furnace performs depends on whether it was installed correctly. These are usually five-year warranties. When a company is confident in the skill of its technicians, it will offer a good warranty. of Mount Airy, NC, is confident in its technicians. We stand behind our work and offer a solid labor warranty. What Can Void a Warranty? Manufacturer warranties are contingent on your furnace...

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Why Heating Systems Need the Air Filter

October 20, 2020

Every furnace and heat pump has an air filter in the return vent, the purpose of which we’ll outline below for you. Needless to say, it is an essential component and, assuming that you own a disposable filter and not a washable type, must be replaced on a regular basis. Keeping Components Clean Many people think air filters are meant to keep the indoor air clean, but this is not their primary purpose. Filters first of all capture pollutants before they enter the furnace or, in the case of a heat pump, air handler. There are sensitive components inside that would not work as efficiently if covered in dirt and dust. Take the burners in a furnace, for example. Covered in dirt, they won’t allow the heat exchanger to heat up the air, which means that whatever circulates through your home will be lukewarm. The furnace will also run longer, raising your utility bills. Another component you don’t want to be dirty is the furnace fan blade; it won’t spin as efficiently and may even cause the system to overheat. Cleaning the Indoor Air Filters will, at least indirectly, help you maintain healthy indoor air. Depending on their type, they...

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Creative Ways To Hide Your Outdoor AC Unit

September 20, 2020

When you spend a lot of time enjoying the backyard of your Mount Airy, NC, home, you might want to hide the outdoor AC unit. These units are large and made of metal on a concrete slab, so they’re not the most appealing things to have in your view. Keep in mind that the unit needs at least three feet of clearance on all sides and above it so that it can release the heat from your home’s air. ‘s Mount Airy technicians also need to service the outdoor unit, and we suggest one of these three ways to hide it while still allowing it to be accessible. 1. Build a Lattice Wall A lattice wall is a simple way to hide your outdoor AC unit. In the springtime, you could plant annuals that grow up the lattice. Morning glories, sweet peas, and clematis are some good options. The lattice should be placed on two sides, such as the south and west or east sides, which have the most sunlight. 2. Use a Privacy Fence A simple four-sided privacy fence with a gate is another way to hide the AC unit. You could use vinyl, composite, or wood fencing. If...

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The Benefits of Electrostatic Air Filters

August 11, 2020

The air filter is a critical component of your heating and cooling system. If you’re shopping for a replacement, you’ll notice that there are many filter options, such as electrostatic, pleated and HEPA. The following are the advantages of an electrostatic air filter. How do Electrostatic Air Filters Work? An electrostatic air filter doesn’t need to be replaced unless it’s damaged in some way. You take it out of your HVAC system once a month, clean it and put it back. This makes them cheaper than disposable filters over the long term. They have multiple layers of slotted metal that air passes through. Air molecules passing through create friction, which causes dust particles to become trapped in the filter. Allergy Relief This type of air filter is good at capturing pollen, animal dander, mold spores and dust. This provides relief to people with allergies or other respiratory issues. Environmentally Friendly Since they’re not disposable, electrostatic air filters are much more environmentally friendly than disposable air filters. Disposable filters end up in a landfill, which isn’t good for the environment. At of Mount Airy, NC, we’re quite familiar with all types of air filters, including electrostatic options. Our technicians can explain...

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Should I Leave the AC on During the Day When I’m Out?

July 15, 2020

Without your air conditioner, your Mount Airy home would be hot and uncomfortable all summer long. As great as your air conditioner is, though, operating it comes at the cost of a higher utility bill. It makes sense to limit the amount of time that you operate your air conditioner so that you don’t end up with a utility bill that makes your wallet’s heart skip a beat. If you’re not home during the day, that may seem like a great opportunity to turn your air conditioner off. However, turning your air conditioner off during the day might not actually save electricity, and it could lead to other problems. Heat and Humidity Heat is only one part of what makes summer air uncomfortable. The other ingredient of summer discomfort is humidity. Since air from outside enters your home throughout the day, the humidity that’s in the air comes into your home as well. Your air conditioner is responsible for removing this humidity as part of the cooling process. If you leave your air conditioner off entirely while you’re away, it won’t have a chance to remove the humidity. This can lead to problems such as sticking doors, moldy food that’s...

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