During the dog days of summer in Atlanta, many of us hunker down at home in the air conditioning. However, with that choice you forgo fresh, clean air.

You may think that your home air quality is up to par, however, you may be mistaken. Everything from moisture to cleaning supplies can leave harmful pollutants if the air that you spend all day breathing in. At RS Andrews we know that healthy customers are happy customers, so we have assembled a list of ways you can improve the air quality in your home and reap the benefits!

Go Green: We’re speaking literally, as in plants. The more plants you have in your house, the more natural air filters you have. Plants take in some of the harmful air pollutants and release oxygen. Scatter the plants around the house for the best impact.

Pick Natural: A huge source of indoor air pollutants that most people are completely unaware of are cleaning agents. There are a number of natural, organic cleaning agents you can buy in even mainstream grocery stores. If you want to be even more hands-on in your cleaning, you can make your own. There are tons of recipes available online for all-natural home cleaners you can make from ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and citrus fruits – and the money you’ll save by going DIY on cleaners is an added benefit.

Let It Flow: In the battle against mold and mildew, proper air flow and ventilation is a key preventative measure. Having mold and mildew in your home can cause or contribute to a number of ailments, so preventing it from ever forming is key. Having a quality home ventilation system will help remove excess moisture from areas susceptible to forming mold and distribute it to the rest of the home. Our regular blog readers should know the benefits of having some moisture through out your home – but too much moisture is a recipe for problems.

Keep It Clean: It’s obvious that the air in your home flows through your ducts. However, many people don’t even think about cleaning them. Regularly having an HVAC contractor clean your ducts will ensure that only clean air is being distributed in your home. It will also prevent any dust, debris, model, mildew, and rodent excrement from accumulating and polluting your air.

Test It: Radon testing in your home is something everyone should do, but many don’t. You can even perform the test yourself with a special kit you can purchase at most home improvement stores. The danger with Radon is that it is odorless, so it is impossible to detect on your own. Radon has been known to increase your risk of lung cancer so it’s important to test right away!

Don’t Let Chemicals In: When repainting a room, you may be tempted to go the easy route and use a paint stripper to remove the current coat of paint. However, paint strippers are toxic and can contribute to poor air quality in your home. The same goes for paints that contain volatile organic compounds, so do your research before you buy your paint.

Hopefully you will be able to employ at least a few of these tips in your home. However, one easy way to improve the air quality in your home is to call RS Andrews and ask us about the air purification systems we offer. We’ll be happy to explain how the systems work and answer any questions you may have.

We are making the assumption that by reading this blog, you know that RS Andrews is your go to source for all your HVAC needs (as well as plumbing!). However, when people call us to schedule regular maintenance checks on their HVAC systems, they often have no idea what it is we are doing.

So in an effort to educate our customers, we put together a quick rundown of what it is we are doing when we’re poking around your HVAC system as well as simple steps you can take on your own to aid in maintaining your HVAC system.

RS Andrews techs will, amongst other things:

Check for Leaks: The smallest leak in your HVAC system can end up costing you big in the long run. That’s why we check for multiple types of leaks in your system – first for any refrigerant leaks which would cause low refrigerant levels and a faulty system, and also for any air leaks in your air ducts  that could be diverting the airflow in your home.

Check Electrical Components: Today most HVAC systems are entirely electronically controlled. This means a little bug or glitch in the system can throw it everything off.

First we will have to check the accuracy of your thermostat and adjust accordingly if needed. Then we need to check all the electric terminals for your unit, as your terminals may need to be tightened, cleaned, or treated with a non-conductive coating. We will also check to make sure your system’s electric control sequence is operating heat and cooling separately.

Monitor Air Flow: This one is rather obvious, but checking the belts, fans, and motor oil in your HVAC system is a big part of our maintenance call. Even the slightest wear and tear on a belt can result in big trouble down the road. Belts are one of the major components to producing airflow in your system, so it’s very important they are operating in top form. We will also measure to make sure that air is running through the evaporator coil at efficient levels.

For even more details of what heating and cooling maintenance entails, check out our 30 Point Tune-Up!

What You Can Do: While regular HVAC service is important to maintaining an efficient system, it isn’t all in our hands. It’s the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure that your system has clean filters. A dirty filter will just slow down the whole operation, making your HVAC system work harder to the same job and end up costing you on your energy bill.

You also should take the time to make sure the outdoor parts of your HVAC system are clean and unobstructed. This means regularly checking to make sure no leaves, branches, plants, or weeds are around your unit. Also, giving it a good rinse with the hose will wash off any debris from the unit itself.

To schedule your regular HVAC maintenance check, call RS Andrews today at (770) 454-1800.

One of the biggest home expenses during the summer is your energy bill due to heavy air conditioning use, especially here in Atlanta. It would make sense then that every home owner would want to conserve that cold air.

Unfortunately, many homes lose some of that cool air in different ways, resulting in your air conditioner having to run for longer, costing you more. We put together a little list for any Atlanta homeowner who wants to keep that cool air in their home, and in turn lower their energy bill.

Insulate

We have previously talked about the benefits of adding insulation to your attic. However, we want to emphasize this again along with whole home insulation. It’s amazing that some people still don’t know the benefits of having your whole home insulated. It keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer by preventing any outside air from coming in and vice versa. Even if you do have insulation, you may want to check for any gaps in it, as that can allow outside air in easily.

Double Check Doors and Windows

Doors and windows can often be the biggest culprits in letting air out. Old, poorly sealed, and poorly installed doors and windows can let a noticeable amount of your cool air out during the summer. It’s a smart decision to check the caulk around all of these structures, as it can dry out and shrink, leaving gaps. Another smart decision is to check the seal around your door. These are often rubber, which can dry out and crack, allowing air out. Replace the seal if needed, and consider adding a floor sweep to prevent any air from slipping out underneath your door. Also, get any gaps or cracks in door or window frames sealed as soon as possible.

Look For Secret Escapes

Cool air will sneak out from anywhere there even the smallest space open. The places you never even thought about checking could be the reason you home is losing so much cool air in the summer. The air can escape through the edges around your places like the edges around your electrical outlets and too big holes in walls for pipes. Double check anything that penetrates the walls in your home and make sure it fits perfectly and there is no room for air escape. If it doesn’t quite fit, you can add caulk to properly seal it, if there more area than caulk can cover you’ll need to explore other options.

If you have any questions about keeping your cool air in and hot air out this summer, give RS Andrews a call today!