The Best HEPA Air Purifiers

Did you know according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, our indoor air quality can be 5 times more polluted than the outdoor air quality? While that sounds alarming, if you think about it, there is so much that contributes to air pollutants in our home.

• If you use a wood burning or gas fireplace or if you smoke indoors, you are contributing to the airborne contaminants in your home.

Additionally, cooking pet dander, and aerosols will reduce the indoor air quality. However, there are certain things that we can do to improve the air quality in our homes. They include cooking more on the grill, vacuuming more often, opening the windows in the evenings, and cleaning the air vents. Air vents are probably the last thing that most of us think about. Personally, I clean my air vents only once in a while. But completing that simple task can improve the air quality in my home. While all these tasks cannot fully prevent contaminants from forming in our homes, at least they will lower the amount and it will improve the indoor air quality. If all else fails, an air purifier is another way to improve the air quality inside our homes. However, the air purifier only cleans small spaces, so unless you have an air purifier in every room then it’s not as effective as some people might think. There are whole home air purifiers that could be installed inside the HVAC system, and while those units are more efficient, they are also more costly. So, it makes more sense to complete the tasks mentioned above to keep the air quality clean in your home.

 

heating and air conditioning system

At some point everything that we purchase in this life will start depreciating and some things like electronics and equipment will malfunction and eventually expire. Though we can’t always predict exactly when these things will happen, we do have an idea of when some of our equipment in our homes will need to be replaced. For instance, most HVAC units are built to last between 15 and 25 years, so if you know that your HVAC unit is 15 or more years old, you should be thinking about replacing the unit. Of course, this is a cost that most homeowners will try to avoid, but it is better to purchase a new unit, than to pay money to fix an old unit that will continue to break. Additionally, older units are less energy efficient, and a new unit will certainly decrease the cost on the energy bill, which means it will save money in the long run. Although I didn’t want to purchase a new HVAC system, I was already prepared to do so when it was time. I knew it was time when my unit kept malfunctioning, and by the third call to my HVAC technician, there was no need to prolong buying a new system. And of course, my HVAC technician mentioned it to me because he saw that the system was not functioning efficiently. Not to mention that my HVAC unit was already 18 years old, and I saw an increase in my energy bill. I also noticed that it was not cooling my home as well as it once did. So, all these signs were an indication that I needed to purchase a new HVAC and I am glad I did.

Cooling workman

We are always searching for ways to save money and many times, we end up cutting back on the things that we don’t need.

For instance, I gave up my gym membership and have opted to work out by running in a park. Additionally, I have stopped buying coffee on a daily basis and instead, I am drinking the free coffee that is at the office. My coffee budget was enough to pay for some of my gas for the week. While I found ways to cut back outside my home, I also found a way to save money inside my house. After a recommendation from an HVAC technician, I decided to invest in a programmable thermostat. According to my HVAC technician, when used properly, I can save up to 10% on my energy bill with a programmable thermostat. This means that the thermostat will pay for itself in less than 2 years. It has been a few months since I got my thermostat installed, and I can confirm that I have seen savings on my energy bill. With the thermostat, I have made some adjustments by increasing the temperature inside my home. At first, I believed that increasing the temperature would make my house feel uncomfortable, but to my surprise, it feels great in here. I can’t control the price of many of the things I buy, but I can make better decisions that will save money in the end. And as long as I don’t have to sacrifice my comfort, I am on board with finding more ways to save money.

space heater

After Labor Day, most of us start preparing for the cooler Fall weather. And this time of year, we make changes to how we use our central air units. In the beginning of Fall, the weather is still warm in some areas, which means that some people will still use their central air conditioners. As the season progresses and the weather becomes cooler outside, we begin to adjust the temperature on our thermostats. Personally, I look forward to this time of year because not only do I increase the temperature on my thermostat, but I also open my windows during the evenings to allow the cool breeze to flow inside. Additionally, I use my ceiling fan more because the weather is cool enough for it. I live in an area where the weather is pretty brutal during the Summer, so my central air conditioner is usually running every day, so I am glad when the Fall weather comes around because I can give my HVAC unit a much needed break after the Summer. During the Summer, I keep my thermostat at 76 degrees, which is close to the recommended temperature of 78 degrees. However, during the Fall, I increase my thermostat to 78 degrees and my home is perfectly comfortable. So far, the air conditioner has not been running a lot during the days. In fact, one morning I woke up and the indoor temperature was 74 degrees, which means that the overnight temperature was rather cold. It warmed up that day and eventually the central air conditioner cycled on, but it did not take long for it to cycle off again.

 

central air conditioning

When I was 21 years old and fresh out of college, I recall that I wanted to conquer life and everything in this world.

I was so sure that I was ready to start this new journey, and I was convinced that I had all the tools needed to guide me through.

Well, I was hit with so many roadblocks that I can’t even begin to count them all. And it was then I realized that I had a lot to learn. For instance, I purchased a used car and had no idea how to check the oil or even how to change a tire. I had to learn that from my boyfriend at the time. Similarly, I had no idea how to troubleshoot or maintain an HVAC system. I grew up with window A/Cs, so living in a townhouse with central A/C was new to me. I recall once that my A/C froze, and I had no idea why. I contacted maintenance when I realized that the unit was not cooling properly. When he checked the unit, he told me that it was frozen. Basically, it was low on refrigerant, and he was able to refill it to the correct levels after the unit defrosted. He asked about the last time I changed the air filter, and at that point, I didn’t know I needed to do that. Well, that day, the maintenance guy gave me a lesson in HVAC care. He said that I needed to change my filters every 90 days, I should clean my vents, and pour some form of declogging agent like vinegar down the drain pipe. If it wasn’t for that maintenance guy, I probably wouldn’t have known anything about A/C maintenance.

Propane boiler

It’s so important to have representation within different industries.

There are certain industries that are dominated by men, while others are dominated by women. I work in the construction industry that is dominated by mostly men. In fact, I am one of the few women who work for the company. This dynamic can be seen in other places such as the HVAC industry. Of the 367,000 people employed within the industry less than 2% of them are women. So, it’s no wonder that the HVAC companies are attempting to increase that number and hire more women into the industry. Some companies are providing extra incentives for women to get their HVAC certifications. Additionally, some companies are reaching out to different schools as well as organizations in order to recruit more women into the HVAC industry. Also, trade schools are partnering with education programs to offer tuition reimbursement and incentive programs. While it will take a while to increase the representation for women in the HVAC industry, at least efforts are being made to rectify the problem. Of course, this isn’t an easy industry for women to enter, as many of them still face discrimination on the job. But there is so much money that could be made if more women worked for HVAC companies. While the starting salary is about $19/hr, the potential is there to work up the ladder to making 6 figures in a short amount of time. As for me, I love working within a male dominated industry and though it can be challenging, the experience is worth it and I am grateful that women are represented here.

 

 

thermostat

He did give me three tips on how to keep my system running efficiently

I am not savvy when it comes to performing handiwork around my home. In fact, whenever something goes wrong, I have a guy that I call to fix things for me. And being a single woman, you would think that I would be more independent, but unfortunately, I am not. I am ok as long as I can find someone to fix the issue for me. And I must say over the years, I have learned a lot from the different service people that I have used. For instance, my HVAC technician is one of the friendliest servicemen that I know, and he is always willing to teach me something new. I recall when I first met him, he gave me a long lesson on the common issues that homeowners face with their A/Cs. They include clogged filters, refrigerant leak, frozen air conditioner, water leak, drainage problems, just to name a few. I am not opposed to learning about the issues with an HVAC system, however, I am not interested in fixing any of them. He did give me three tips on how to keep my system running efficiently. And those tips were to change my air filter every 90 days, to pour vinegar inside my drainpipe to prevent debris and mold from growing, and the most important tip was to get regular maintenance. Using those three tips have certainly helped me over the years, and I have managed to keep my air conditioner from having any major issues, so I will be forever grateful to my HVAC technician for teaching me about HVAC systems.

 

quality heating

I live in a tropical state that is impacted by hurricanes every year.

The hurricane season starts in the Summer and usually lasts until the end of November. During the season, we get a lot of rain, and almost every day between 2 and 3 p.m. there are rain showers and thunderstorms. This means, we are used to the tropical weather and storms are just part of that. There are some hurricane seasons where we have very few storms that make landfall, and of course there are other seasons where we get multiple storms. A few weeks ago, we had a major storm pass through the state and it caused billions of dollars of damage. Many people lost everything they owned. It was devastating to see the level of damages that the storm caused. Now that we are in the recovery stages, many of these homeowners are building and replacing what they lost. And thankfully there are programs helping them with that. One such program is giving rebates to all homeowners who purchase an HVAC system between October and December of this year. The new HVAC units should be purchased from certain participating HVAC manufacturers. This is such a great incentive for all these families who probably don’t have the money to buy a new HVAC unit. Additionally, the families will be purchasing new and more energy efficient HVAC systems. So, of course the units will be better for the environment, and they will save money on their energy bills. Currently, we are still in hurricane season, and I hope that we don’t get another storm.

heating and air conditioning products

He said because the existing ductwork was fine and didn’t need to be replaced that the install takes less time

I live in a condo that I have been renting for a couple of years. This place is amazing because it has hardwood floors, walk-in closets, a balcony, and huge living and bedrooms. Best of all, the apartment is on the top floor, and I have vaulted ceilings, so I fell in love with the condo the first time I saw it. Living here has been great because it’s close to my job and it’s close to major stores and shopping areas. And my landlord is always great and has fixed everything that I have an issue with. For instance, I had a few issues with the central air conditioner, and he always sent over an HVAC technician to fix the unit. Unfortunately, the A/C unit was old, and it broke down a lot. In fact, the unit was about 20 years old and from what the HVAC technician told me, it needed to be replaced. I assumed he mentioned that to the landlord because within the next month, my landlord purchased a new HVAC unit. He asked me if I could stay home so that the HVAC technician could replace the unit. At the time, I didn’t know how long the replacement would take. After speaking to the HVAC technician, he said the install could take between 4 and 8 hours. He said because the existing ductwork was fine and didn’t need to be replaced that the install takes less time. Well, I stayed home from work and the install took a little but over 5 hours. After that day, I had no issues with the new HVAC unit.

Furnace filter for sale

There are some people that you come across who go above and beyond to help others.

• And at times, those people do these things without expecting any rewards or even recognition.

They are just naturally compassionate and want to bring out the best in others. So, they do what they can to make sure that happens. Well, I came across a story on the news about a nice lady in my town who has been creating care packages for less fortunate people for over 20 years now. She doesn’t get paid for this and she’s doing it only because she wants to help. Though she doesn’t ask for anything in return, she was finally rewarded for the good that she has been doing. Lennox, one of the top 5 HVAC companies in the country, teamed up with states in the nation to give away free HVAC as well as the installation to local heroes of different neighborhoods. I believe this is such a great program. Not only is it great marketing for Lennox, but it is also a fantastic way of giving back to someone in the community who is making a difference in people’s lives. And luckily this lady was able to get one of those HVAC units installed in her home. And the best part is, her HVAC was over 25 years old, and she needed a new one, but did not have $7,000 that she was quoted to replace her old unit by her HVAC provider. I hope that this program continues to help people like her, who can’t afford the cost to replace a new HVAC unit.

 

Electric fireplace