Budget Heating and Air Conditioning Blog

Do you feel as if every pollen season feels worse and worse as time goes on? It’s not in your head. Studies have shown that pollen season begins earlier and stays longer, affecting more people in the process.

Pollution and pollen season have an interesting relationship that not many people know about. As the air becomes more polluted, plants have to learn to grow in stressed environments, causing them to release more allergens.

The increase in pollen outdoors can impact indoor air quality greatly. Tennessee has a long allergy season from late February through November. As we wait out the allergy storm, it’s important to know how to improve indoor air quality.

Keep reading to learn six tips for improving air quality indoors in Morristown.

6 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

1. Keep the Air Flowing Freely

If you are looking for a cost-effective way to improve indoor air quality, ventilation is key.

You can keep air flowing freely in your house by opening doors and windows. However, it’s important to check the pollen count in Morristown before testing this out. Polluted outdoor air will defeat the purpose of this strategy.

Another affordable method of improving indoor air quality is consistently changing out your filters. Heating and air conditioning filters get dirty quickly, especially if you have pets in the home.

Make it a habit to check and replace these filters every three months to avoid pollutants getting back into the air.

It may be a good idea to work with an HVAC company that can check the health of your vents. Poor ventilation can cost a pretty penny to fix, but you and your home will thank you.

During this checkup, a professional can look for cracks around your doors and windows. These open spaces can let hot air in while your AC is running, making it work harder to cool the home.

2. Invest in an Air Purifier

You can achieve home air purity with an air purifier. Air purifiers work to create a healthy home environment filtering unwanted pollutants out of the air.

While there are many different air purifiers that you can invest in, consider one with a HEPA filter. These filters are well-known to remove more particles from the air than others.

Air purifiers don’t eliminate all pollutants from the air, but they do a good job of removing some. HEPA filters, for example, can remove bacteria, dust, pollen, and mold elements from the air.

If you want to remove VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the air, carbon filters are your best bet. VOCs are found in some cleaning products you might be using to tidy up your home.

Air purifiers aren’t effective for removing smoke from the air. No filter has succeeded in eliminating carbon monoxide from the air. This is because air purifiers in general cannot seize gases in the air of your home.

3. Understand Common Pollution Sources

One of the best indoor air quality tips is to learn about the sources of pollution. Many of them come from products you may be using daily without knowing it.

Cleaning products like bleach, glass cleaners, and cleaning sprays can contain dangerous chemicals that stay in the air. Even some air fresheners are harmful to your breathing.

You can avoid excess pollutants from cleaning products by opting for nontoxic ingredients. DIYing your own cleaners with natural products can greatly reduce your risks.

Formaldehyde is a VOC that causes pollution in the home. It’s commonly found in composite wood. Try to avoid this material when you can to prevent overexposure.

Secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke can cause health concerns as well. Secondhand smoke is exhaled cigarette smoke that stays trapped in the air if you smoke indoors.

Thirdhand smoke poses a health risk as well and is found on surfaces that absorb it. Your clothes could cause thirdhand smoke to get indoors.

4. Eradicate Irritants in the Home

All indoor spaces have some irritants that get worse if you avoid them. Dust and dust mites are two very common ones that can be found anywhere.

If you regularly dust and clean your home, you will build a better breathing space. Avoiding allergens can eliminate uncomfortable symptoms like a sore throat, watery eyes, and a runny nose.

If you begin feeling these symptoms more, consider getting the air quality in your home checked.

5. Reduce the Chance of Mold Growth

Mold is toxic and can cause allergies and poor indoor air quality. Keeping moisture out of the air of your home is the best way to prevent mold growth.

If you experience signs of mold, check your roof and attic for leaks that might be contributing to moisture in the home. A professional can also check your foundation and your basement if you have one.

Keeping the air flowing with fans and open windows can also prevent moisture from getting trapped in the home. You can invest in a dehumidifier if your home feels especially humid.

6. Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your HVAC system is an integral part of your journey to better indoor air. Scheduling regular maintenance with Budget Heating and Air Conditioning helps increase the efficiency of your unit.

When your system has to work harder to heat or cool your home, it can’t work at maximum efficiency. Regular HVAC maintenance with our professionals includes:

• Inspection
• Cleaning
• Filter replacement
• Calibration and adjustment
• Testing and safety checks

While there are many benefits to preventative maintenance, indoor air quality is at the top of the list. Working systems and new filters remove contaminants from the air.

For Indoor Air Quality Services in Morristown, TN, Contact Budget Heating & Air Conditioning for Service

If you desire a healthier living environment, use these tips to improve indoor air quality in your Morristown home.

With the help of the pros at Budget Heating and Air Conditioning, you mitigate your risk of breathing in dangerous pollutants and allergens. Our team can conduct an air quality test and recommend the best plan of action.

We are a family-owned and operated business that you can trust to be reliable, quick, and efficient. We’ve been serving Morristown and surrounding communities since 1982.

Request a free quote for air quality services and more today.

Consumers spend over $10 billion a year on HVAC repair and maintenance services. Neglecting routine HVAC maintenance, however, can cause the unit to break down. You may need to spend even more on a new one.

Before that happens, request a pre-season HVAC tune-up in Morristown, TN. Routine maintenance will keep your unit operating at its best.

What are the benefits of seasonal HVAC maintenance? Read on to find out!

8 Benefits of HVAC Preventive Maintenance

1. Avoid Emergency HVAC Repairs

Every summer, families host parties, invite friends over, and enjoy summer vacation at home. Imagine having friends or family over, only for your HVAC unit to break down. No one will want to stay during the heat of summer.

Scheduling routine maintenance can help you avoid needing emergency HVAC repair. Your HVAC technician will assess the unit’s components. They’ll recognize parts that may break down in a few months.

With their help, you can keep the unit functioning properly. You’ll have peace of mind before you invite guests over.

They’ll spot problems before they can get worse. You can pay for minor repairs instead of a major fix or a new unit.

If you wait until the last minute to request services, you could encounter problems during the busy season. Instead, schedule a pre-season tune-up. Request a check-up every fall and spring.

You won’t have to wait days before a technician is available to visit your home. Instead, you can get help before there’s a major issue with the unit. Requesting services before the unit breaks down can help you avoid a stressful situation later.

2. Extend the Unit’s Lifespan

Over time, your HVAC system’s components can experience wear and tear. Small problems can build up, leading to bigger issues.

For example, the AC drip pan can start to leak. This will cause mold and mildew to grow. Your home’s indoor air quality could become compromised.

The evaporator and condenser coils can get dirty over time. They work in tandem to produce and circulate cool air throughout your home. When they’re dirty, insulation will prevent heat from absorbing properly.

Corrosion, usually caused by a refrigerant leak, can occur. A leak can cause the coil to freeze over, causing more absorption issues.

These problems can cause the unit to produce strange sounds. You may notice your energy bills have increased.

Meanwhile, the likelihood of the unit breaking down will rise. Before these issues occur, schedule preventative maintenance.

Scheduling HVAC maintenance regularly could push your unit’s lifespan to up to 15 years. You can avoid paying for an expensive new unit. Instead, you can ensure your current unit is operating effectively and efficiently.

3. Reduce Energy Costs

About 6% of all electrical use in America goes directly to our HVAC systems. Your bills will increase if there’s a problem with the unit.

Common HVAC problems will cause the unit to push itself to operate. It will use more energy, causing your expenses to rise.

Meanwhile, the components will experience additional wear and tear. Some may break down. The entire unit may stop working.

If you’ve experienced increased energy costs, talk to a Morristown HVAC technician. They can make recommendations to help you improve your energy efficiency.

For example, they may recognize that you need to replace your HVAC filter more often. Otherwise, the unit will try harder to push air through a clogged filter.

If you have an old unit, you may need to switch to a newer, more energy-efficient model. Units with the ENERGY STAR label can save you up to 20% on energy costs.

4. Minimize Allergens

An experienced HVAC technician can help you improve your home’s indoor air quality. Otherwise, it’s possible you’re breathing in:

• Pet dander
• Pollen
• Cigarette smoke
• Mold
• Dust mites

These allergens can trigger allergic reactions. You may start sniffling, sneezing, and coughing within your own home.

A technician may recommend air duct cleaning services. You may not realize pests have infiltrated your ducts. Routine cleanings can improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Routine maintenance can help you recognize issues that are compromising your family’s health. For example, carbon dioxide can sneak into your home. It’s colorless, odorless, and poisonous.

Regular checks will allow a technician to recognize that you have a problem. They’ll confirm the gas is venting and burning properly.

5. Increased Comfort

No one wants to sweat through summer break indoors. Before there’s an issue with your unit, call your Morristown technicians. They’ll confirm that the unit is working as intended.

The solutions they provide now can help keep your family comfortable all summer. You can avoid the unwanted stress of the unit breaking down.

Talk to a technician if you’ve noticed increased humidity levels within your home. They may recommend you use a dehumidifier. They can identify the root cause of the problem to provide a customized solution.

6. Protect the Environment

Regular HVAC maintenance is beneficial for the environment. Without regular tune-ups, the unit may push itself harder. It will use more fuel to operate.

An experienced technician can offer recommendations to reduce your environmental footprint. They may suggest that you switch to an eco-friendly unit if you’re using an older model.

7. Meet Warranty Requirements

If your HVAC unit breaks down, the manufacturer will request proof that you scheduled maintenance checks. Not having licensed professionals check the unit can invalidate the warranty. You may need to pay for a new unit out of pocket.

Before that happens, schedule regular maintenance. You can protect the unit, your home, and your wallet.

8. Peace of Mind

Requesting routine tune-ups will give you peace of mind. You won’t have to worry every time the unit makes a strange sound or cycles. Instead, your technician can identify the problem and offer a solution.

Budget Heating & Air Conditioning Morristown, TN

Don’t let your HVAC unit break down as temperatures start to rise. Instead, schedule a pre-season HVAC tune-up. A Morristown, TN technician can assess your unit and ensure it’s functioning properly.

Trust our team at Budget Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer comprehensive, fast, and reliable services.

We treat our customers like family and guarantee to exceed expectations. Trust our affordable range of services. Contact us today to schedule your HVAC tune-up.