Many homeowners don’t realize this, but the indoor air quality (IAQ) of their home can actually be worse than the fresh air of the outdoors. It’s hard to believe, when our outdoor air quality isn’t even that bad to begin with, relative to other parts of the country. But if you have a modern home, it means it was built “tightly” to allow for the best efficiency for your HVAC systems—and this type of construction also allows for allergens and other contaminants to stay trapped in your home.

This is great news for your energy bills, as your air conditioner and heater will operate more efficiently. But it’s not so great if anyone in your family is an allergy or asthma sufferer. With no air being able to escape your home, contaminants like dust, dirt, pollen and pet dander get trapped inside with you, and even the healthiest person can become ill—without the right indoor air quality products and services in place.

Remember that there is indoor air and outdoor air, and the rate that one displaces the other is called the air exchange rate, and can be taken into account when trying to keep outdoor air pollution out, as much as possible, via things like air intakes and exhaust fans that are part of a quality ventilation system.

Some indoor air pollutants aren’t from outdoor air pollution, but could be from tobacco smoke. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has a disclaimer about secondhand smoke and the damage it can cause. Regardless of the sources of indoor air pollution, the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and the health effects they have, is something that every homeowner needs to consider.

When it comes to contaminants and allergens affecting air quality, we can all suffer the itchy eyes, sneezing, and other allergic reactions to the airborne particles, mold spores and other pollutants that can build up in your HVAC system’s ductwork.

You might be thinking that’s just a fact of life this time of year, as the cooler temperatures dissipate and all the dust, pollen, pet dander and other pollutants outdoors gets kicked back up again and makes its way into our homes, and causing dirty air ducts, and clogging up the air filter. 

Well not to worry! In addition to getting you set up with the right indoor air quality services, the Climate Control team will also make sure that your ducts are clean and ready to carry clean air conditioning air throughout your home, improving air flow, which can lower your energy bills and reduce your energy costs because your HVAC system can work less to provide the same performance! Not to mention it can even possibly increase the lifespan of your air conditioning system.

Comfort Bear here, ready to dispense some wisdom for you. Hold onto your seat, because this one’s a real mind blower:

You know how it gets hot and uncomfortable in the summer? You might think that it’s the high temperatures that have got you feeling gross and sweaty. But you’d be mistaken.

The truth is that it’s not the heat, it’s actually the humidity that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Sorry, what? You say you’ve already heard that expression? And you’ve heard it more times than you can stand it?

Okay, okay. But did you know that you can turn your home into a safe haven, free from the discomfort of high humidity, with the simple addition of a whole-house dehumidifier?

And not only will this help you feel more comfortable, but it can even save you money! Here’s the complete rundown:

Comfort Bear here, this time with an important PSA for all homeowners:

Duck cleaning is a scam. Don’t trust anyone who comes to your home claiming that your ducks need to be cleaned. For one, ducks are constantly in the water. And two, it’s called “preening,” not “cleaning.”

That being said, duct cleaning is definitely something you should have performed if you want your HVAC system to run efficiently and smoothly. If there’s ever any concern, you can always consult the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. They were founded specifically to establish the standards for what makes a proper duct cleaning in Kansas City.

Duct cleaning is an essential part of a balanced maintenance tune-up, so I don’t want you to forget about it when it comes time to fire up your air conditioner again this year. Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything:

Dry air. Dry air can be the itch that won’t go away, the relative humidity that just won’t let you stop coughing, with thin, poor air quality. While low humidity may be something to look for in wet, warmer climates, there are times when we may be wishing for high humidity, or at least the benefits it may offer for indoor air quality and water vapor levels!

There are times when you may need to run a dehumidifier to control the humidity levels in your home. You may also run air pollution systems to improve indoor air quality and remove allergens, pollutants and mitigate mold growth to avoid human health problems and the health effects of poor ventilation systems and how they relate to VOCS (volatile organic compounds) and your health. Whether from smoke, soot, spores, aerosol, pollen and other allergens and pollutants, your mucous membranes have never needed you more than now!

Our indoor environment is where we spend so much of our time, and our HVAC system helps shield us from the temps of the outdoor air, but if you find yourself feeling sick more often than usual, the answer may have something to do with indoor air quality. 

An enclosed space like a home or office can easily become a breeding ground for indoor pollutants and contaminants. Our ventilation system for our air conditioning and heating units can spread airborne allergens, dust mites, animal dander, mold spies, particulates and other indoor air pollutants. When immune systems are lowered, poor IAQ can contribute to the spread of bacteria and viruses from indoor air pollution and irritants, as well as rob us of better sleep and well-being. It can even exacerbate allergies and asthma.

Fresh air can truly do the body good, and the way to improve the VOCS (volatile organic compounds) for our indoor environments is to address indoor air quality as much as possible. Here are a couple of ways you can do that:

Duct cleaning is not one of those things that homeowners often think about. After all, the ducts are not the flashiest parts of your home. At least, I certainly hope they’re not. Take it from a bear who knows, though, keeping your ducts healthy is just as important as making sure that your air conditioner is functioning properly. After all, they’re two parts of the same system! The ducts serve as the lungs of your home. If they’re not in good shape, your air conditioner won’t be able to cool your home effectively. Poor ducts also have a negative effect on the quality of the air itself. Let’s take a look at why it’s so important to keep your ducts as clean as possible.

Summer is not far off, now, and when it arrives you’re going to have more to worry about than keeping cool. Indoor air quality tends to suffer in homes across the country during the summertime, for a variety of different reasons. As indoor air quality in a home drops, so does your comfort. Low indoor air quality is also responsible for increased illness, so it’s a good idea to keep it as high as possible. Look at the following systems for some easy ways to improve your indoor air quality this summer.

The ducts in a home are among those things that, despite being quite important, don’t get a whole lot of attention. The problem is that your ducts aren’t really things that you can afford to ignore all the time. Ducts that are neglected by their owners will have a tendency to develop a couple of different issues that will impact the efficiency of the climate control systems hooked up to them, as well as the health of the homeowners. One of the best ways to make sure that your ducts remain in good shape is to schedule duct cleaning for them. Let’s go over why duct cleaning is a good idea, and when you should schedule it.

Okay, so we’re coming to the end of winter, but summer’s still a little way’s off. You’re probably still relying on your heating system to keep your home comfortable during the day. So, since your heating system is working fine and you won’t need to use your air conditioner for a while, you don’t need to worry about any HVAC stuff right now, right? Nope! There is still one thing that you probably haven’t done for a while, if ever. Something that could both improve your HVAC efficiency and your indoor air quality at the same time: duct cleaning. Let’s take a look at why it’s such a good idea to have your ducts cleaned on a regular basis.