Importance of Clean Air

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental dangers to the public and identifies it as one of the leading health risks today. The EPA estimated that pollution levels indoors could be two to five higher than the pollution levels outdoors. And on occasion, indoor air can be as much as 100 times more polluted.

Research studies have found that more people today feel less healthy than at any other time. Also, more people suffer from asthma, allergies, and other respiratory diseases than ever before. Why? Because people over that last 30 to 40 years have been breathing an increasing amount of damaging particles while indoors.

Standard air cleaners have filters that are very dense, so they stop the dust by trapping it in a slightly porous filter. The fewer the pores the more dust it can trap. However, this not only stops the dust and dirt, but it also stops the air from moving as well. So you may not be as comfortable, and less air is cleaned efficiently. Our air cleaners are highly efficient units that provide maximum clean air in your home.

Call Kappl Heating & Air Conditioning today and find out how we can provide your family with the highest quality air in your home today!

Fall is just around the corner!

As the weather starts to cool and we start heading towards fall one thing is almost certain,  your furnace will soon again be used regularly. So now is a great time to get a furnace checkup and do some routine maintenance. You need to make sure your furnace gets the attention it needs.

There is a simple and easy way to insure that your furnace is getting the attention it needs, and that’s by changing the furnace filter.  Changing the filter on your furnace is very easy, yet very important.  It takes only a few minutes to replace a furnace filter, yet the benefits are huge!  Replacing your furnace's filter regularly helps keep your heating and cooling costs low, while providing you cleaner air at the same time.

As furnace filters get dirty, they start to catch and accumulate more dust up to a certain point.  Then, if the furnace filter is not changed, it will begin to restrict airflow. This causes your furnace to work much harder to heat and cool your home because it must run longer, thus using more electricity.

So call Kappl Heating and Air Conditioning today and set up a time to have your fall furnace checkup completed!

What is a Smart Thermostat

Heating systems have not typically been associated with smart technology.

 

The past few years, however, have seen a real explosion in terms of smart heating or smart thermostat technology. Why is this? Well there are a number of reasons.

 

Firstly, the price of energy has skyrocketed by almost 170% in the past decade. Smart thermostats are an important step towards creating smart homes and helping consumers better manage their energy costs. About 60% of household energy is consumed through central heating.

 

Secondly, the popularity of smart devices, such as phones, tablets and desktops, has made home automation technology much more practical and affordable. Say you go on holiday and forget to turn the heating off. With a smart thermostat you can simply use your tablet to turn it off from wherever you are in the world.

 

We are here to answer any questions you may have about Smart Thermostats. Maybe your home needs a Smart Thermostat as a gift this holiday season! Give us a call.

Back to School and your Home

It's back to school time and that means its a great time to check up on a few things around your house. Here's a few things you should do.

1. Change your smoke detector batteries.

2. Check your exterior faucets for leaks.

3. Change your furnace/AC filter.

4. Change your water filter.

5. Schedule a fall HVAC system check-up.

6. Start your holiday shopping list. It's never to early!

When the kids go back to school remember to yield for the bus and watch for children walking and playing.

Doing these things will ensure your house is cared for and the kids are safe.

Tips to Help Your HVAC system during the summer Heat.

1. Invest in a programmable thermostat.
Programmable thermostats allow you to control your HVAC units even when you’re not there. Match your thermostat to your schedule, use a timer for when you leave for work and when you come home, set it for particular rooms, and even set specific temperatures.

2. Change your air filters.
Air filters should be replaced monthly to promote a more efficient system performance. Clogged or dirty air filters can cause a disrupt in the airflow and even lead to health concerns.

3. Protect your HVAC unit from sun and debris.
 An awning or tree can provide shade to your unit and cut energy consumption while helping your unit operate more smoothly. However, note that shrubbery or branches that can get into the system and can hinder the systems performance and may lead to permanent damage.

4. Clean your vents.
It may be obvious but it is truly remarkable what you may not notice about your own home. Vents can be accidentally shut for cleaning purposes and never reopened. If you notice an unusually warm room or area in your home, don’t forget to check the vent. A clean vent also keeps debris from flowing through your home. Dirt and dust can easily collect and can be overlooked; be sure to focus on the inside of your home as well as the outside and ensure your vent and air filters are in good condition.

5. Use a fan.
Heat rises. During those hot summer months, the heat in your home will rise to the ceiling or the second floor of your home. To help that hot air on its way out of your home, fans can be a great tool.

Change your Air Conditioner Filters

The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system's efficiency significantly. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil's heat-absorbing capacity. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%. For central air conditioners, filters are generally located somewhere along the return duct's length. Common filter locations are in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself. Room air conditioners have a filter mounted in the grill that faces into the room. Some types of filters are reusable; others must be replaced. They are available in a variety of types and efficiencies. Clean or replace your air conditioning system's filter or filters every month or two during the cooling season. Filters may need more frequent attention if the air conditioner is in constant use, is subjected to dusty conditions, or you have fur-bearing pets in the house. If you have questions please give us a call!

Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality is one concern that homeowners have when they decide to investigate air duct cleaning. In a typical six-room home, up to 40 pounds of dust is created annually through everyday living. Your heating and cooling system is the lungs of your home. The system takes air in and breathes air out. Through normal occupation in a home, we generate a great deal of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work. While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, school or workplace, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions, autoimmune disorders or some environmental allergies. Each year you should consider having your ducts cleaned.