DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

Do I Need a Dehumidifier in My Romeoville Home?

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Summer brings not only heat, but also humidity. Because of the excess moisture in the air, the human body cannot sweat as effectively, and then means the body can’t release as much heat. The result is an increased sensation of heat that goes beyond what the thermometer shows.

Although there isn’t much you can do about humidity when you’re outside (a hand fan can waft away the heat envelope around you, but that’s about it), you do have ways to control it in your home. An air conditioner naturally removes water moisture from the air during the evaporation stage. Since ACs are not specifically designed as dehumidifiers, they have only limited use for this job. A much better option to beat heavy humidity is with a whole-house dehumidifier installed professionally in your AC.

If you think you’ll benefit from a dehumidifier in Romeoville, IL, contact the indoor air quality specialists at DuAll Heating & Cooling today.

Here are some signs that will tell you it’s time to get a dehumidifier:

You have to run the AC constantly to stay comfortable

Are you encountering higher electrical bills during the summer because the air conditioner needs to run all the time to keep you comfortable? Humidity may be responsible for much of this, making you hot an uncomfortable. An air conditioner can only do so much at removing humidity, so installing a dedicated dehumidifier will go a long way toward reducing your need to run the AC. You can often decrease air conditioning use by 50% with the right dehumidifier working for you (and it uses much less power than an AC, so it won’t skew your utility bills).

You are having problems with mold and mildew

The increase in humidity invites other problems. Thin layers of water moisture on surfaces and entering into cracks and fissures are breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Aside from looking unattractive and creating sour musty odors, these growths also release toxic spores into the air that can create flu- and cold-like symptoms. If you find mold and mildew growth in your home, it’s time to have a humidifier remove their source of growth.

Water damage is affecting your home

Moisture ruins most surfaces in home: wallpaper peels, pain blisters, wood warps, stains appear on walls and ceilings. Valuable precision objects, like musical instruments, can suffer irreparable damage. When water damage signs begin to show up, and it isn’t from a leaking pipe somewhere, you may need to combat the humidity with dehumidifier installation.

Make certain that when you opt for a dehumidifier that you have experts take care of the installation. They will decide the right size and type of unit to tackle your home’s space and specific problems. For fine work installing a dehumidifier in Romeoville, IL, call on DuAll Heating & Cooling. Our NATE-certified technicians will take good care of you.

Tags: Dehumidifier, Romeoville
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When Should I Schedule a Professional Duct Cleaning?

Sunday, January 12th, 2014

*DuAll Heating & Cooling no longer offers duct cleaning services. Take a look at our other indoor air quality services to find the best solution for your needs.

Design and construction of ductwork in a house aims to keep the ducts as hidden as possible so they don’t interfere with the look of a home. But this means that you won’t often have a good idea if your ducts are developing infestations of dust, dirt, hair, pollen, or biological contaminants. All of these intruders into your ducts will contribute to lowering your indoor air quality and placing strain on your HVAC system that can lead to early repairs and higher power bills.

So how do you know you should schedule duct cleaning? We’ll offer some helpful tips.

Hints that it’s time to schedule duct cleaning service

An increase in energy bills: Regardless of whether you have your AC or heater sending conditioned air through the ducts, you will find an increase in energy use if the ducts develop too much contamination. Dust along the ducts will significantly increase air resistance; it will also clog up the air filter and restrict air flow. This will make your HVAC system work harder and drain excess power.
More dust in your home: If regular dusting and cleaning in your home starts to turn ineffective—the dust returns almost immediately—and dust bunnies start growing in the corners, then you may have vents blowing out a build-up of dust from the duct walls.
A rise in allergy-like symptoms: A decline in indoor air quality because of dirty ductwork is most noticeable in people who have allergies to airborne pollutants. But these same symptoms can appear in anyone to some degree. Symptoms to look for resemble a low-level cold or flu, with congestion, eye and nose irritation, coughing and wheezing, and headaches. Indoor air quality is often quite poor indoors, and keeping your ventilation system clean is an important part of improving it.
You haven’t done it in over a year: Even without any of these other signs, you should have duct cleaning done if more than a year has passed since you last scheduled it. A year is enough time for dust to settle inside ducts. Get potential problems eliminated before they can cause worse problems.

Summon professional cleaners

Duct cleaning isn’t something you can take care of by leaning into your vents with a whisk broom and bottle of spray cleaner. Professionals with tools like the Roto Brush will need to take on this task. Experts like those at DuAll Heating & Cooling can do the job fast and effectively. Call us for your duct cleaning in Plainfield, IL.

Tags: Duct Cleaning, Plainfield
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Common Air Duct Contaminants : Dust, Mold Spores, Pollen

Monday, April 8th, 2013

*DuAll Heating & Cooling no longer offers duct cleaning services. Take a look at our other indoor air quality services to find the best solution for your needs.

Keeping the components of your heating and cooling systems clean is imperative to their effective and efficient operation. While many of our clients are rigorous when it comes to changing their air filters and sweeping debris away from the outdoor compressor, many forget about the impact that dirty air ducts can have on their home comfort. It’s not only an air quality issue, but also a matter of heating and cooling performance. Even small amounts of resistance in your ductwork can contribute to inadequate airflow and cause damage in other parts of the system. In this post, we’d like to review some common duct contaminants that you may have in your home.

Dust. While the EPA maintains that dust poses no serious health hazard, it can be a serious respiratory irritant to homeowners suffering from allergies or respiratory problems, such as asthma. When dust accumulates in your ductwork, it becomes airborne when cooled and heated air moves through your system. It’s not only an irritant, but it also leads to more cleanup throughout the home. We know you have enough of that already, so duct cleaning allows you to tackle the dust problem at its source.
Mold spores. Mold is another contaminant that can accumulate inside your ductwork. Indeed, during the heating and cooling seasons, our homes are so tightly enclosed and insulated that moisture and ventilation problems can lead to ideal conditions for mold spores to thrive. While it’s easy to notice when mold is growing in the bathroom shower, it’s less easy to spot mold when it’s hidden within the ductwork.
Pollen. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you need your home to be a haven from outdoor allergens like pollen. Unfortunately, pollen can enter into your ductworks and become airborne when you turn on your heating and cooling systems. Duct cleaning ensures that your home receives clean and filtered air.

For more information about how your air ducts affect indoor air quality and energy efficiency, make sure you call the Naperville, IL indoor air quality experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling today!

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Benefits of Whole Home Humidity Control

Monday, March 11th, 2013

Improper humidity levels are a real nuisance, but many homeowners fail to realize the fact that poor humidity levels can actually have a serious impact on not only your comfort but the condition of your home as well. If your home suffers from consistently high or excessively humidity levels you may want to consider a whole home humidity control system installation. The Bolingbrook, IL humidity control technicians at DuAll Heating & Cooling are here to help you make your home a more comfortable place to live. Contact us today to learn more about the whole home humidity control system options in your area.

High humidity levels can create a great number of problems in your home. One of the most prevalent issues is a general reduction in comfort. Humidity traps heat, and if your home is too humid it can be very stuffy and uncomfortable. Because biological pollutants, such as bacteria, mildew and mold, thrive in damp conditions, high humidity levels can also lead to problems with such pollutants. Using a whole home dehumidifier in Bolingbrook, IL is a great way to avoid such issues. These devices work with your air conditioning system to remove excess moisture from the air. They can also work independently to allow you to dehumidify your home on days when your AC is not needed.

Very dry conditions in your home are no more desirable than very humid conditions. A lack of humidity in your air can make it difficult to keep your home comfortable efficiently. It can also lead to sore throats and dry, itchy skin. Static shocks can also be a problem in homes with very low humidity levels. These shocks are very annoying, but they can also do real damage to costly electronic equipment. By restoring proper humidity levels to your home with a whole home humidifier in Bolingbrook, IL you can protect your comfort and your home as well.

Contact DuAll Heating & Cooling today if you are interested in learning more about whole home humidity control. Our Bolingbrook, IL humidity control technicians can help make your home a more comfortable place to live. Call today to schedule service.

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Why Use an Energy Recovery Ventilator?

Monday, October 29th, 2012

If there was a way for you to use less energy to heat and cool your house would you be interested in learning about it? Most people would say yes. An energy recovery ventilator, as its name suggests, is able to capture energy from the air that is entering and leaving your home. It provides a number of other benefits to your home in addition to energy savings. Below are a few reasons to consider installing an energy recovery ventilator in your home in Bolingbrook.

How Does an Energy Recovery Ventilator Work?

An ERV is an additional component of your heating and air conditioning system that, at its most basic level, pre-heats or pre-cools the going into your heating and AC system. Here are the steps in the process for heating season:

Cold air from outside and warm, stale air from inside are drawn into the energy recovery ventilator.
The two air streams are not mixed but heat energy from the exiting stale air is transferred to the cold air coming in.
The now-cooler stale air is exhausted and the now-warmer outside air is filtered and pumped into the heat exchanger to be fully heated.

Efficiency Benefits

One of the main reasons for an ERV is the increase in energy efficiency. With warmer air coming into your furnace or heat pump, your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard. This allows your system to consume less energy and potentially save you money.

Health Benefits

Many energy recovery ventilators also provide air filtration and humidity control features that can increase the air quality in your home. During cooling season, moisture and heat from the outgoing air is added to the cold, dry air coming in. Using a ventilating system to bring in fresh air to your home might be able to reduce the pollutants in your home’s air. Some ERV systems also have filtration components to actively filter incoming air. Not only can indoor air quality and humidity contribute to your comfort levels, but it can also impact how quickly your furniture wears out.

If you have any questions about energy recovery ventilators or if you’re interested in having one installed in your home in Bolingbrook, call the experts at DuAll Heating and Cooling. We have years of experience working with these types of systems. One of our trained technicians can walk you through the process and determine if an energy recovery ventilator is right for you.

Tags: Bolingbrook, Energy Recovery Ventilator, Indoor Air Quality
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