Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

High Heating and Cooling Costs? The Ducts May Be the Problem

Monday, February 11th, 2019

inside-corrugated-air-ductWe run our HVAC systems throughout the year in Central Florida, often with the air conditioner running even during winter—and heating systems taking over for a few days here and there. If you keep a close eye on your utility bills (always a good plan!), you should have an idea of what your seasonal heating and cooling costs are, and they should remain steady through the season.

Sudden spikes in the cost of heating and cooling your house when there isn’t an obvious reason for it is often a warning of a malfunction. Your might first think it’s a problem in the AC or the heater. Almost any type of repair need in a cooling or heating system will cause it to drain more money as it runs. But one of the main causes of wasted energy in an HVAC system isn’t located in the AC or heater—it’s in the ductwork. You may not realize it, but the cure for your high utility bills might be professional duct repair in Macclenny, FL from our experts.

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Black Mold and Your HVAC System

Monday, January 14th, 2019

mold-on-wallThe term black mold is one homeowners never want to hear. It’s one of the scariest possibilities for a house in a place like Florida, where the damp and often warm weather makes it easy for mold to start developing in parts of the house. Mold of any kind is unpleasant to look at and creates bad odors. Black mold, however, presents a health threat to the people in a household.

One of the most harmful places where black mold can develop is inside the ventilation system of a house. Not only is it hard to recognize because it is out of easy sight, but the harmful spores from the mold will spread all around the house when the air conditioning and heating system comes on and the blower fan pushes air to the different rooms.

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How a UV Air Purifier Works to Clean Your Home’s Air

Monday, December 17th, 2018

woman-with-allergiesOne of the biggest problems homes in Florida deal with is humidity creating mold and mildew. While mildew is an unpleasant-looking nuisance capable of damaging wood and drywall, mold can present a more serious hazard—toxic mold spores.

But mold spores are only one of several organic pollutants that may be circulating through the rooms of a home. Standard air filtration systems and air purifiers are often ineffective at stopping spores, microbes, bacteria, viruses, and general “icky” stuff.

If your home suffers from organic contaminants that lower the general health of the household, you’ll need a powerful, professional solution. This is where we introduce you to the UV air purifier, aka UV germicidal lights.

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Don’t Let Humidity Ruin Your Spring!

Monday, April 9th, 2018

woman-with-fanHumidity in homes is a problem that can occur almost any place in the country. Even in a desert climate. The reason is that homes generate water moisture inside them, from cooking and showering.

Here in Florida, however, humidity can be an extreme problem from inside and outside a home. As we move deeper into spring, humidity levels will skyrocket. We don’t want you to suffer through a dreadful, soggy, muggy spring—or summer, for that matter—because your home is dealing with high humidity. There are many ways we can help you out, but the best is with the installation of a whole-house dehumidifier in Lake City, FL or wherever you live in our service area.

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4 Things to Know about Humidity and Home Comfort

Monday, October 9th, 2017

man-fan-hat-chairIn Gainesville, we’ve all heard this time and time again… “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity!” Humidity is responsible for a lot of our discomfort throughout much of the year here. It affects you out doors, but it also has an impact on indoor comfort. And yet, so few people actually make the effort to control humidity in the home. Usually, it takes more than just a good air conditioning system!

Today, we want to focus on four things we think every homeowner in Florida should know about humidity and home comfort. From how it affects your body to how it raises your bills to what you can do to lower your humidity without breaking the bank every month, we’ve got your guide to ultimate whole-house comfort.

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Which Air Purifier is Ideal for Your Home?

Monday, July 31st, 2017

air-filterImproving indoor air quality is a very important part of keeping as healthy and comfortable as possible year-round. It’s especially important during the summer season, though, as people tend to shut themselves in their homes and cut off most fresh air flow. That tends to increase the concentration of various contaminants in the home, including pollen, dander, dust, mold spores, and germs. If you want to improve your air quality by getting rid of these contaminants, the best thing to do is to install a whole-house indoor air purifier. Have a look at some of the most popular air purifier types below.

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Tips to Keep Your Indoor Air Quality High This Summer

Monday, July 3rd, 2017

woman-blowing-noseKeeping cool and comfortable is certainly important during the summer months. However, it’s far from the only thing you need to worry about when it comes to your indoor climate. Indoor air quality has a substantial impact on both health and comfort levels. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most ignored factors by homeowners. If you want to stay and comfortable as healthy as possible during the summer season, make sure that you improve your indoor air quality by following these tips.

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Tips for Keeping Your Indoor Air Quality High This Spring

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

dandelion-fieldDuring this time of year, far too many people focus on trying to stay cool and neglect other important home issues. Not that staying cool isn’t important, of course. Just make sure you devote at least as much attention towards making sure that your indoor air quality remains high.

Indoor air quality is one of those things that’s very important for health and comfort, but which the vast majority of homeowners simply ignore. Have a look at why indoor air quality is so vital to your comfort and health, and what you can do to keep it high this spring.

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The Most Important Thing You Need to Know About Whole-House Air Filters

Monday, February 13th, 2017

The indoor air quality in your home is probably quite a bit worse than you think it is. Sure, you may not be hacking and coughing every minute you spend inside, but that doesn’t mean that your air quality is as good as it could be. Poor air quality has substantial impact on the health and comfort of the home’s occupants. It can cause all kinds of issues, from allergy attacks, to the flu, to bouts of asthma. These issues are typically the result of exposure to microscopic contaminants. Common household air contaminants include, but are not limited to, dust, pollen, dander, viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. It’s a good idea to install a whole-house air filter to address these contaminants and improve your air quality. Before you do that, though, there are some things that you need to account for.

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How to Maintain Your Indoor Air Quality This Winter

Monday, December 5th, 2016

As we get further into winter, you’re obviously going to make staying warm one of your top priorities. However, you also need to be paying attention to your indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can have a serious negative effect on both your health and comfort. If you want to improve your quality of life as much as possible this winter, you need to start by improving your indoor air quality. Here are some tips on how to keep your indoor air quality high this winter.

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