Where does indoor air pollution come from?

Modern man spends a great deal of time indoors – some 90% of our lives in the “shelter” of homes and buildings. Unfortunately, all this time indoors can come at a cost to our health. Tighter building designs geared toward energy and cost savings are trapping pollutants inside the dwellings where we seek respite.
Rather than clean indoor air, we are instead being assaulted by pollution levels two to five times higher than the air outdoors.
Where are all those pollutants coming from?

• Mold and mildew
  High humidity and dampness resulting from condensation, poor ventilation, plumbing and other leaks can aid in the proliferation of mildew and mold, triggering allergy and asthma symptoms, eye, skin, nose, throat, and lung irritation, as well as upper and lower respiratory issues in those exposed.
• Biological contaminants
  Biological contaminants in your home include not only mold, mildew, bacteria and viruses, but pollen, dust mites, cockroach feces, and more. Contaminants are carried in via your person or on your pets, and are distributed throughout your home – even through your HVAC ducts. These contaminants are capable of aggravating allergies and asthma and/or causing disease, but can be easily controlled with the use of high quality filters and UV germicidal lamps.
• Smoke
  Smoke from both cigarettes and combustion burning create gases and particulates that carry a host of chemicals which can result in eye, nose, and throat irritation, respiratory irritation and infections, emphysema, lung cancer, and more.
• Asbestos
  A natural mineral fiber used in various building components in most homes over 20 years old, including insulation, flooring materials, and more, asbestos exposure can ultimately result in abdominal, chest, and lung cancers and asbestosis.
• Radon
  Colorless, tasteless, and odorless, radon is created from the naturally occurring breakdown of radioactive materials in earth and rock. Symptoms are not immediately apparent, however radon is linked to an estimated 20,000 lung-cancer deaths annually.
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
  Colorless and odorless, CO gas is produced during the incomplete combustion of all carbon-based fuels, including commonly used wood, charcoal, gas, diesel, kerosene, propane, and other natural gases. Often mistaken for the flu, exposure causes headache, drowsiness, dizziness, impairment of respiration, vision, and brain function, and ultimately death. If you fear CO may be an issue in your home, consult an indoor air quality service professional right away.
• Formaldehyde and other VOCs
  Off-gassing from pressed wood products, foam insulation, glues and adhesives, carpet and upholstery, household cleaning and deodorizing products, and more can release pungent gases into the air capable of causing allergic reactions, headaches, nausea, dizziness/confusion, eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing. Multitudinous VOCs are linked to brain, liver, and kidney damage, as well as various cancers.
• Lead
  Lead-based paint, pipes, and fixtures in older homes can contribute to airborne dust particles, causing significant health effects including cognitive and developmental issues in children, brain, nervous system, and kidney damage, anemia, hearing loss, and even death.

Ventilation plays a starring role in indoor air quality
To provide efficient energy use, particularly with regard to your home’s heating and cooling equipment, homes are specifically designed to minimize the amount of air that can leak into and out of them. This can result in the need for enhanced ventilation and specialty air filters in your HVAC systems to preserve the air quality in your home. Options include:

• Site-specific exhaust fans, such as in the kitchen and bath.
• Whole house air purifiers with UV lamps.
• Mechanical ventilation, such as exhaust or supply ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators.

Concerned about the air quality in your home? Ensure a clean, healthy home environment year-round. Contact H&H Heating and Air Conditioning, the indoor air quality experts, today.

Things to Check Before Calling for Air Conditioning Services in Delaware County, PA

Air conditioner on the fritz? Hold up - don't call your air conditioning contractor yet! If your air conditioner isn’t operating properly, it may only be a minor issue. Try these simple solutions before scheduling your air conditioning system repair:

1. Is it on?
   Does your system have power to it? Make sure the main power switch in the “On” position for proper operation. Sounds silly – because it worked yesterday – but kids, animals, weather, and accidents happen. Avoid the frustration of a repair bill over a flipped switch. Check these items first.
2. Did you blow a fuse?
   We don’t mean your aggravation at the current state of your system! Air conditioning units pull quite a bit of power. Check your circuit breaker panel and ensure the necessary breakers are in place, turned on, and functioning properly. Watch out for tricky breakers – those that have only tripped halfway, which may appear at a quick glance to be alright. They will need to be fully turned off and returned to the on position.
3. What is your thermostat set on?
   Sometimes family members – particularly younger ones – can unknowingly sabotage your system. Check to see first that your system is in cooling mode. Then check to see that it is set at the correct temperature to cause the system to come on.
4. Do you need to close the door?
   Not your front door, the blower door on your air handler. It must be securely closed for proper operation.
5. Experiencing a clog?
   Check the drain line next to your outdoor unit. Lines that are buried or clogged with algae (which you may not be able to see) can cause your home to get sticky due to the improper operation of the system. A condensate overflow tray that needs to be emptied can also cause problems.
6. How cruddy is your filter?
   An extremely dirty air filter can block air supply to your system and prevent proper function. If your filter is gross, try swapping it out (if it is disposable) or cleaning it (if it is a permanent filter) before calling the repair man.
7. Is you system not shutting off?
   You may need to adjust the temperature. If you raise the thermostat 5-10 degrees and your your system can only manage temperatures about 20 degrees cooler than the outdoor air. If its 100 outside, be thankful for 78-80 degrees.
8. Do you have an owner’s manual?
   If you’ve tried the above solutions, or if you have a specialty system like a geo thermal heating and cooling system, consult your owner’s manual. It may offer additional troubleshooting suggestions specific to your system.

Air conditioner issues still leaving you hot under the collar?
Everyone needs a little help every now and then. Luckily the friendly professionals at H & H Heating and Air Conditioning have your back. Give us a call and get back to home comfort today!

Environmental Benefits of Geothermal Heating and Cooling

An increasing amount of homeowners are choosing Geothermal heating and cooling as an energy efficient way to heat and cool their homes. This form of HVAC technology uses the earth’s heat to warm as well as cool the home and is one of the most environmentally friendly options available on the market. So if you are looking for a greener approach to HVAC, consider replacing your existing unit with a geothermal heating and air conditioning system.

Energy efficient

The energy efficiency of the geothermal system is derived from the process of transferring renewable energy from the earth. As these forms of heaters require a much simpler process of creating heat than traditional air conditioners, they need 25% to 50% lesser energy to function, minimising the rate of greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the array of HVAC technologies available to homeowners today, geothermal technology stands out due to its efficiency. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a geothermal heat pump can help reduce energy consumption by up to 44% when compared to heat pump installation.

Renewable energy source

As mentioned earlier, this form of HVAC system functions using the constant flow of heat that is stored in the centre of the Earth, making it a renewable energy source that is available 24/7.

Still not convinced? The EPA offer their seal of approval to this form of home heating and consider geothermal ground source heat pumps to be amongst the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective options available to homeowners.

Other benefits of the geothermal system:

Apart from the environmental benefits it offers, the geothermal alternative to traditional heating and cooling can also give you a range of extra advantages. Here are some ways you and your family can benefit from installing a geothermal heat pump:

• This system is one of the most economical alternative to traditional HVAC units as its 400% energy efficiency rating earns you some neat utility savings in the long run. Say goodbye to stressful bills!
• Geothermal heaters have a lifespan of approximately 15 years and if looked after properly, require minimum maintenance. Get your unit checked by an local air conditioning service annually and check and replace the filters regularly. This should ensure your unit will run as smoothly as ever.
• These systems can also be beneficial as a source of hot water alongside home heating and cooling. Additionally, the system can be utilized and extended to heat your family’s pool as well.
• A geothermal system will occupy far less space within your home as compared to a traditional air conditioner.  
• As this system does not require an outdoor compressor, you can rest assured that you will have one less thing to worry about.

At H&H, we provide our customers with the latest technology and best HVAC repair services. If you are looking to go green with your heating and cooling, contact your trusted air conditioning company for professionally installed geothermal heat pumps and units with the best service guaranteed.

UV Lights to Purify your Home’s Indoor Air

Healthy air quality is not only vital for your family’s health and well being, but is also essential in creating the ideal ambiance around your home. With pollutants and allergens making a way into your home through many outlets such as pets and cooking fumes, it can be hard to keep air quality in check. However, with the latest innovation in air purification technology - the UV lights air purifiers, poor indoor air quality could be a thing of the past for your home.

What are home air purifiers?

Home air purifiers are the ideal way to offer relief to asthma and allergy suffers. Allergens and bacteria can make a way into your home through a range of channels. Whether it is pet dander, mould, mildew, dust, smoke or pollen, allergens can severely degrade air quality and cause damage to your health. This is where air purifiers come in. These devices successfully eliminate the bacteria and particles from your home and restore healthy and clean air.

How do UV lights purify indoor air?

A UV lights purifier will use electromagnetic radiation to rid your home of bacteria and other pollutants. This form of air purifier often consists of a UV lamp that is used to sterile microorganisms that linger in the air. 

Advantages and disadvantages of installing uv light air purification system

• This particular form of air purification is extremely effective in eliminating germs from the air, making them the ideal solution for households suffering from allergies.
• If health is your primary concern, installing a UV lights purifier will be beneficial in preventing illnesses within your home.
• This form of air purification is also great for ridding your home of unpleasant odours, making it more inviting.
• UV lights purifiers like the OxyQuantum LED are easy to install within the existing ductwork of your home.
• We all want a home environment that is peaceful and relaxing. These purifiers work silently, keeping the bliss of your home intact.

It is important to realise that though this particular technology is extremely efficient in eliminating germs; it does not remove dust and solid particles from the air. To counter this, they can be paired with other air purification devices like HEPA filters, Carbon Filters or Ionic filters to achieve air totally free of dust, germs and bacteria.

How to get UV lights purifiers in your home

If the UV lights system seems the ideal choice for your home, contacting your local central heat and air installation company is the next step in the process. Ensure that they offer sufficient warranty on the product and provide quality brands and units. 

If you are tired of poor air quality and want a change, the UV lights air purifiers may be the ideal choice for you. To learn more about our services and the different local heating and ac companies available on the market, contact H&H heating and air conditioning.

Geo-Thermal Heating Installation - Things To Consider

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) may not be new to you, but they are not as common as air source heat pumps. Gaining familiarity with geothermal heat pumps—what they can and cannot do in this region—can help you decide if they are wise choice for your home, and if they will save you money on energy bills in the future. 
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Heat Pumps

Furnaces and boilers use combustion to release heat energy from fuels. Natural gas and oil are not the only sources of heat, however. Any mass has thermal energy—the total kinetic energy of all its particles—so air, water, and the ground itself has this thermal energy. Tapping this for heating our homes is tricky. You have to extract and transfer thermal energy affordably. 

One solution is a heat pump. Heat pump installation  and geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the air, water or ground and bring it into your home. In summer, the process is reversed, and heat from indoor air is expelled outside. 

Geothermal Heat Pumps

The word “geothermal” may give you visions of natural springs or rivers of lava. We have very few sources of magma in Pennsylvania, so geothermal heat pumps use closed water loops to transfer ground heat into the water, bring it up, concentrate it and pass it into your home’s air. 

Water has a very high heat capacity—it holds a lot of thermal energy before you notice a rise in temperature. Air has a much lower heat capacity, meaning its temperature will rise more quickly than water when you add energy. 
This is your clue that GHPs are far more energy efficient than air source heat pumps: You are loading water with the free ground heat, then transferring all that heat into your home’s air at very little cost. To extract heat from outside air, an air source heat pump must work more often, and harder, than a geothermal heat pump. 

Pop Quiz

Which is larger, the mass of your Delaware Valley home or the Delaware Valley itself? Of course the thermal energy held in the ground is far greater than the thermal energy of your home, so even on the coldest days, the ground beneath you has ample heat to transfer into your home. This adds to the energy efficiency of geothermal heat pumps. 

The seasons do not affect the usefulness of GHPs:

• During heating season, the earth gives up heat to warm you and your family comfortably and affordably. 
• During cooling season, the heat pump gathers the heat from your home’s air and sends it down into the cooler earth below. You enjoy dehumidified, cool air with maximum energy efficiency. 
• Central air conditioners, by contrast, are only useful in cooling season. 
• Furnaces and boilers are only useful in heating season. 

Energy-efficient geothermal heat pumps use loops (horizontal or vertical) to run water, or a water and antifreeze solution, through the the earth at a pleasant year-round temperature of approximately 54 degrees below the frost line. The Delaware Valley is a great spot to take advantage of the natural heating and cooling properties of the earth. Contact H&H Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more. 

Building a Wine Cellar? Here are the top things to consider

No longer for the uber-rich, planning a wine cellar can be fun and exciting. Tailor-made cellars are more affordable than ever before, a trend that can be seen in their increasing appearance in new home construction. Before investing in in your wine cellar and cooling unit, be sure to consider these important facets of your wine cellar design:

• Cellar Size and Type
  
  
  The purpose of your cellar will determine its size. Storage-only cellars are compact and pack maximum storage into minimal space. Moderately sized cellars can offer storage and improved display capabilities. On the other end, large, customized cellars can be very elaborate and provide storage, display, tasting areas, themed décor, and more.

 System type

• Self-contained:
  Self-contained systems are economical and easy to install between existing wall studs without the help of a heating and air service and repair contractors, however they are noisier than other systems.
• Split system:
  Split systems are the most efficient, however their condensers are noisy and require significant space for ventilation. Luckily they allow for condenser placement away from the cellar when installed by a licensed heating and air conditioning company allowing for better heat dissipation/noise reduction.
• Ducted:
  Ducted systems offer greater installation options/flexibility, can reduce/eliminate noise with proper installation, and be installed up to 25 ducted feet from the cellar so you won't have to see the wine cooling unit in the cellar.
• Location
  Choose a room with as little exposure to direct sunlight for temperature control. Consider compressor noise when determining placement. The system will run 24/7, 50-60% of the day to maintain temperature.
• Venting
  Adequate ventilation is the key to climate management. Your unit will cool your wine only within a 30-55 degree F temperature differential of your exhaust room, depending on your chosen system. In a system with a 55 degree temperature differential, for example, the exhaust room must not exceed 110 degrees F to prevent wine from being compromised.
• Insulation 
  The better insulated the cellar, the less your cooling unit run to maintain climate. This makes garages and uninsulated spaces a poor choice. Concrete walls are also inappropriate as they absorb cooling. Framed walls with insulation are necessary: R13 for interior walls, R19 for exterior - though R30 is recommended. Glass cellars are poorly insulated and require larger systems.
• Humidity
  A vapor barrier protects your cellar from excess moisture and mold, as well as too little moisture that can result in dried corks and oxygen damage. It is imperative to choose a wine cooling system that maintains both temperature and humidity.
• Lighting
  Low voltage LEDs or fluorescents paired with a motion sensor are recommended to prevent unwanted heat buildup and light exposure.
• Wall covering
  Choose from standard drywall, green board for moisture resistance, tongue-and-groove wood paneling in redwood or cedar, or PVA paint.
• Flooring
  Slate, marble, tile, and vinyl are all excellent choices for the flooring of your cellar
• Racking
  Choose from rot-resistant mahogany, redwood, or cedar to protect your collection.
• Redundant cooling systems
  For high-value collections, a second cooling system such as your home’s air conditioner may be used as backup. A dedicated circuit is essential, and a backup generator a wise investment.

Ready to build your cellar but don’t know where to start? H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. can help. Contact us today.

How Often should you Replace your Home Air Filters?

As easy as it is to neglect the maintenance needs of your heating and air conditioning system, it only makes the job harder in the long run. Like most parts of your heating and air conditioning installation, home air filters need to be replaced and cleaned on a regular basis. While many homeowners are aware of this fact, they find themselves struggling to realize the best time to replace them.

So how often should you replace you HVAC system’s filters? As every heating and air conditioning system is different, consulting the manufacturer’s guide is the best way to make sure you are doing what is best for your machine and avoiding any unnecessary issues. However, if you are looking for a general guideline to follow, replacing your home air filters once every three months, allows them to be clean and fresh all year round. Despite this, it is important to be diligent and keep an eye on your filters every month to see if they are getting clogged with dust or dirt. Lastly, if you live in a household with allergies or pets, you may have to replace your filters more frequently to avoid pet dander lingering around. 

Why should you change your home air filters?

Changing your heating system’s filters may seem like an unnecessary hassle but it is a little bit trouble that’s worth a whole lot of benefits. Here are some ways you and your household can benefit from this type of maintenance:

•    Clean filters ensure your unit is free of any dirt and debris. The cleaner the filters, the better the air flow and the healthier the air you breathe.

•    If you or a member of your family suffer from allergies or asthma, replacing your filters will allow them to breathe easier. Clogged filters can significantly deteriorate the air quality in your home, impacting the overall health as well as aggravating allergies.

•    With cleaner filters, there is a greater chance that your HVAC unit will function more efficiently, thereby decreasing your energy usage and consequently your electricity bills.

•    Finally, heating system maintenance services can go a long way in extending its life span. A well looked after unit will serve your household for a lot longer, adding up to greater savings in the future.

Aside from frequently replacing your comfort systems filters, here are some ways you can improve its overall efficiency. 

•    Yearly check-ups- Although there are many ways of looking after your system yourself, calling in the experts to take a look annually can be extremely beneficial. HVAC technicians can test your unit to ensure its functioning well and also share their professional insights on maintenance and usage.

•    Carbon monoxide testing- Booking a carbon monoxide test can also be an excellent way to secure the health and wellbeing of your home. As carbon monoxide leaks are tough to detect, getting a professional to take a look will give you the added reassurance. 

• Clean the outdoor unit- Another DIY method of heating and air conditioning repair is by cleaning the outdoor unit. Ensure the unit’s air flow is not being obstructed by plants and foliage and clean any build-up of dust or debris.

•    Services Agreement- Don’t want the stress of constant maintenance? A service agreement with your local HVAC company can help. By committing to a service agreements, you can take the pressure away from heating and air conditioning maintenance and also get great savings on a range of services.

If you want more information on how to maintain your indoor air quality services, contact H & H Heating and Air Conditioning, the experts in all things HVAC.