Why Spring Is the Perfect Time to Think About Indoor Air Quality

Why Spring Is the Perfect Time to Think About Indoor Air Quality

The air quality in your home can have an effect on your overall health. That’s why it is important to ensure that the air in the indoors is of the highest quality. It should be free of pollutants which may cause heart as well as respiratory problems. Poor air quality can worsen the health of people living with asthma.hvac system cleaning service hvac system CLEANING service

While it is important to maintain air quality throughout the year, springtime is especially important because of the things happening in the environment, in general. It is at this this time that the warmer weather sets in. Apart from melting the snow, it worsens air quality indoors and, in the environment, in general.

In this write-up, we discuss why spring is the perfect time to think about indoor air quality. We talk about the symptoms, signs, and factors that worsen the indoor air quality. Once you understand what’s going on, you will be able to better schedule HVAC repair and maintenance.

1. Environmental Factors

There are a number of environmental factors that contribute to poor air quality in the home or office. Most of the pollution occurs due to the burning of wood, coal, diesel, and gasoline. This could be by the trucks, cars, boats, locomotives, power plants, construction vehicles, and industries. As the weather gets warmer, it causes the evaporation of chemicals from cleaners, paints, and gas tanks.

Other pollutants are natural in nature and could take the form of pollen, which is common in spring. Rising temperatures and humidity can also contribute to poor air quality in the home or office. That’s why you need to install a HVAC system with the ability to clear the humid air out of your home. You may need to install a brand-new HVAC system or repair the existing one.

2. Indoor Factors

The indoor air quality can be drastically affected by factors inside the house. Some of the most common factors include dust, smoke, and mold. Apart from causing poor air quality, the presence of any of these factors can lead to respiratory problems such as asthma.

A huge contributor to poor indoor air quality is a HVAC system in a state of disrepair. When an air filter is used in the system for 90 days or more, it will become clogged and unable to filter out dander, pollen, and other particles in the air. This will lead to poor indoor air quality. Another major cause of poor air quality is a poorly installed ventilation.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Spring call Daniels HVAC Philadelphia

HVAC Smart System Control

New HVAC Smart System Control

In today’s fast-paced world, new technologies keep springing up with every passing day. Good enough, most of the technological advances are meant to make your life better both at home and while you are away. Through the use of HVAC Smart System Control, homeowners can enjoy better efficiency and comfort while minimizing the amount of energy consumed.

What is HVAC Smart System Control?hvac system diagnostic service

The HVAC Smart System Control is composed of state-of-the-art technology when it comes to home automation. Its work is to control the working and improve performance of the HVAC system. The smart system control includes the following aspects:

  • Temperature sensors for measuring the temperature of the air in the room.
  • Motion sensors to help you know when someone enters and occupies your home.
  • Sensors for fault detection for identifying system issues as well as possible malfunctioning issues.
  • Smart vents for controlling air floor as well as adjust room temperature all over the house.
  • Smart apps so that you can remotely operate and manage the HVAC system while away.
  • Smart and programmable thermostats.
  • Data analytics with cloud functionality to enable you track HVAC system usage and point out possible areas that need improvement.

Basically, these are components of the same system. Working together, they operate, regulate, and monitor the HVAC equipment in your home. It keeps track of the typical use of your HVAC system with the aim of making adjustments for the improvement of energy consumption in your home. While you may install some of the equipment to work with an existing HVAC system, others require a totally new HVAC system installation. If you choose a completely new system, it will come fully adaptable and automated.

Benefits of HVAC Smart System Control

With a HVAC Smart System Control, you will be able to control your home’s climate in your home, around the clock and from anywhere. At the touch of your smartphone, you will be able to regulate heat, humidity, central air, ventilation, and air purity. It is also possible to control the system using a laptop or tablet.

Additionally, it is possible to make the HVAC system work more efficiently by taking advantage of the smart technology. After working for a while, these systems are able to learn and adjust to the habits and needs of your family. Apart from analyzing data about energy usage, they are able to fix aspects of the system for improved performance and reduced energy costs. The system can also point out wasteful habits and suggests areas in which you need to improve.

It is possible for you to give control to these smart systems over your energy consumption. In addition, the smart system control works in tandem with other forms of smart technology for the automation of smart home equipment like appliances, lighting, entertainment devices, and security features.

All this is possible in your home if you ask a professional HVAC installation and maintenance expert to help you. Within no time, you will begin to enjoy the convenience of taking control over your HVAC system remotely for more information call Daniels HVAC Philadelphia

Boiler repair and maintenance

 

5 Signs that a Steam Boiler needs Maintenance and Repairboiler repair
Do you have a steam boiler in your home or commercial setting? If ‘yes’, then you need to carry out regular repairs and maintenance to minimize the amount of energy you use on a daily basis. After all, it takes up to 25 percent more fuel to create superheated steam that’s then used to power the boiler.
It is possible to use a steam boiler for a long time without having it break down. But that doesn’t mean you use it forever without having it inspected for possible problems that could prevent it from producing enough heat. A qualified steam boiler maintenance and repair expert like Daniels HVAC will help you to identify and deal with all the possible problems.
Signs That a Steam Boiler Needs Repair
A steam boiler system could last for at least 30 years before requiring to be replaced. In the course of using a steam boiler system, how can you tell that it requires to be repaired? Check out for the following:
1. Age
If you have had your steam boiler for more than one year, you need to have it checked for any possible issues. Chances are that nothing will be found. But if some issues are noted, then it is easier for the repairs to be done in time before they affect the entire system.
2. Problems with the Heating Element
The primary source of energy in a steam boiler is the heating element. It heats up water to produce steam and create air pressure, which is then channeled throughout the house to provide heat. If the heating element isn’t performing efficiently, then it will not be possible to create enough steam to heat up all the rooms in the house.
3. Expansion of Space in Your Home
If you have provided additional space to your home, it could be necessary to replace or modify your steam boiler system. Older systems had only one pipe and were suitable for heating small spaces. When used in larger spaces, such systems may not provide as much heat as expected. A steam boiler maintenance and repair expert Daniels HVAC can help you add pipes to your system or repair broken pipes to make it more efficient.
4. Blocked Vents and Valves
For steam boilers to work, they need a series of vents and valves. When the vents of valves become blocked, then the heat reaching the rooms in your house will be greatly diminished. A professional steam boiler maintenance and repair expert like Daniels HVAC will work on the steam flow rate by unblocking the vents and valves. That way, all the rooms in your home will be adequately heated.
5. System Fails To Automatically Shut Down
Every steam boiler has a safety mechanism that shuts the fuel supply when the pressure becomes too high. This also happens when the level of water gets too low. If this is no longer happening, then your system is in a state of disrepair and requires an expert to look at it.
Don’t wait for too long until your steam boiler system fails completely. Regular repairs and maintenance ensure that you avoid the high cost of replacing the entire system. If you notice any of the signs above, don’t hesitate to call Daniels HVAC Philadelphia for help.

Why It Is Important To Service Your HVAC System

 

Why It Is Important To Service Your HVAC System
Have you thought of regularly maintaining your HVAC system? If you haven’t, then you could risk having the entire system fail when you need it the most. A well-maintained HVAC system is also efficient when it comes to energy consumption and will cost you less.
Even is your HVAC system is newly installed, you need to carry out maintenance work at least once a year. It doesn’t matter how expensive it is or the kind of guarantees you get from the manufacturer. Have a professional check it out to prevent mechanical breakdowns that could result in expensive repairs.
Here is why it is important to service your HVAC system at least once a year:
1. Lowering Your Energy Bills
The more you use your HVAC system, the more its efficiency becomes compromised. With time, you start paying high energy bills without special reasons. This is why you should never neglect your HVAC system. It is akin to tuning up your car for greater efficiency. A professional will remove all the things that could be compromising how efficient your HVAC system is.
2. Minimizing Repairs
After serving for a long time, your HVAC system could begin emitting strange odors and sounds. It is important that you service your HVAC system long before these simple issues morph into bigger ones that require major repairs. You don’t want to end up with a malfunctioning HVAC system when you need it most.
Have a technician look at parts such as the fraying belt which produces strange noises when malfunctioning. Continued usage of such a fraying belt could damage the HVAC system beyond repair. Timely replacement of the fraying belt will prevent astronomical future repairs.
3. Minimizing Chances of Critical Failures
If not taken good care of, an HVAC system can cause avoidable consequences. Imagine the HVAC system failing on a sweltering summer afternoon or cold winter night. These are times of the year when you need the HVAC system the most. You can minimize the chances of that happening by having a qualified inspector check your HVAC system on a regular basis. Make sure you schedule annual maintenance at regular intervals.
4. Lengthening the Life of the HVAC System
You can give optimal life to your furnaces, air conditioners, and the rest of the equipment in your HVAC system through regular maintenance. If one part malfunctions, then it is likely to affect the entire system. Through regular service, your HVAC system is able to continue working normally and also give it a longer life.

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8 Ways to Use Your Exhaust Fans

8 Ways to Use Your Exhaust Fans

There are some rooms in your home where normal ventilation is not enough to guarantee fresh air. These are the kitchen and bathroom. In these rooms, you need to use your exhaust fans to get rid of hot, humid air. The purpose of exhaust fans is to maximize the air circulation in the spaces where they are used. They work by keeping the air moving for a fresher and healthier indoor environment.

Why You Need to Use Your Exhaust Fans

In a normal house, the air is likely to be polluted in various ways. Talk about smoke, pet dander, pesticides, and moist humid air. The best way to get rid of the polluted air and allow into your house fresh air is using exhaust fans.

When the air in a house is excessively humid, it may result in the unwanted growth of mildew and mold. When these fungi mix with the air, they cause all kinds of health issues. Excessive humidity can also make the furniture to rot or warp. Paint on the walls may also peel off. When the moisture in the air gets into your electronic appliances, it may cause unnecessary damage.

Where to Use Your Exhaust Fans

To reiterate, the purpose of exhaust fans is to remove impure air and circulate fresh air. They are usually connected to the ductwork in your home and may exist in the following forms:

1. Bathroom. These fans are installed next to your bathroom lights so as to expel steam and unwanted odors while allowing in the fresh air.

2. Kitchen Range. In the kitchen, the fans are usually installed in your stove’s hood. The purpose is to expel smoke, odors, and excess steam in the kitchen.

3. Dryer Room. To dry your clothes, the dryer creates moisture which needs to be removed by an exhaust fan.

4. Ceiling-Mounted. When air stays in the house for too long, it becomes stale. Exhaust fans can be used to remove this air through a roof cap or other external vents.

5. Wall-Mounted. These are the kind of exhaust fans installed on the walls outside your home. To carry out their function, these exhaust fans do not need to be connected to ductwork.

6. Inline. These kinds of exhaust ducts are installed between ducting. Compared to the other types of exhaust fans, they are quiet in nature. They work very well with an 8-inch flex duct.

7. Attic/Crawl Space. Did you know that the air in your attic can stay undisturbed for years? You can install exhaust fans in the attic to remove this air and replace it with a fresh one.

8. Exterior Remote-Mounted. Like the wall-mounted exhaust fans, these are mounted outside too. Instead of pushing stale air, they pull it out. Although noisy, the sound is rarely heard inside the house.

It is clear that exhaust fans are important when it comes to refreshing the air in your house. They complement the other ventilation measures to ensure that your home has a conducive living environment. If you haven’t started, use your exhaust fans now!

leaky ductwork

5 Reasons for Leaky Ductwork in Your HVAC System

How do you tell if there is leaky ductwork in your HVAC system? To know if the ductwork in your home is leaking air, you need to look out for certain tell-tale signs. If anything, the HVAC system will not operate as efficiently as when it is free of damage.
Here is how a forced air HVAC system works. Connecting the equipment is a system of pipes through which cold or hot air is moved to the rooms in the house. These ducts need to be completely sealed. If not, air will start leaking out of the HVAC system.
Here are some of the signs that could indicate the presence of leaky ductwork in your HVAC system:
Lack of Comfort                                                                    
If the air in your house has been feeling stuffy of late, it could be an indicator that you have leaky ductwork. You could also be finding it hard to cool certain rooms in the house. It is highly likely that the cold air that should be coming into the house is leaking into the outdoors. Don’t blame the floor plan in your room but rather check out the duct connections.
Low Air Quality
When the connections in the ductwork are compromised, they are likely to let in air from the basement. The likely outcome is that this air will begin to smell like the pesticides, fertilizers, and paint thinners stored in the basement. As you already know, the air from your HVAC system shouldn’t have any smell. If you notice any changes, check the ductwork.
High Energy Bills
How high are your utility bills? Do you think you get what you pay for? Could the HVAC system be consuming much more than you are getting? If you already have high utility bills, the problem could be made worse by leaking ductwork. It’s simply for the reason that you are paying for the air that gets into your house as well as that which leaks out. You can reduce your energy bills by fixing the leaky ductwork in your HVAC system.
Backdrafting of Hazardous Fumes
There are other appliances in your home which produce fumes and send them outside your home. After they have released these fumes, the leaky ductwork may pick it up and return it right back into your home. Apart from reducing the air quality in your home, this may prove to be costly and dangerous as well. If you don’t solve the problem early enough, you will end up being exposed to the poisonous carbon monoxide.
A Dusty Home
Dust is a fact that you will have to deal with in your home. When you have leaky ductwork, you stand the risk of having fine dust particles getting distributed throughout your home. Of course, a little bit of dust is normal. But if there seems to be a lot of dust in your home, the culprit should be leaky HVAC ductwork.
If the ductwork is not serving you as it should, talk to a qualified Daniels HVAC installation and repairs expert to give it an examination. If they find any glaring issues, they will fix them for you.

Top 4 Features of a Good Plumber

 

Top 4 Features of a Good Plumber
plumbing service philadelphiaAre looking for someone to do plumbing installation in your home? Are leaky pipes giving you problems to the extent that you need to hire a plumbing repair expert? Whatever the reasons you need a plumber for, make sure you hire someone who is trained and experienced. At the end of the day, what you want are quality services.
A quality plumber should essentially have a number of great features, some of which may look obvious but are still essential. Here are some tips to guide you when hiring a plumbing company:
They Have a Local License
Local plumbers who offer a variety of services are usually the best to engage for your project. They should essentially be able to provide plumbing installation and plumbing repair services. But that is not enough. They should have a license to offer all the services they claim to provide. Once they come to your home, you may want them to perform extra services such as HVAC repair. Don’t allow them to touch your HVAC system if they are not licensed to do the work.
Offering Emergency Services
        
You should work with a plumber who is available whenever you need them. You never can tell when your plumbing system will go haywire. Work with plumbers who are on call around the clock and are ready to handle emergencies with your plumbing system. The plumbing system may run into problems unexpectedly thus necessitating the need of for a plumber. No matter the time of day, a plumber should be able to quickly respond to your call for help.
Established In the Community
How well is the plumber you intend to work with known in the local community? A good plumber should, of necessity, have references who can vouch for him. From the word of the references, you should be able to know how consistent the work of the plumber is.
Find out from your friends, family, and neighbors if they have worked with that particular plumber in the past. The aim is to understand if the plumbing services they offer are the best. If you can find a plumber who has been practicing for a number of years that is the one you ought to hire. You need to be confident that the contractor can carry out the plumbing repair work you are hiring them for.
A Working Website
It is not enough to have a good looking website since that is something that almost anyone can pull off. A plumber’s website should essentially have numerous pages that describe the services on offer. It is also important that the plumber maintains an active blog featuring current promotions. That’s an indicator that the company is not just professional but it is also busy service people in the community.
You don’t need to look too hard to find a plumbing company that fits much of what is described here. A little homework should set you off in the right direction. Talk to us today for the best plumbing services. You will have no reason to work with someone else when are through with you.

Common Air Conditioner Issues Homeowners Face

 

Common Air Conditioner Issues Homeowners Face
 
Without proper care, air conditioners may not give the proper performance all year long. To properly take care of your air conditioner, you need to know the common issues that may make it malfunction. While some of these issues are simple to spot, others may require the help of an expert to identify.
The following are the 5 common air conditioner issues that homeowners face:
man over heating from the heatwave
Clogged Filters
After being used for a prolonged period of time, air conditioner filters may become clogged leading to increased energy consumption. There are suggestions that replacing a clogged filter with a new one can save you up to 15 percent in energy costs. If anything, clogged filters block the free flow of air, allow in the dirt, and prevent the coils from effectively absorbing dirt. For the system to continue working efficiently, the clogged filters must be replaced.
Faulty Thermostat Sensor
Have you noticed any erratic behavior from your air conditioner? Is it going through one cycle for longer than you expect? The thermostat sensor could be the problem. The thermostat measures the temperature of the surrounding air and adjusts the air conditioner according to your settings. When it is not functioning properly, the problem could be that it is dislodged from its position. When that happens, it will not be able to correctly measure the temperature of the surrounding air.
Leaking or Low Refrigerant
In the air conditioning system, the air is cooled with the help of a chemical known as the refrigerant. Faulty cooling may mean that the refrigerant level is either running low or it is leaking from the system. The first thing you ought to check is if it was recharged in accordance with the specifications of the manufacturer. Also, check for signs of leaking and if you find any, you should take care of the problem immediately. Bear in mind that leaking refrigerant is a harmful pollutant.
Frozen or Dirty Coils
It has already been established that you need to regularly replace air filters to improve the efficiency of the air conditioning system. But that is not enough. The coils also tend to accumulate lots of dirt over time. This may prevent them from working as efficiently as before. When your air conditioner has a reduced level of refrigerant, the coils may also freeze. Instead of the air conditioner giving you the services you need, the dirt and frozen coils will find it hard to cope.
Dysfunctional Outside Fan
A properly working air conditioner must of necessity have a functioning outside fan. When this fan becomes dysfunctional, the entire system may break down. The work of the fan is to remove hot air from the system. When it becomes dysfunctional, it prevents the heat transfer process from working properly. This results in the overheating of the air conditioner compressor causing the tripping of the safety overload.
It is important to check if any of these issues is causing the malfunctioning of your air conditioning system. You should ask a qualified HVAC technician to make an assessment of the entire house setup to see if it could be to blame. Make sure you rule out all possible air conditioning issues.

Facility Maintenance Company

How to Hire A Facility Maintenance Company?

 Do you have an office or industrial building that requires regular facility maintenance? Make sure that you only work with an experienced facility maintenance company. That will ensure the proper running of your HVAC, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems.

daniels hvac philadelphia/ facility maintenance serviceThere are a number of ways through which you can hire a facility maintenance company including the following:

  • Ask a friend Maintenance or just CLICK

If you are not ready to subscribe for the services of the security maintenance company, you can enter into an a la carte arrangement. That’s especially if you are running a start-up business. Instead of being tied down to an HVAC maintenance contract, you can simply call the facility maintenance company whenever you have a problem. Before hiring the company, make sure it has the right number of staff to be able to deal with customer maintenance needs whenever they arise.

  • Long-Term Maintenance Contracts

A facility maintenance company is meant to ensure that your interests and those of your employees are safeguarded on a daily basis. With a long-term contract, you can call them at any time you have a problem with your plumbing or electrical systems. Out of necessity, the company has standby staff to send to your premises whenever you have an emergency. It is not just any staff but those with the highest levels of training and experience.

Long-term contracts are not just about handling emergencies. The facility maintenance company is able to draw annual schedules for maintaining air conditioning and hvac systems. That is to ensure that systems such as heating continue to give you the best services all year round. It doesn’t matter if you have a massive office or you operate from a tiny one. Make sure you have an ongoing contract with a facility maintenance company. When you have a long-term contract, you will pay for it on a subscription basis.

Signs That You Need To Change Your Facility Maintenance Company

Have you been in a contract with a facility maintenance company for some time now? How do you know when you need to get an alternative? The following are the tell-tale signs that you need to hire different professionals:

  • High technician turnover. The alarm bells should go off when the technicians sent to your home are different all the time. It is highly likely that all is not well at the electrical, plumbing, air conditioning or heating company.
  • Supply issues. When the facility maintenance company doesn’t seem to have parts and equipment they need for their work, then you need to hire a different firm. It could be that they are having issues with their suppliers, which will eventually affect you.
  • Frequently missed appointments. The way a company responds to situations of crises in your business should indicate whether you ought to keep working with them or not. Find a new service provider if the current one doesn’t seem to be working for you.

Make sure that the systems in your workplace are maintained on a regular basis as a way of motivating your staff and keeping them productive. Your production lines will also keep working to make your business more profitable.

mini split air conditioning system installation

mini split air conditioning system installationThe Mini Split Air conditioning system works well when considering old basement heating or window air conditioning unit in an additional room on a house. It works very well in place of the window unit. The difference between the two is that the mini split unit requires the drilling of only a small hole in the wall. It is, therefore, less likely to have problems with security and air leakage.

The mini split air conditioning system can be used in the following instances:

  • Hot and cold spots. Do you have a room in your home that always has an extreme temperature, whether hot or cold? You can solve the problem using the mini air conditioning system. You can better set the desired temperature for each of the rooms when you have one controller.
  • Remodels and additions. Are planning to add a room to your house or to convert the attic into an office? You don’t need to add extensive pipes or ductwork to your current AC system. Use a mini split air conditioning system for efficient cooling and heating.
  • New construction. If you are designing a new home, there is no reason why you shouldn’t use a mini split air conditioning system. You can install at least one systems in all the rooms and different zones of the home.

        Benefits of a Ductless / Mini split Air conditioning system

   

Are considering installing a mini split air conditioning system in your home? The following are some of the benefits you are likely to enjoy:

  • Instant comfort. Have you just added an office or sun room to your house? A mini split air conditioning system will help you whenever you want to heat or cool the room. You can use the system to get rid of the heat generated from electronics such as computers and printers.
  • Less noise. Unlike the conventional AC systems, the mini-split quietly cools or warms your room. That is why you are likely to find one in a recording studio. They are so quiet they cannot interfere with the music.
  • Fresh air. The mini split air conditioning system has a filter, which produces an ionizer field to remove unwanted particles and give you fresh air. It has an oscillating fan which pumps the fresh air to the rest of the room.
  • Customizable. The mini split air conditioning system can be suspended on a wall or hang from the ceiling. One of these can even be mounted on a drop ceiling. You can paint your mini-split so that it matches your room’s accent.
  • Saving energy. Unlike the conventional AC systems which deliver only 70 percent of the heat, the mini-split gives you 100 percent output. You also get to save energy by heating only the targeted space.

Clearly, the mini split air conditioning system is better than the conventional AC in many aspects. Try it today.