Spring has officially sprung, and so have the pollen levels. The 2012 spring allergy season may, in fact, end up being one of the worst on record¹. Rather than (or in addition to) getting a prescription to find relief, consider an option that can help you completely eliminate the irritants that are causing your symptoms. Air purifiers are a great option for cleaning the air and to ultimately provide overall home comfort. You may have seen air purifiers at your local home store, but your Wildwood air conditioning service offers systems that are capable of purifying the air in your entire home to ensure that your family breathes only clean air. The tricky part can be determining which system is a good fit for your home. Another thing to consider is the type of filter that is within the system, as it plays a vital role in the overall effectiveness.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) in collaboration with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have created testing methods and a set of standards to rate the efficiency of air purifier filters. Known as the Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV), filters are tested to determine how efficiently they can trap airborne particles ranging from 3-10 microns in size. After testing, the filter is given a MERV based on a scale of 1-16, with 1 being the least efficient, and 16 being the most efficient. Depending on your health needs (severe allergies, asthma), a filter with a lower MERV may be sufficient for your home. A St. Peters indoor air quality specialist can help you choose a system and filter that are appropriate for you.

The EPA states that filters with MERV ranging from 7 to 13 are nearly as efficient as a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter². The ASHRAE has determined that residential air purifiers should have filters with a minimum MERV of 6². With most household irritants including pollen, dust, pet dander, and other fibers, a mid-range filter may be just what you need. Filters with higher efficiencies are typically for commercial use in settings such as manufacturing facilities and hospitals. Just remember that when choosing an air purifier, the MERV does not apply to the efficiency of the air purifier itself—just the filter. Call Schneider Heating & Cooling in Chesterfield today to discuss our indoor air quality solutions.

Sources:

¹ABC News; http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesSeasonal/spring-2012-worst-allergies/story?id=15930328#.T4Mex9V2N6N

²Environmental Protection Agency; http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html#16

Upon the arrival of spring, the cold weather will soon be a thing of the past and the warmth and sunshine will be here to stay. Although, when it comes spring cleaning you may find that your efforts are not as effective as first thought. While dusting seems like a good idea, layers of dust within the air ducts of your Chesterfield air conditioning system may simply recirculate into the air, causing it to redeposit onto your newly cleaned surfaces. While it is not visible to you, inches of dust, allergens, and even mold and mildew may be lingering in your air ducts. As it is recirculated into the air by your air vents, your family is left to breathe in these irritating particles.

Before it is time to turn on the AC, it is a good idea to have your air ducts cleaned by a professional. A St. Peters air duct cleaning service can come to your home or business to inspect your air ducts to check for the presence of harmful asbestos, and clean your system thoroughly. Using a special vacuum and brushes, the air ducts will be cleaned to provide your family with clean air. Why should you consider having your air ducts cleaned? When your system is covered in dust, it runs less efficiently and has to work harder to operate. As more energy is used to operate the system, it costs you more in utilities.

In addition to energy savings, there is the added benefit of improved air quality. As the deposited materials are removed from your air ducts, only clean air will be distributed throughout the home. This is especially helpful for those suffering from allergies and even asthma. If you have recently moved into a new home or had home improvement or remodeling projects, it is also a good idea to have your air ducts cleaned to remove drywall dust and other materials which may have been distributed into the duct system. If you are in need of air duct cleaning, Schneider Heating & Cooling can help! Call today to talk to an expert, and be sure to “like” our Facebook page for access to great tips and specials!

Are you experiencing allergy symptoms in St. Charles? While seasonal allergies typically do not arrive until later in the spring as warm temperatures allow for pollination of the trees, this mild winter weather has allowed this process to being earlier than normal. While you associate pollen with outside air, this air can easily come into your home when you open windows and doors, and become trapped there. This leaves you and your family exposed to allergens and other pollutants in the comfort of your own home. Aside from pollen, the air in your home may also be harboring pet dander, mold spores, bacteria, and chemical particles. When your symptoms become too much to handle, call your trusted Wildwood heating company to provide you with relief.

Rather than covering up your symptoms with medications, why not go one step further and remove what is causing the problem? Your heating and cooling company can assist you with indoor air quality services. The goal of these services is to assess the quality of the air in your home and provide products that are capable of removing the allergens and other airborne irritants. While you may have heard of air purifiers, air cleaners are another option which is highly effective in removing airborne pollutants throughout your entire home. These cleaners are installed into your central air system and provide clean, filtered air to the vents throughout your home. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, Schneider Heating and Cooling has the knowledge and high quality products that you are looking for in the Ballwin area. Call today to ask about our indoor air quality solutions.

Living in the Midwest often means enduring very cold winters, as well as hot, humid summers. Ensuring that your Chesterfield AC systems operate dependably during these temperature extremes is essential to the overall comfort of your home. That is why it is so important to remember to schedule preventative maintenance on your AC, heat pump, or furnace. As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to schedule your maintenance prior to the beginning of the peak operating seasons. In other words, once in the spring before the summer heat arrives, and once in the fall before the cold of winter. This will help to catch any issues before they become a full-blown problem and leave you with a broken unit and in need of Town and Country AC repair.

By scheduling an appointment, or signing up for a maintenance plan, a skilled and knowledgeable technician will come to your home and thoroughly inspect your system. This will not only help to prevent the need for O’Fallon heating repair during the peak season, but also to make sure that your system runs as efficiently as possible. When your system runs efficiently, it requires less power to operate. This means lower energy costs on your monthly utility bills. During routine maintenance, the service tech will inspect your equipment for leaks or cracks in the duct work, evaluate refrigerant levels, replace dirty air filters, check electrical controls and airflow, clean coils and other components among other necessary tasks. Overall, maintenance plans are a wise investment. Call Schneider Heating & Cooling at (636) 757-9999 to learn more about our plans and to schedule an appointment today.