One of the most common health issues that plague our society is dehydration. Most of the tissue in the body is composed of water. If it loses the water, the tissue dries up. It’s elasticity goes, and with it function declines. Besides dry skin, the symptoms of dehydration include chronic joint and muscle pain, raspy throat, sore eyes and lack of mental concentration.

There are two ways to combat dehydration, and both are essential; drink a lot of water, and maintain the relative humidity in the home and office at comfortable levels with the use of a furnace humidifier.

How does humidity AFFECT our health?

Conditioning the amount of moisture in the air with a furnace humidifier is necessary for your family’s health. Dry air in your home can make your throat feel dry, and cause or aggravate respiratory ailments.

Inadequate humidification during cold weather is one of the major causes of respiratory infections. The heating seasons causes people to begin having repeated attacks of winter colds. Winter is blamed for these problems, but the actual cause is dryness, which develops in the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Relative humidity also has a significant effect on controlling the occurrence of airborne infections.

The one thing we can do about alleviating some of the discomfort of colds, dry noses and dehydrated skin is to install a humdifier in the home, where we spend most of our time. Actually, for many, dry air is an air-quality issue. Dry air promotes the growth of some bacteria, viruses and respiratory irritants that in sensitive individuals cause conditions worse than dry skin. Adequate moisture enables the body’s immune system to defend better against indoor respiratory pollutants and irritants.

How will a furnace humidifier affect your comfort?

Humidity in the home will affect your comfort. Since the air in your home is always trying to reach its saturation point, it will absorb water wherever it’s found, that means it is stealing moisture from the bodies of you and your children, your pets, your furniture and even your house plants. By giving up moisture to the air, your skin, throat and nasal passages dry out and crack leading to various physical discomfort. That’s why many doctors recommend furnace humidifiers for allergy and asthma sufferers.

How does humidity AFFECT my house?

Virtually everything in your home made from wood contains some moisture. As dry air sucks that moisture out, the wood shrinks and cracks. Hardwood floors separate at the seams, furniture shrinks and cracks, and doors warp and no longer fit their frames as the moisture is drawn off.

Also, perhaps the most annoying effect of dry indoor air is static shock. How many times have you shuffled across the carpet, only to be rudely surprised by the crackle of static as you reach for the light switch! It’s no fun when it happens to you, and even less so when you reach out and “zap” a loved one. With the capacity to hold a static charge up to 20,000 volts, your body can also wreak havoc on home computers and other sensitive electronic devices. By maintaining indoor relative humidity at 35 percent or higher with the use of a humidifier, static shocks are greatly reduced.

Are there any other BENEFITS to installimg a furnace humidifier in the home?

Yes! Proper relative humidity helps you save energy costs. Warm, humid summer air feels hotter than it actually is because of the moisture it contains. That same principle applies to your home in the winter. By keeping the relative humidity inside your home at an ideal level, you can turn your thermostat down a few degrees and still feel comfortable. Dialing down your thermostat just three degrees can reduce your heating bill by as much as 5%.

For furnace duct cleaning and humidifier installations in Fort McMurray call A-1 Ductworks at 780-792-7272

Not everyone thinks of cleaning their furnace, but it is important to keep it clean to avoid any dust or creatures getting into it. The dirt in the furnace can lower efficiency so it is very important to clean it regularly. Follow the steps below in order to keep the furnace clean.

You should start cleaning your furnace by replacing or cleaning your furnace at the beginning of the heating season and about once a month of continuous use. If the filter looks dirty, you should take it out and replace it with a new one. These are the best tips to use to clean the furnace so it will be efficient for using.

Next, you should follow the steps to replace a filter. Start by looking for a metal panel on the front of the furnace, this panel may be marked with the word filter. Then, you should slip the panel off its hooks or unscrew it from the box. On some heating units, the filter is exposed. If this is the case you should just slip the filter out of the U-shape tracks.

Next, you should inspect and then replace the dirty filter with a new one, depending on the type of furnace. Lastly, clean the blower assembly, belts and pulleys to blower, and motor housing. Cleaning the blower is the most important thing to do because it can become clogged with dirt and then it will stop working, so make sure you clean this.

Once these steps are followed, you are ready to go onto the new household task. The furnace is really easy to clean, so make sure you clean it regularly and not let it get dirty anymore!

If you require professional assistance keeping your furnace clean contact A-1 Ductworks in Fort McMurray Alberta at 780-792-7272

While many homeowners are beginning to realize the importance of routine duct cleaning, you may still have questions about the process. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about who should clean your ducts, why it’s necessary, and how it’s done.

“Why do my air ducts need to be cleaned?”

Over the years, dust, allergens, dirt, and other debris can accumulate in your ducts. In fact, it can build up in layers as much as three inches deep! This filth can trap bacteria and foster mold growth, creating potential health threats for your family. And, to make matters worse, every time your HVAC system turns on, some of these contaminants are circulated throughout your house. Having your air ducts cleaned removes this accumulation of pollutants and greatly improves the air quality of your home. For safe, breathable air, you should have your ducts cleaned at least every four years.

“How exactly is my ductwork cleaned?”

Using specialized tools and a negative airflow system (essentially a huge vacuum), air duct cleaners scrape the dust, dirt, and debris from your ducts. The tools agitate the particles away from the sides of the ducts and the vacuum keeps them from escaping into your house. The cleaning should also include air washing furnace and air conditioner components, vacuuming registers, and applying mold inhibiting agents if necessary.

“Who should clean my ducts?”

Only trust a professional duct cleaning service. These experts have the knowledge and specialized equipment to effectively remove all of the dust and debris from your ductwork without damaging it or dispersing the pollutants throughout your house. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends using only National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) certified specialists. NACDA certified professionals are trained, skilled experts with a thorough knowledge of industry standards, proper ductwork cleaning procedures, and environmental concerns.

“Will duct cleaning damage my furnace or air conditioner?”

No: duct cleaners use specialized tools and techniques to remove accumulated dust without harming any component of your HVAC system. In fact, your furnace and air conditioner will actually work better after a cleaning: airflow will be improved, so your heating and cooling system can run more efficiently.

“My home is new, so I don’t need a duct cleaning, right?”

Wrong! Construction is a messy process, and frequently debris and drywall dust get into your ductwork. This blocks airflow, traps even more dust, and can contribute to mold growth. A thorough cleaning will remove any obstructions, as well as the accumulated dust, to get your ducts into great shape!

“Will my house be less dusty after my ductwork cleaning?”

You bet! Because your heating and cooling system circulates dust from your ductwork throughout your home, eliminating that dust means your whole house will be cleaner.

“Since my new furnace clean, I don’t need a duct cleaning, right?”

Wrong. Even though your new furnace is clean, there is still dust in your ducts. And, because the fan on your new furnace is probably more powerful than the old one, all that dust and dirt is going to be blown straight into your rooms! Most HVAC cleaning specialists recommend a complete ductwork cleaning in tandem with any new furnace or air conditioner installation.

“Will duct cleaning help my allergies?”

Most likely. The accumulation inside your ducts includes pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and other allergens as well as dirt. Removing this debris should greatly decrease the concentration of allergens in the air and reduce your allergy symptoms.

If you have any additional questions about ductwork cleaning or need to schedule a cleaning for your ductwork, contact your local air duct cleaning service. They’ll be able to provide additional information and superior cleaning!

The drive home: traffic congestion filled with black smoke freshly burped from the exhaust of a big rig. After a long day inside an office, you may look at the city where you live and see nothing but a cesspool. How do you walk around breathing the fumes of what you and your fellow neighbors have created?

You probably can’t wait to get inside under a nice cool air conditioner and enjoy clean air for a change. Maybe that is what you expect. But if it is, get ready for some bad news, because you’d be dead wrong to think so.

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates indoor air is up to 70 times more polluted than what you encounter every single day during your work commute?

Seventy times!

Most of this indoor pollution exists because people fail to engage in duct cleaning or furnace cleaning as often as they should. That’s right. The cost of ignoring basic maintenance on your central heating and air can produce a pollution worse than anything you will likely encounter outside, and could lead to costly air duct repair – or worse, duct replacement.

You can’t afford to take air duct cleaning for granted any longer. And why would you want to? Here are four great benefits of quality air duct cleaning and care:

1. For your health. Inside your air ducts, there are all kinds of unwanted critters waiting for you to discover, if left alone. Bacteria, fungus, mold spores, pet dander, and pollen, routinely collect to contaminate the quality of your clean air. Through air duct cleaning and furnace cleaning, you can remove these factors from your indoor life before they take control of your allergies, your asthma, or your day.

2. For the energy savings. The EPA estimates that it doesn’t even take one-tenth of an inch of dust buildup on a heating coil to negatively affect your energy efficiency. Just how negatively does less than one-tenth inch affect your energy savings? It reduces the performance by 21%. If your electric bill was $100, that means you could be paying only $79 through proper air duct cleaning.

3. For less work around the house. Notice you’ve been dusting (or needing to dust) a lot lately? It may be time to check your air ducts. By engaging in routine maintenance and air duct cleaning you can greatly reduce the time you spend on menial chores like dusting.

4. For the life of your equipment. By routinely engaging in quality air duct cleaning, or hiring a specialist to ensure your ducts are getting the treatment they need for optimum performance, you greatly reduce the likelihood of air duct repair or air duct replacement, which will surely be waiting for you down the road otherwise. And that you don’t want. It is expensive, and until you can take care of the problem, it means you’re not getting clean air.

It is best to stay on the problem before it becomes too late. But if it is time for an air duct replacement, don’t hesitate any longer. The cost you can quickly make up for in a more efficient energy system and future awareness that will prevent serious problems before they occur.