I hardly need to mention that 2020 has been and continues to be a strange year for many reasons. It is now September and here in northern Nevada, many people seem to be staying inside more often. For some of us, work and school are now happening in living rooms and home offices. For all of us, we have been facing unhealthy levels of air quality for the better part of the month courtesy of wildfire smoke. If you are staying [...]
You may use ceiling fans to help cool your house during the summer, but did you know you can use them in the winter to help boost your home heating system as well? Heat rises A ceiling fan normally cools the home by pushing air down directly under the fan. When the blades push air down, they create a wind-chill effect and can facilitate evaporation, further aiding in cooling. This does not actually lower the temperature of your home. It just [...]
A Nevada Appeal reader reached out to me with a question about the need for fresh indoor air. Since it’s a great topic for all of us during windows-closed season, I’ve shared my response here. If you are worried more about air leaks causing your energy bills to soar, the U.S. Department of Energy (www.energy.gov) provides information on DIY home energy audits. If you’re just wondering if you need fresh air in the house, in a word, the answer is yes, [...]
Indoor air quality researchers tell us that particulate matter (PM), or particulates, which are invisible pieces of stuff floating around in the air, are bad for human health. Particulates that are 2.5 micrometers (0.0000025 m) or smaller, abbreviated PM2.5, are worse than larger particulates because they can penetrate deeper into the lungs and more easily find their way into your blood. The biggest sources of PM2.5 in most homes are outdoor air that finds its way into your home, indoor smokers, [...]
With cold weather upon us, chances are you have turned on your furnace for the season and are enjoying the warmth it brings to your home. So, if everything seems to be working fine, should I still consider having maintenance service? Absolutely. Here are my reasons why: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care Your furnace system controls the temperature and moves air throughout your home to keep it comfortable while also filtering out dust and allergens. A [...]
