Indoor Air Quality for Homes and Offices

Headaches, fatigue, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and trouble concentrating might be from the indoor air quality of the building. Indoor air quality is important for both workers and student’s comfort as well as their overall health. Often times, we think air pollution is related to things outside but with old and dirty air filters in a building, this may cause pollution and allergens to get inside an office or your home. Wheeler’s Heating and Air Condition knows the importance of quality indoor air so here are three ways to improve indoor air quality.

Keeping your floors clean is a great way to reduce allergens and dust that accumulates. Improving indoor air quality can be as simple as vacuuming or mopping the floors. Another way to keep chemicals and dirt out is by placing a large floor mat by the door. It reduces the amount of dirt and pollutants from coming into your home or office when people walk through the door. Wheeler’s Heating and Air Condition recommends placing a large mat by every door so people can wipe the shoes on it before entering a home or office.

If your home or office has a high amount of moisture, you will probably find mold and dust mites since they love moisture. By keeping humidity between 30-50%, this will help keep them and allergens under control. Another method to lower humidity is by running a dehumidifier. Running an air conditioner in the summer helps reduce pollen count and moisture in indoor air. If your AC needs repair, call a professional to fix the problem or replace an old unit that is more efficient. Wheeler’s Heating and Air Conditioning provides top AC repair in Ozark at more affordable rates than other competitors.

Keeping your home or office smoke-free will vastly improve the indoor air quality. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and is the most important aspect of pollution indoors. Secondhand smoke increases a child’s risk of developing asthma, cancer, developing respiratory problems, or sudden infant death syndrome. It’s time to kick the habit and stop polluting indoor air quality. Find a method that works for you like support groups, therapy, or medications to help.

Keep indoor air quality at its best by smoking outdoors, keeping moisture low, and outdoor allergens, dust, and pollution out. To learn how Wheeler's Heating and Air Conditioning can help you, visit our website or call us today at 417-839-9240.

How to Stay Warm Without Cranking Up the Heat

When those cold months hit, most people find that they also have to prepare for higher energy bills. But what if you could find a few ways to stay warm, and cut back on those extra energy costs? If you’re looking for a few more ways to stay warm this winter, but want to avoid cranking up the heat, here are a few ideas to keep in mind.

• Purchase a Wood Burning Stove or Fireplace - While this seems like no small feat, purchasing a either of these can be a great way to cut down on energy bills this winter. Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are a great way to heat just a few rooms in your home, especially if you find yourself only using those few during the winter. They also allow you to keep your thermostat at a lower temperature. If you do find yourself thinking a wood burning stove or fireplace is the right way to go, keep in mind that they need regular maintenance checks and cleaning. 
• Grab Some Electric Blankets - Who knew such a simple idea could be such a lifesaver? If you’re one of those people who just can’t seem to get warm no matter how many layers you put on, an electric blanket can be a great way to keep warm on those especially chilly days. If you’ve purchased electric blankets to use regularly, make sure you check them often to make sure there aren’t any exposed or damaged wires. Avoid using blankets that are more than 10-years old, and if you’re using it while you sleep, consider only using it to heat the bed to minimize fire risk. 
• Get a Programmable Thermostat - Programmable thermostats are a great way to keep your home heated and your energy bills in check. There are many different models to choose from, so research them and pick one with your type of lifestyle in mind. Schedule your thermostat to reduce the temperature when you’re away, and increase it while you’re home. Many can even be controlled from your phone.

If you find yourself considering new ways to keep your family warm over the winter, but need help deciding on which way to go, contact Wheeler’s Heating & Air Conditioning today. We can help you find the best fit for your family and lifestyle. Give us a call today at 417-839-9240 to set up an appointment, or visit our Facebook page to stay up to date on HVAC tips and tricks.

---

References

https://www.directenergy.com/learning-center/weather-readiness/assessing-secondary-heating-sources-home-winter

https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=thermostats.pr_thermostats_features

Tips for improving your air quality during the winter

The return of winter means the return of cold, dry air. Dry air can negatively impact your health in more ways than just chapped lips. The Cleveland Clinic reports that dry air can cause problems including dry eyes, sore throat, dry nasal passages/bloody noses, more susceptible to illness, and worsened allergy/asthma symptoms. Consider combating dry air by adding a humidifier to your home. Humidifiers make your home healthier and more comfortable to be in.

Signs of Low Humidity  

The clearest sign of low humidity is your personal health. If your lips are chapped or skin is cracking, your home likely has low humidity. The EPA recommends keeping your home between 30 and 50 percent humidity.  Individuals with asthma or allergies find that their symptoms become worsened in homes with low humidity. Other signs included an increase in static electricity around the house and cracked paint along your walls. A humidifier will keep your family healthy and happy in the winter months

Other Benefits

• Reduced snoring - Dry air means dry nasal passageways. This can cause snoring problems to emerge or worsen.
• Softer skin - Cold winter air dries out your skin. This can make your skin appear older and less vibrant. A humidifier will keep your skin looking young and full of color.
• Healthier houseplants - Plants survive best in a tropical and humid area. A humidifier will have your plants looking better and living longer.
• Protect your home - Dry air can cause harm to areas of your home. Low humidity can hurt your furniture, crack your floorboards, and ruin your wallpaper.
• Save money on heating bills - Adding humidity to your home will cause your home to feel warmer, which will save you money on energy bills.

Installing a humidifier is the best thing you can do for your family this dry season. There are different types and styles of humidifiers from small portable steam vaporizers to whole home humidifiers. If you have humidity concerns, trust the professionals at Wheeler Heating and Air Conditioning LLC. We are family owned and operated and provide honest, reliable, and affordable services. We are available 24/7 and offer free in-home estimates. To find out more, call 417-839-9240 or visit our website.

---

Sources

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322228.php

https://www.bewell.com/blog/10-ways-a-humidifier-improves-your-health-skin-and-household-this-winter/

https://molekule.com/blog/home-humidifier-benefits/

The Importance of Winterizing your Home

There’s no better time than now to get your home prepared for the winter. Winterizing your home will help you avoid costly weather-related repairs that are so common in the cold months. Here’s what to focus on when winterizing your home:

Pipes

Frozen water can cause leaks and cracks in your water pipes. Piping is the most susceptible part of your home when it comes to cold weather damage, particularly pipes located in the attic, basement, crawl spaces, and near outer walls. Proper insulation will keep these outer pipes from freezing, but if they are not well-insulated, you need to take steps to ensure they withstand a cold snap. When the forecast calls for unusually cold temperatures, let water drip from hot and cold faucets overnight. Keeping cabinet doors open will allow warm air to circulate in places like below sinks. If you plan to leave your home for an extended period of time during cold temperatures, you should shut your water off completely.

Insulation

In addition to adding weather stripping and plastic wrap to doors and windows, you’ll want to add extra insulation in the attic to guard against ice dams. If too much heat escapes into the attic, it can warm the ice and snow on the roof. When it freezes again, it can cause an ice dam, which can lead to water damage inside your home or possibly even a roof collapse. We recommend calling a home insulation contractor to inspect your insulation and perform any upgrades if necessary.

Chimney

If your home has a wood-burning fireplace, you’ll want to get your chimney checked for soot buildup once a year, preferably in the fall before you begin using it regularly. Soot buildup can be very dangerous, posing a fire hazard and carbon monoxide poisoning risks.

Heating System

Your furnace is about to get its big annual workout, so now is the time to make sure it’s all tuned up and ready to go when winter hits. Have your furnace or boiler checked by a licensed contractor before the big freeze, and clean or replace your filter on forced air systems. Have your fuel tanks filled and keep an eye on the levels throughout winter. Stay energy-efficient by making sure your heat isn’t escaping through poor insulation or gaps in your windows and doors. Use weather stripping on doors and shrinkable plastic wrap on leaky windows.

If you need your furnace serviced or your filter replaced before winter comes, Wheeler’s Heating & Air Conditioning can help! We offer complete installation of new furnaces and air conditioners. We provide honest, reliable, and affordable service. We are available 24/7 and we will never charge you an extra fee for after hours, holidays, or weekends. Contact Wheeler’s today!

Heat Pump Basics

When you’re a homeowner, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s what, especially if you’re trying to figure out your central heating and cooling system. With so many moving parts, this integral piece of your home can be difficult to wrap your head around, which is why we’ll be focusing on the heat pump this month.

What is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a part of your central heating and cooling system. It takes the air from outside and uses it to cool your home in the summer and heat it in the winter.

How Does it Work?

Your heat pump works hard to move heat to different places in your home, especially where it’s needed most. When it’s cold outside, it’ll take the heat from the outside air and move it inside, and when it’s warm out during the summer, it’ll take the heat from inside the home and remove it. One of the most efficient aspects of a heat pump is that it actually doesn’t create any of its own heat, it just moves it from place to place. This makes it very energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Another way it’s efficient is that your heat pump will use electricity, so you’ll save big when it comes to fuel consumption. This is also how you can tell the difference between a heat pump and a furnace—a furnace burns fuel to heat a home, while a heat pump uses electricity to heat your space.

Should I Get a Heat Pump?

Heat pumps are better for people who live in more moderate regions of the United States. While heat pumps are a great way to distribute heat throughout your home, there are some regions where a heat pump alone just wouldn’t be enough. If you live in the midwest or more northern states where cold winters and inclement weather are common, you’ll need to consider additional heat sources if you’re seriously considering a heat pump.

If you’re looking for a trusted heating and cooling company, Wheeler’s Heating & Air Conditioning is the place to go. Our experienced team can help you with everything from system installs to recommending the right product for your home. Give us a call today at 417-839-9240 to learn more about heat pump installation, or visit our website for a full list of our services.

---

References

https://www.trane.com/residential/en/resources/glossary/what-is-a-heat-pump/

https://mid80s.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/some-reading-for-the-weekend/

https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/idea-houses/idea-house-photo-tour#living-room_19

Could Your Air Conditioner Be Making Your Allergies Worse?

During the spring and summer months, allergies can throw you off and make you feel like you’re stuck in a fog. But what if something inside your home is making them worse? Your air conditioner can be a lifesaver, but it can also increase the irritation you feel from allergies.

Have Your AC Serviced Often

To keep your AC from making your allergies worse, have it serviced often to make sure it’s working correctly and that the filter is clean. If you find that your allergies irritate you more during the summer while your AC is on, you can even change your air filter more often to keep the irritation at bay.

Use Better Air Filters

Not only can you replace your filter often, you can use certain air filters that will keep the air clean and prevent your allergies from being worse than they already are. HEPA filters, or High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters, are the only filters that are manufactured fine enough to trap allergens inside your home. Using these specific air filters will help trap all of those annoying and irritating allergens that circulate through your home while your windows are closed.

Open Your Windows

This may seem counterproductive, however, opening your windows on days when the pollen count is low can help circulate the air through your home and get fresh air into your home. This will provide ventilation and help prevent the build-up of allergens inside your home, which leads to less annoying bouts of irritating allergies.

Use Your AC Sparingly

If you’re really suffering from allergies coming from your AC, try using it less and less often. This will lessen the effects it can have on your allergies, along with lower your energy bill costs and is even better for the environment.

If you’re looking to have your AC serviced but don’t know who to turn to, think of Wheeler’s Heating and Air Conditioning. We have a staff of licensed professionals that can assess the problem and find a solution that best fits you and your family’s lifestyle. Not only can we service your AC, but we carry products that help improve your home's air quality. Contact us today at 417-839-9240, or visit our website to read more about the services we offer.

---

References

http://blog.unitedallergyservices.com/air-conditioning-causing-allergies

http://www.pureroom.com/Pure_living_blog/air-conditioning-bad-allergies/

Conserving Energy and Staying Cool This Summer

Staying comfortable while maintaining an affordable energy bill isn’t always the coolest thing to do in the peak of summer, but it takes the heat off your finances. At Wheeler’s Heating and Air Conditioning, your comfort is our business, and we want to make sure that neither you nor your wallet are sweating. Save some money this summer and beat the heat with these seven energy saving tips:

1. Close your blinds, curtains, and any window that might let light in your house during the day. Let the shade cool your home down. A naturally cooler home means less AC use!
2. There are times in the day to close and open your windows. Nighttime or early morning are typically the best times to open your windows to let cool air in. Once the temperature starts rising, shut your windows and refer to energy saving tip number 1.
   
3. For humid climates, (i.e. Missouri) keeping your bathroom and kitchen fan on will reduce a lot of that thick air on extra muggy days.
4. Proper maintenance of your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system will ensure it uses less energy. Change out your HVAC filters every three months, and to check your filters once a month if you own dogs or cats. A dirty filter will cause your system to use more energy and circulate less of that cool breeze. We recommend using inexpensive pleated air filters.
   
5. One of the easiest and most common things you can do is turn your ceiling fan on so you can raise the thermostat. Air circulation will help keep any room from simply collecting and stagnating air.
   
   
   
   
6. Cooking inside creates a lot steam and heat within your kitchen. Try barbecuing or microwaving on especially hot days. You’re basically trying to keep hot air out of your home. Cooking outside is always a great way to get together with your friends and family!
   
7. Use cold water when you do your dishes and laundry. Always make sure you are doing only full loads as well. 90% of your home’s energy comes from heating water for your laundry machine or dishwasher. Air drying your clothes outside may also be something you could consider. 

Wheeler's Heating and Air Conditioning is your 24-hour heating, cooling, and repair services. Let us repair your AC unit or, better yet, replace your old unit for a more efficient system that can save you money each month. We provide top AC repair in the Ozark area at more affordable rates than our competitors. For more information visit our website at www.wheelerheatingandair.com.