Month: July 2020

Everyone has it, and nobody wants it. Dust.

It’s rampant everywhere around the country and has become the subject of a lighthearted, frequently repeated myth at both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Officials at these agencies understand farming does not occur without creating dust. So the EPA and USDA “have never proposed tightening rules on farm dust. And they have told Congress and the American people that they won’t propose stricter standards.”

Regular Maintenance Will Help

In reality, dust is definitely no laughing matter, no matter the setting. It’s easy to see how it can affect the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your Tucson home, leading to allergens. At ACS Air Conditioning Services, we know how important clean indoor air quality is for your home.

With indoor air quality typically being dirtier than your outdoor air, you need to take measures to reduce factors contributing to the indoor pollution––both for your health and the health of your home.

Keep in mind, completely eliminating or eradicating dust from your home is an impossible task. By the mere fact it’s virtually everywhere in Arizona, you can understand why it will always exist in your home. However, you can greatly reduce household dust levels by following some of the recommendations below.

Take Good Care of Your Air Filter

The purpose of the air filter for your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) setup is to trap dust and debris flowing through the unit’s air. Air in your home is vented through your HVAC system and forced through its filter. Using the best filter you can afford and recommended by your system’s manufacturer can trap a lot of the dust traveling through the air.

Pay attention to your filter’s Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV), a measurement scale created by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to rate the effectiveness of air filters. Be sure to purchase filters with the appropriate MERV rating for your HVAC system.

You also want to change your filter on a regular basis, depending on how dirty it becomes. Optimally, we recommend changing it every month but at least every two to three months, especially if you or someone in your home suffers from allergies, asthma, or chronic respiratory conditions.

A good rule of thumb is to check your filter monthly. If it’s dirty, change it. When your filter is clogged, besides hurting your HVAC system, it obviously can’t do its job of reducing the dust in your home.

Be Sure to Check Your Air Ducts

If you have a forced-air HVAC system, you have air ducts carrying your home’s air to and from your heating and cooling system. If your ducts are not sealed well or have leaks, unfiltered air will be sneaking out into your home. You could have as much as 30 percent leakage due to this poor sealing and leaks, meaning this air has not yet made it to your filter and will be spreading dust throughout your home.

It can be worse if your air ducts are filthy. Air passing through the ducts will pick up additional dust and dirt, depositing them throughout your home.

If you notice a continuous high level of dust in your home, call in one of our indoor air quality professionals to check the seals on your ducts and to inspect for leaks. Also seriously consider getting your ducts cleaned, especially if you have never done so in the past.

Clean Your Home Regularly

In addition to the numerous HVAC steps you can take to reduce dust, there are some things you can do while cleaning your house to help:

• Eliminate clutter, as it collects dust.

• Vacuum one to two times a week, using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter if possible.

• Dust with a microfiber or damp cloth, starting the cleaning motion from top to bottom.

• Wash bedding routinely––sheets and pillowcases once a week; blankets, duvets, and pillows every three to four weeks.

• Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, because it can be an ideal habitat for dust and dust mites.

Keep a Constant Tab on Your Humidity

Be sure your home has the appropriate level of humidity. Too high, it encourages dust mites. Too low, dust accumulates more. Try to maintain a relative humidity of 35 to 50 percent, an industry standard.

Get Yourself an Air Purifier

Though diminishing or eliminating the sources of your home’s dust is best, utilizing an air purifier can help. A whole-home air purifier works with your HVAC system to purify the air, ridding it of dust and other particles and allergens––the dust never makes it to your home’s living spaces.

A major benefit of a whole-home purifier, compared with small portable units, is it purifies all the air in your home at once. Portable units typically can only purify the air in one room. You would need a separate purifier in every room to achieve a similar result.

We Are Your Indoor Air Quality Experts

At ACS Air Conditioning Services, we know dust can be a nuisance as well as an allergen. If you notice more-than-normal dust levels in your Tucson, AZ, home, please call us at 520-230-5668 or request service online and discover how our experienced professionals can help. We will be more than happy to pay a visit to your home—don’t let your home be another one that bites the dust.

Whether it’s people, appliances, or air conditioning (AC) systems, the better you know them, the better you are able to care for them. Our team at ACS Air Conditioning Services knows air conditioners because it’s our business. We want to share just a little of our knowledge with you so you can extend the life of your air conditioner, avoid costly repairs, and save energy and money in Tucson.

The Basics

Many people believe air conditioners cool down the hot air in their homes in order to lower temperatures. However, air conditioners really move the heat from your home back outside, which results in cooler temperatures inside.

An air conditioner has a compressor and condenser, which are usually found outside, and an evaporator that sits inside your home. Refrigerant runs through the system as air circulates. Heat is absorbed from the air and discharged outside as the refrigerant expands and contracts.

All of these components must stay in good working order for your air conditioner to work effectively in Arizona. One way you can ensure good performance is by having a professional inspect, clean, and tune up your system once a year, ideally in the spring before you first turn on your air conditioner.

Once the heat has been removed from the air, it must travel through your air duct system in order to reach each living space. As it moves through the ducts, it can easily heat back up again, especially if you have leaks or require better insulation around your ductwork.

When you schedule your air conditioning tune-up with one of our professionals, be sure to ask about a duct system check as well. All your treated air flows through all your home’s ductwork. You want to be sure it’s in good shape and has no leaks. This promotes both good indoor air quality and energy savings.

How You Can Help

Although some parts of your air conditioning system should be maintained by a professional, there are many things you can do on your own as well.

First, understand that a big part of air conditioning efficiency has to do with good air circulation. That means anything blocking your airflow will make your unit work harder, which can shorten the life of your system as well as waste energy.

Every spring, before your air conditioner needs to run every day, clear away the yard debris around the outside part of your unit. Be sure no sticks, leaves, or other items are blocking the air conditioner’s ability to circulate air.

You should change your air filter inside your home regularly, usually every three to six months for the same reason. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), you can save 5 to 15 percent of your energy consumption simply by using clean air filters.

Finally, check around your vents and ducts to be sure nothing is blocking the airflow inside your home.

Data-Driven Decisions

Brush up on your knowledge about both installation and operating costs of your air conditioning system. For example, take a look at the wattage of your air conditioning system and look at your utility bill to find the cost per watt. A typical central air conditioning system might use about 3,500 watts. Using the national average cost of 13.2 cents per kilowatt hour, it would cost you about $3.70 per day to run your system.

Armed with that figure, you can decide if being sure you adjust your thermostat before you leave, running floor fans for the day, or hanging out your laundry is worth the savings.

In the long-run, you can consider the cost of a new, more efficient air conditioning system, factor in the money you are spending on repairs, and decide when is an optimal time to invest in a new air conditioner. You can also call and speak to one of our knowledgeable and highly trained HVAC professionals. We can help you assess the best thing to do.

Contact Our Team Today

To schedule an air conditioning maintenance call, contact our ACS Air Conditioning Services professionals at 520-230-5668 or request service online today. Our ACS professionals are ready and waiting to help.