July 15, 2020

Can Air Conditioning Cause Sinus Problems?

There’s nothing quite like a luxurious home with air conditioning. However, there has been some speculation about whether your AC can potentially lead to health issues like sinus or respiratory issues. Here’s a breakdown of whether air conditioning can cause sinus problems. Dry Air Air conditioning leads to dry air, which is known to irritate the sinuses. When humidity levels drop, water droplets in the air disappear, and you could experience trouble breathing. If you have preexisting health conditions such as allergies or asthma, this dry air is an even harsher factor. You should consider getting a humidifier to restore the humidity levels within your home. Humidifiers are a great way to complement the cool air produced by your AC. Cold Temperatures Air conditioning reduces the heat in your home by producing cool air to make you more comfortable. Some people want their homes maintained at an extremely cold temperature. If you keep your home extremely cold, your nose could become red and irritated due to the cold and lack of humidity in the air. If these symptoms occur, you could experience sinus problems or respiratory infections. AC While Sleeping Sleeping comprises a significant portion of your day. Although you...

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October 17, 2019

What is Balanced Ventilation?

If your home in Granite City, IL, is tightly sealed against the elements, the air inside could be 10 times as polluted as the air outside. It’s a tough problem because tightly sealing the home is important for reducing energy costs. On the other hand, ventilation is important to filter the air. HVAC systems that are entirely reliant on either supply ventilation or exhaust ventilation are limited in their ability to clean the air, and they may cause pressure imbalances. This is where balanced ventilation comes in. What is Balanced Ventilation? To avoid the problems of in-home pressure changes, a balanced ventilation system brings outdoor air in at the same rate that it removes indoor air. If it is set up and has had the proper maintenance, a balanced ventilation system neither increases nor reduces the pressure inside the home. The ventilation in the home is thus not dependent on natural ventilation to clean the air. Separating Temperature and Ventilation Controls One thing that throws a ventilation system off balance is using the same ventilation ducts for ventilation as are used for cooling and heating. In order for there to be pressure balance throughout the home at the same time...

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March 20, 2019

3 Reasons to Get Professional Heating Help

Here in Madison and St. Clair counties, we invest quite a lot in keeping our homes warm. It is tempting for families that have a member with some DIY skills to try to install, maintain or repair the family heating system. However, this is not a good idea. Unless you are a licensed heating professional, working on your own heating system could be dangerous to your home and those in it. 1. Heating Professionals Are Fully Trained Experienced, licensed heating professionals are able to spot small problems today that could become larger problems tomorrow. They are trained to perform multi-point heating system evaluations. These include things like checking the air pressure in the vents, looking for air leaks in the ductwork, examining the blower motor and testing the amperage flowing through different parts of the system. This work takes specialized knowledge and tools that are often beyond the scope of a typical homeowner. 2. Heating Professionals Detect and Correct Safety Issues Working with furnaces involves dealing with explosive gases. Many homeowners do not have the training to safely work on propane and natural gas heating devices. Heating professionals are trained to spot safety issues as their main priority. Homeowners can...

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