Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category
02.03.2017
Grade Your Home’s Efficiency with a Free Home Energy Audit
Do you know your home’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to energy efficiency? Have there been nagging comfort issues like hot or cold rooms, dry skin and nose bleeds, or astronomical energy bills? Now you can grade your home’s performance with a Home Energy Efficiency Audit performed by one of our friendly BPI certified analysts. This audit will empower you with peace of mind for areas of strength and identify any areas you may potentially need to address. The best part? A Home Energy Audit is typically $178. However, throughout the month of February, 2017, we’re offering these audits *free* of charge to the first 20 homeowners that contact us! Since this is the month for Valentine’s Day, we definitely wanted to show our love for all of you in the community. Imagine an experienced Holtkamp Heating & Air expert carefully: Testing the “tightness” of your home by performing a “blower door test” Testing all ductwork for tightness Identifying any sources of dust Locating all sources of major air leakage Checking humidity levels throughout home Additionally, you’ll be able to pose any HVAC questions you may have from HVAC filter recommendations to Carbon Monoxide monitors, insulation questions, hot/cold rooms (like sunrooms or additions), thermostat advice and more. How […]
07.27.2016
Tips on Maximizing your Indoor Air Quality
When you think about being comfortable in your home you usually consider the temperature of your air, along with the level of humidity. But what about the quality of your air? You might not even realize that you are suffering from poor indoor air quality unless you know the signs. Do you or a family member suffer from one or more of these symptoms? Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin Headache Fatigue Shortness of breath Hypersensitivity and allergies Sinus congestion Coughing and sneezing Dizziness If any of these sound familiar, then we’ve got just the trick to dramatically boost your indoor air quality and send these symptoms packing! In this video, Holtkamp Heating & Air Founder Matthew Holtkamp explains why the Aprilaire 5000 air purifier is the number one way to introduce vastly fresher air into your home that’s free of contaminants. Bonus Indoor Air Quality Tips: Place welcome mats at all entrance points to your home. They’ll keep much of the unwelcome dirt, pollen and debris on your family’s shoes out of your house. Make your home a ‘no smoking’ zone. Cigarettes contain thousands of chemicals and are a major contaminant in your home’s air quality. Many house plants […]
06.21.2016
Why You Should Avoid HVAC Duct Cleaning Scams
If you think you’re experiencing poor indoor air quality, you might be suffering from leaky ducts. What are the key symptoms? • Your system isn’t performing effectively. Did you know that the average home’s ductwork leaks a whopping 30% of it’s conditioned air into attics, basements and crawlspaces? You could be spending 1/3 of your energy bills cooling air that never makes it into your living spaces! • Irritants or smells are present. If smelly irritants like insulation, wood dust, mold spores and pest droppings from attics and basements are present, your leaky ducts are continually recirculating them throughout your home. Not only are these unpleasant, but they are also unhealthy. • Your family’s allergies are worsening. If members of your family are experiencing worsening symptoms including coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes and more, your HVAC system and its leaky ducts could be contributing to their discomfort. Duct Cleaning vs. Duct Sealing You might see lots of coupons and mailers from companies claiming to “clean” or “vacuum” your ductwork at low prices. However, if dust, allergens and contaminants made it into your ductwork in the first place, won’t they come back if your ducts aren’t properly sealed? If you invest in this temporary fix, the […]
05.17.2016
HVAC Filters 101: All Your Questions Answered
If there’s one thing we get questions about all the time, it’s air filters for air conditioning systems. These questions typically include: How often should I change my filter? Where is my filter located? Which type of filter should I buy? Will an expensive filter improve my indoor air quality? Our answers will save you time and money! How Often Should I Change My HVAC Filter? We recommend you change your HVAC filter every 30-60 days for optimal performance. If you have a pet, especially one that sheds a lot, keep it closer to every 30 days especially during the heavy use months in summer and winter. A visual inspection of your filter after 30 days will help you determine if it’s time for a switch. A filter with thick, clogged dust and debris is a clear indicator that your A/C system needs a fresh replacement! Where is My Filter Located? Your A/C and furnace filters could be in a variety of places, including on walls, ceilings or floors of hallways or rooms, or even within the HVAC system itself. Contact us and we can help determine all of your filter locations on a service visit to make sure you’re changing them in all the right places. […]
01.19.2016
7 Winter Comfort Tips for Your Family
With the temperatures dipping into the lowest portion of the season, here are 7 key tips to help your whole family stay warm and comfortable no matter how cold it gets. 1) Increase Humidity. Adding humidity and moisture to your home’s dry winter air will increase your overall comfort level. Boil pasta or other dishes with the lid off! 2) Turn off the Bathroom Fan. Your bathroom fan is near the ceiling, where heat and humidity tend to rise. Turn the fan off and leave the bathroom door open, sending all that precious moisture throughout your home! 3) Change your HVAC Filter. Your system is much more likely to perform perfectly and prevent freeze-ups if it can get proper circulation. A clean filter costs very little, but the impact on your comfort and your energy bills will be huge. 4) Protect your Pipes. On incredibly cold nights, open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially in basements. 5) Don’t Forget your Furry Friends. Bring pets indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water. 6) Get a System Tune-Up. Your HVAC […]
09.01.2015
5 Benefits of Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners
Do you have an odd room in your house that’s always a different temperature than the rest of your home? From sunrooms to basements, perhaps your existing air conditioner or furnace isn’t providing a consistent level of comfort. Fortunately, we have a simple solution for your frustration: ductless, wall-mounted air conditioning units, also known as “mini splits.” These slim profile indoor units attach to an outdoor unit through a small 3″ hole for power and refrigerant lines. Just one outdoor unit can power up to 8 individual indoor units throughout your home or office. While they might be small in size, they pack a very powerful punch when it comes to additional comfort and energy savings. Watch this video to learn more: Here are 5 benefits of adding a ductless mini split to your home: 1) Instant Comfort in Odd Rooms You can finally enjoy spending time in your home office, sunroom, addition or any room that has typically been difficult to heat or cool. These systems can also be used to offset heat generated from computers, printers and other electronics. Perfect for a home office! 2) Incredibly Quiet Performance You won’t believe how whisper quiet these mini splits are […]
04.08.2015
3 Ways to Win the War against Pollen!
It’s officially pollen season. The azaleas are in full bloom, the dogwoods are simply beautiful… and that dreaded yellow pollen cloud is everywhere. Your car is covered, your home is covered, and with these great tips and tricks to deal with all that pollen, your friends at Holtkamp Heating & Air have you covered! 1) Follow these Simple Tips for Dealing with Pollen Check the pollen count in your area daily, using online tools like this one from The Weather Channel. Keep your doors and windows closed, especially when pollen counts are high. The comfortable temperatures might be tempting, but closing those doors and windows allows you to use your filtered air conditioning system instead. Set the A/C in your car to recirculate, rather than bringing in fresh air full of pollen. Most plants pollinate between 5AM-9PM. If you like going for a walk with your family or pet, be sure to do it in the evening. Your pets become pollen vehicles this time of year, transporting it into your home. When they’ve been outside, use a damp towel or dish cloth to wipe them down. Dry, windy days stir up more pollen. The best time to enjoy outdoor activities […]
02.13.2014
Enjoy Better Indoor Comfort with a Whole Home Humidifier
While we’re experiencing cooler temperatures, you might be also be dealing with the symptoms of dry air throughout your home. When the air in your home becomes too dry, your home and body are robbed of moisture, leaving you and your family with dry, itchy skin, and dry nose and throat symptoms. Dry air also pulls moisture from walls and hardwood floors which leads to damaging, unsightly cracks. While daily activities such as showering, cooking and doing laundry can generate some humidity that bring you some comfort, they don’t produce enough moisture to keep your entire home’s air from being too dry. The answer? A Whole Home Humidifier from Aprilaire. How does it work? The HVAC experts at Holtkamp Heating & Air will install an Aprilaire Whole Home Humidifier directly to your existing central heating and cooling system. Humidity is introduced into your home’s air in the form of water vapor, which prevents minerals from entering the air in your home and potentially into your lungs. Why Aprilaire instead of portable units? Too much humidity can be as much of a problem as too little humidity. Unlike portable units the Aprilaire Whole Home Humidifier continually monitors relative humidity levels in your home, […]
03.29.2011
Allergy Aggravations Can Be Lessened With HVAC Duct Sealing
Well folks, the Atlanta yellow dust has arrived. You know what I mean. That nasty pollen cloud that sticks to everything like glue. Great for the flowers. Bad for those who suffer from allergies. But there’s hope. Along with your visit to your doctor, here’s something to mull over. In a perfect world, those who suffer from allergies would never be exposed to any pollen. Many think this can be accomplished by simply staying indoors. But unless you’re the boy in the bubble, this is a little unrealistic. The next line of defense seems to be duct cleaning. Problem is that duct cleaning may clean your ducts but when the AC kicks back on, the same allergens are circulated through the ductwork again. Why? The sources were never eliminated. These sources could be your attic, your crawlspace, your basement. You may very well be pulling in insulation, outside dust, pollen and mold spores from the outside without even knowing it. If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies, I challenge you to consider the sources in your home. Sealing your heating and cooling ductwork and sealing outside air infiltration can significantly reduce these allergens from your home. Add […]
06.07.2010
Broken AC in Buford, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Lawrenceville? Ask Matthew Holtkamp
Back by popular demand; I am turning over the blog (just temporarily) to Matthew so he can answer your most pressing HVAC questions! My outdoor unit is noisy. Does that mean it’s broken? While some brands and models are more noisy than others, if you are noticing that it is particularly loud, then something is probably amiss. While it could be a number of things, most often it is a broken part within the compressor. Compressors operate similarly to car engines, with pistons, valves, etc. If you do have a problem with your compressor, it’s best handled by one of our NATE-certified technicians. You can even schedule an appointment online. How can I keep my husband from fooling with the thermostat? You could try distracting him with the remote control, his favorite food or a promise to take him golfing. If that proves too costly or time-consuming, our new programmable thermostats now have lockout features. However, we’re not responsible for keeping marital peace! I had a contractor quote me prices to replace my windows. He said they are making my home very inefficient. How do I know it’s a good deal? Window replacement is one of the most common unnecessary […]
