Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Because of its discreet nature it is important that you get your home tested to ensure your safety. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Smoking increasing your risks of lung cancer in addition to high radon levels in the home. Some scientific studies also point to children being more sensitive to radon. This may be due to their higher respiration rate and their rapidly dividing cells, which may be more vulnerable to radiation damage. Call Clean Air Act for your residential Radon Testing and protect your family today!
The Clean Air Act Blog: Archive for the ‘Services’ Category
Air Conditioning from Your Smart Phone
Monday, May 14th, 2012Most Welches residents are getting comfortable playing games and checking emails on the tiny screens of their smart phones. Some are even watching movies and music videos, and for many, the smart phones have become the camera of choice to record their way in the world.
But have you considered the many practical ways a smart phone can be used to perform valuable functions in your home, greatly reducing energy costs and the size of your carbon footprint? The solution to one of our biggest problems is in your hands.
Smart Homes
New technology is both visible and invisible in many more ways around your home than just your giant TV screen or computer. New homes today are being configured with wireless technology that does much more than connect you with the World Wide Web.
From the garage door opener that welcomes you to the alarm clock that sends you on your way, improvements are capable of being built-in or retrofitted into every nook and corner of the way you live, all controlled by your fingertips on the screen of your smart phone. The technology is available and the only impediment today is finding the way to distract average consumers from their entertainment apps to learn how they can utilize the tool to increase their comfort (and give them more time to play).
One Touch Convenience
Instead of a brash buzz from the digital alarm clock on the nightstand, imagine being lured awake by the soft sounds of classical music and the succulent aroma of your favorite coffee brewed freshly to your specification. From your phone, you can remotely direct this dream into reality.
On a cold winter night without wastefully leaving the heat on all day or risk of burning the house down, you can return from the workplace to a cozy home with a warmth of your heating system. The oven is pre-heated and ready to roast. The big screen is poised to play that game you couldn’t watch last night. Even the car has been warmed up and waiting to comfortably get you on your way.
Cool When You Need to Be
As the reality of climate change sinks in, the wacky weather patterns that are bringing unpredictable heat spells and cold snaps creates unusual inconveniences. If a sudden cold front rolls in when your air conditioning unit was scheduled to run, you could waste a ton of energy. But with new wireless thermostat technologies that does not have to occur. New apps allow you to turn off your air conditioning unit from wherever you are.
From your phone away from home, the new technology enables you to check the temperature inside and out and adjust the thermostat accordingly.
The Best is Yet to Come
The growing awareness of environmental change and our ability to impact it for better or worse is creating a “can-do” attitude amongst inventors, supply-side providers and consumers. Join the party and put your toy to work! Call The Clean Air Act today to learn about more interesting ways to save energy and stay efficient.
How Animal Dander Affects Indoor Air Quality
Monday, May 7th, 2012One of the single most common indoor air quality pollutants in Gladstone is animal dander. The flakes of dead skin, fur or feathers produced by pets and outdoor creatures can be an allergy nightmare for millions of people. Even those without allergies tend to be less comfortable in spaces that have animal dander issues. Here are some things you should know about animal dander and allergies.
What’s the Issue?
Dead skin from dogs and cats is the biggest problem, with 27% of US homes having cats and 32% having dogs. Cats are a much larger allergen producer however. The number of allergy related complaints among cat owners is twice as high as that of dog owners according to the American Lung Association. Male cats are slightly worse than female cats as well. Don’t forget either that fur is not the primary source of dander. Dead skin, dried saliva and even specs of dried feces can contribute to indoor air quality issues. So, short haired cats or dogs are not any better for your home.
Another thing to consider is that pet dander is suspended in the air much longer than any other allergen because of how light it is. We’re talking about days of suspension, after which it settles into carpets, furniture, clothing and anything else with enough surface area to attract the dander.
Health Problems from Dander
For those allergic to animals, pet dander is an instant irritant. Just walking into a home in which a cat or dog is present can have an instant negative effect – including anything from coughing and wheezing to a runny nose or chest constriction.
Unfortunately, the easiest way to remove pet dander is to remove the pet and for severely allergic people, this is usually the only option. For others, however, there are some things you can do. You can remove the allergens themselves with high powered indoor air cleaning or filtration. You can also set aside areas in the house that the pet is not allowed into and take steps to make sure pet dander doesn’t get into the air supply for that room. For more information about indoor air quality solutions please call The Clean Air Act
Improving Indoor Air Quality with UV Germicidal Lights?
Monday, April 30th, 2012To improve the indoor air quality use ultraviolet germicidal lights in Portland homes to kill harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxic mold that can cause respiratory problems and other health concerns. These microorganisms spread by releasing airborne spores containing the genetic material used to create a new organism. UV lights use a wavelength of ultraviolet light to destroy the organism’s DNA, which takes away their reproductive capabilities and also kills them.
UV germicidal lights are fairly inexpensive and can be installed to work with your existing forced air HVAC system. They are typically used in tandem with either an electronic or mechanical air cleaner. While air cleaners can filter pollen and other irritants, UV germicidal lights destroy the viruses and mold spores once these pollutants have been trapped by the air cleaner. After the air has been filtered through your HVAC, it will circulate more easily through system and increase the efficiency of the unit. In addition, UV lights are useful in killing hidden mold growth, which can only be detected by special thermal imaging equipment.
Homeowners with particularly chronic allergy problems or extremely poor indoor air quality choose to install both types of air cleaners, in addition to a UV light, for the ultimate protection from indoor air pollutants—from bacteria to pet dander. If your home lacks adequate ventilation, or if you are unable to control the source of common pollutants, you might benefit greatly by installing UV germicidal lights. Poor indoor air circulation can exacerbate the spread of harmful microorganisms, so make sure you have proper ventilation if you don’t have UV lights in your home.
UV germicidal lights have also been used to filter tap water because they are more reliable and easier to install than other water treatment systems. However, they are typically used to provide cleaner indoor air quality.
Call Clean Air Act if you have questions or concerns about the quality of the air inside your Portland home.
Heat Pump Air Duct Requirements
Monday, April 23rd, 2012Between the concerns about climate change and the rising costs of energy production and consumption, there is a lot of experimentation with new heat pump replacements in Beavercreek. Standard choices are being re-evaluated and new designs are changing the requirements for various parts.
In homes and other buildings where systems were designed and installed according to the cheaper energy parameters prevalent in the day, it may be time to consider drastic changes to increase the efficiency and decrease impact on the carbon footprint. Room for improvement can be found in many corners.
Heat Pump Technology
Among the systems getting a fresh look are heat pumps, a device that transfers thermal energy from one location to another, usually in the direction of from a colder temperature to higher and generally the opposite of the natural flow. While compressor-driven air conditioners and freezers are technically heat pumps, “heat pump is the term that usually implies one of the less-common devices in the class that are not dedicated to refrigeration-only.
Heat pump installations that maintain a thermally conditioned-space can be used to provide either heating or cooling, depending upon whether the environment is cooler or warmer than the conditioned-space. Typically pumps utilize some thermal energy from the environment itself, such as the natural heat beneath the Earth’s surface.
By simply transferring the energy rather than producing it, heat pumps are being more seriously considered as attractive alternatives to provide an efficient and clean system for conditioning public and living spaces.
Change of Use
In considering a change from an existing system to a heat pump, there are many details to compare to see if it makes any sense at all. The overall local climate (cool or hot) in general, and the availability of geothermal heat, in particular, are two major factors.
Since a heat pump typically moves conditioned air through ductwork, the advantages of the change are much more realistic with a system of pre-existing ducts such as a forced air furnace or central air-conditioning unit. While a heat pump often requires a larger volume of ducts, the old network of metal tunnels was often over-sized for inefficient furnaces and should do fine in a conversion to a heat pump.
The Right Data
Since the required formulas are dependent upon variables such as size, distance, volume and oomph, the design is strategic and makes all the difference. Call Clean Air Act to speak with a trained and experienced professional.
Do the homework to get the best recommendation for your home.
How Do I Get More Fresh Air in the House During the Winter?
Monday, April 16th, 2012Winter is a real bummer for many Welches families. It’s cold and dark outside and to top things off, you have to keep your home sealed up nice and tight so the warm air produced by your boiler or furnace doesn’t escape. Not a lot of fun. Luckily, there are solutions to help your indoor air quality in Welches. Which solution you choose will depend on a few factors, however.
The Simplest Way
The easiest way to get fresh air is to open a window. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive way. After all, the air outside is cold and by opening a window, you force all the air you just heated outside. Most modern heating systems can compensate for the energy loss, but it will cost you quite a bit over the course of the winter to heat not only your home, but your backyard.
That’s why there is so little circulation in the winter to start with. The need for effective insulation and weather stripping to reduce energy use and fuel costs led to increasingly sealed up homes.
Ventilation
So, ventilation is the next best option, and while there are fans and exhaust options that allow you to circulate air into and out of your home, the most cost efficient way to do so is with a heat recovery ventilator or for those with humidity problems, an energy recovery ventilator.
These devices contain advanced heat exchangers that will transfer the heat from your indoor air into new air as it is brought into your home. As fresh air is transferred inside, the heat is passed from indoor air to the outdoor air via a heat exchanger. By retaining the heat with a recovery ventilator, you keep your energy bills low and your home filled with fresh air.
The best part is that this same technology works in the summer if you want to let in a little fresh air on a sunny day. Instead of pouring all of that cool air conditioned air outside, you can simply use an energy recovery ventilator to draw heat out of new air as it enters your home. Heat and humidity stay outside and you stay nice and cool.
There are quite a few types of energy recovery ventilators, ranging from simple heat only models to advanced heat pumps that will gather lost heat from throughout your home. The size of your home and the climate in which you live will determine which the best fit is for you. If you have questions call Clean Air Act
The History of Heat Pumps
Monday, April 2nd, 2012Thermal energy is the natural movement from warm temperatures to colder temperatures creating energy in the change of temperature to the mass. A heat pump typically is a device that moves the air (or other matter) in the opposite direction from its natural flow.
A heat pump often uses an intermediate fluid called a refrigerant which absorbs heat as it vaporizes and releases the heat when it is condensed, using an evaporator to absorb the heat (or energy) from inside an occupied space and forcing this heat to the outside through the condenser. The key component that makes a heat pump different from an air conditioner is the reversing valve which allows for the flow direction of the refrigerant to be changed, allowing the heat to be pumped in either direction.
Timeless Technology
While mechanical movement of this energy, what we can actually call a pump, has been a relatively recent invention, the concept of this principal of physics has been in use since ancient times. Harnessing the power of geothermal energy (produced from the heat of the earth itself), natural hot springs “pumped” warm air into cool spaces in China and Europe thousands of years ago.
By 1852, Lord Kelvin had theorized the heat pump, but it took nearly 100 years to actually build one. In the last half century, the technological advances have made heat pumps part of our lives in many ways.
First Pump
In the 1940s a man named Robert Webber was motivated to build the first known heat pump while tinkering with his refrigerator. Accidently burning his hand on the outlet pipes of the cooling system, he was quite painfully awakened to an idea about the transference of heat.
Recognizing the freezer was constantly producing heat to cool its interior, he connected the outlet pipe to the storage tank of his hot water heater, extended that into a flow through pipes which heated air nearby, and then used a fan to blow the warmth into another room.
The first heat pump was a crude, but effective method to provide comfort. Creating a full-size version soon after, Wagner could heat his entire home.
Heat and Electricity
Today Portland heat pumps are built in many ways and shapes to heat or cool buildings of many sizes. Combined with geothermal forces close to the Earth’s surface or potentially deep within its fiery core, heat pumps are able to energize the turbines that can produce huge amounts of electricity
As technological improvements are refined during this time of climate change and dwindling fossil fuels, heat pumps promise to play an important part in our futures.
If you are interested in having a heat pump installed in your home, call Porland HVAC professionals Clean Air Act Inc.!
Benefits of Getting a Home Energy Audit
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012You may have heard of home energy audits, in which you inspect your home to find ways to improve its energy efficiency. What you might not know is all the ways an audit can help you save energy and be more environmentally friendly for your next heating installation in Portland. Here are the four main benefits of getting a home energy audit:
Learn About Loss
The main idea behind getting a home energy audit is to figure out the heat loss (or gain) of your home. That is, how much heat are you losing to the outside world? Heat that doesn’t stay in your home obviously does little to benefit you in terms of keeping your house warm, and can be costly in terms of increased utility bills and repair costs over time.
Identify Weak Spots
Aside from determining how much heat your home is losing, a home audit can also point you in the direction of weak or thin spots in your home’s insulation. By identifying areas that are letting out the most heat, you can prioritize your strategy to prevent heat loss. Most often, this starts with doors and windows.
Opportunity to Upgrade
A good home energy auditor will present you with solutions for your heat loss problems, creating an opportunity for you to upgrade the equipment or materials in your home. This can solve your heat loss problems in one fell swoop. Such solutions include energy efficient glass, new sealant around doors and windows or upgraded insulation, especially in upper floors.
Save Money
Preventing heat loss increases the efficiency of your heating system, which saves you money. Your heating bills are reduced, and your furnace has to run less, which means fewer repairs and a longer life for an expensive piece of equipment. In short, spending money on a home energy audit and heat loss solutions are sound investments.
The benefits of a home energy audit are numerous, which is all the more reason to take advantage of having one done in your home. It is also a good thing to do for the environment! So call The Clean Air Act today to have yours scheduled.
Three Tiered Maintenance Plan
Saturday, March 24th, 2012Maintenance is essential to keep your system in the best condition to ensure optimal performance and comfort. Call us today to find our more about our Three Tiered Maintenance Plan! 503-632-1563