Wondering what indoor air-quality sources affect your home’s air? The experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning recommend an indoor air-quality test to determine the sources at hand. Typically, homeowners who suffer from allergies or other respiratory issues can improve home comfort with an air-purification system that effectively addresses the problem of  air-quality sources.

There are many types of air purifiers on the market, so how do you know which one to choose? An effective air purifier should be able to:

• Permanently remove particles. If a system uses ionization, it will typically charge pollutants so they stick to surfaces throughout your home, leading to more dust or a white film. A good air purifier should permanently trap particles inside the system, without releasing them again into your home.
• Operate efficiently over the long term. Ask your indoor air-quality expert about long-term efficiency. Many system ratings show their performance capabilities within the first hour of operation. But you’ll need your air purifier to function in a year as well as it did on its first day.
• Remove the smallest particles. Most problematic indoor air-quality sources that affect your health are tiny – as small as 0.1 microns (smaller than a pollen particle). So make sure the system you choose can address ultra-small particles.
• Remove gas and chemicals. Gases and chemicals found in your home’s air are also likely to cause health problems. If you’re going to invest in a system, make sure it can eliminate particles and gases and chemicals.

At Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning we offer a range of indoor air-quality solutions, including ultraviolet light and dehumidification systems, electronic air cleaners and HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration. We generally recommend IQAir’s Perfect 16 air purifier to take care of indoor air-quality sources that impact your home comfort, as this system uses several technologies combined to address bacteria, mold, pet dander, dust and most other common household allergens.

Contact us today for more information, or to schedule an indoor air quality test. Jon Wayne serves the Greater San Antonio area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air purification image via Shutterstock

Using an air-purification system in your home can help to significantly improve the quality of your home’s indoor air. There are four specific criteria you can use to help you select an effective system and to ensure that you get a system that will match your home’s needs.

Before you can select an air purifier, you need to know the class (or classes) of contaminants that are present in your home. Have your home’s indoor air quality tested to reveal if particles, mold and bacteria, and/or odors and chemicals are causing problems. This will give you information that you can use to select a system’s air-purification technology.

Consider these criteria to judge whether a system is right for you:

• Particle removal. A variety of technologies are available. Some systems simply trap particles in a filter; others use ionization so that particles are “stuck” to a plate in the system (although these particles can be later released back into the home). Systems that use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter are often the best choice, because they permanently trap particles. However, since HEPA filters are restrictive on airflow, they must be used in conjunction with other less restrictive devices. Only a portion of the home’s air can be filtered by the HEPA device in one pass so several passes will be required to sufficiently scrub 100% of the air.
• Efficiency over time. When judging a system’s efficiency, most systems are tested during their initial 30 minutes of operation. However, you need to know how well your system will work in the long term. Look for reports that evaluate long-term efficiency and affects on airflow.
• Particle filtration. If you’ve had testing done, you know what contaminants – and their sizes – your system needs to be able to remove from the air. Particle size is measured in microns, and the best systems will remove particles as small as 0.003 microns.
• Other filtration. If your testing revealed that your home’s indoor air quality has all three classes of contaminants (particles; mold and bacteria; odors and chemicals), you’ll need a system that addresses more than just particles. Look for a system that combines several technologies and maintains efficiency.

You can improve indoor air quality by using these criteria to make your air-purification system selection. For help, contact San Antonio’s HVAC experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air purifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

It’s common knowledge that indoor and outdoor air is not pure: Things like pollen, dust and gases are buoyed by the air and can cause problems if you suffer from allergies or are susceptible to other respiratory issues. The best way to address air pollution as a homeowner is to identify what’s lurking in your indoor air. You can’t purify outdoor air, but you can make your home a haven from problematic pollutants. Here’s how:

• Know the common culprits. Two general classes of contaminants — particulates and gases — cause indoor air quality problems. Examples of common particulates are dust mites, mold, pollen and pet dander. Gases include carbon monoxide and organic chemicals from building materials or carpet. And these pollutants are of varying microscopic sizes.
• Test your air. The best way to identify what’s lurking in the air in your home is through professional testing. Air-quality testing devices can measure the contaminants in the air and provide specific, detailed information about common problematic sources.
• Choose an air-cleaning plan. Once testing reveals sources of pollution, you can really begin to attack the source through air-cleaning technology. There is a variety of technologies that effectively target and eliminate contaminants. If mold is causing problems, you can implement an ultraviolet light air-purifying system. Combined with your HVAC equipment, air purifiers clean the home’s air when it’s generally on the way out of the system, or upstream. Alternatively, there are products that can attack multiple classes of contaminants, ideal for people whose health problems are triggered by a variety of pollutants. Whole-house air-purification systems can remove bacteria, mold, dust and more from indoor air. Other options include electronic air cleaners, HEPA filtration systems and extended life filters.

To get expert advice, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We carry a wide variety of air-filtration systems, air purifiers and filters. We also have more than 30 years of experience servicing San Antonio-area homes and providing top-of-the-line indoor air-quality products for area residents.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

San Antonio homeowners get to know their homes really well in the summer. With high temperatures and humidity, homeowners seek refuge inside to stay comfortable. As a result, indoor air quality can be compromised when a home is closed up for a long period. Indoor air quality, however, can be managed and improved through source control, ventilation and air-cleaning systems.

Several indoor pollutants trigger problems even in healthy people, but are more damaging for those with respiratory issues, like asthma. There are two categories of pollutants that can lurk in closed-up homes: particulates, such as dust and mold, and gases, such as paint fumes.

• Removing pollutants at their source is one of the most efficient and least-costly methods to improve indoor air quality. If you’re remodeling your home, doing painting jobs outside or with enough air circulation to release fumes outdoors targets the source. Taking care of any moisture problems quickly and cleaning up mold thoroughly when there is a problem removes the source.
• Ventilation helps to move fresh air in and stale air out. A Whole House Dehumidifier can be set up to draw in fresh outside air into the home, while removing moisture from the air. One benefit here is a Whole House Dehumifier can help keep the indoor humidity at levels at which dust mites can not survive. In addition, when indoor humidity is consistantly kept at the 50% range, users find that they can run their AC thermostat setting up to 5 degrees higher and still be comfortable.
• Air cleaners can help to target specific classes of contaminants. UV Light systems target mold and bacteria. Air Purification Systems do more than filter the air – they purify it, often through the use of several air-cleaning technologies.

For improved indoor air quality this summer, use source control, ventilation and air cleaners. Contact the experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning for a consultation. Our indoor air quality technicians can help you target the right pollutants and get you on your way to cleaner air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Did you know the Environmental Protection Agency rates poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to American’s health? In fact, indoor air can be two to five times — or sometimes up to 100 times — more polluted than outdoor air, especially in homes that are sealed tightly.

Whole-house electronic/media hybrid air cleaners work with your HVAC system to remove pollutants from your indoor air. They can be installed in your system in the place of conventional disposable filters. Compared with these standard filters, electronic/media hybrids perform up to 10 times better.

These hybrid air filters work by connecting to your HVAC system’s electric power, which creates an electrostatic field over the filter. When particles enter the air cleaner, they are trapped by the electrostatic charge of the media – and they are killed. The filter can typically trap and kill from 94 percent to 99 percent of hazards, including:

• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Mold spores
• Bacteria
• Tobacco smoke-size and virus-size particles
• Allergens
• Dust
• Dust mites

Whole-house hybrid air cleaners also offer convenience that goes above and beyond standard filters:

• Their filters don’t need to be replaced as often as standard filters.
• The filter’s easily washable cell only requires cleaning about every six to 12 months.

Whole-house filters offer another convenience, too: Working through your HVAC system and ducts, they work continually the improve the air throughout your home. Portable units, on the other hand, only serve a single space and are turned on and off manually.

Along with improving your indoor air quality, electronic/media hybrid air cleaners protect your HVAC equipment by helping to keep it clean. The primary reason HVAC equipment fails is neglected maintenance, which allows dirt, dust and contaminants to build up in system components, reducing performance and your comfort. Keeping it clean is the first step toward preserving your equipment — even lengthening its life span.

If you’re considering installing a hybrid air cleaner in your home, please feel free to contact the professionals at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning with questions. We’re proud to help improve the air in San Antonio homes.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about electronic air cleaners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.