Sunset Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

Why a Humidifier May be a Good Idea This Summer

Monday, July 25th, 2016

Washington isn’t exactly a desert climate, so at first the idea of installing a humidifier in your home may seem a bit daft. Why add more humidity to a hot season, right? Well, if you know a bit about how air conditioners work, it is not actually that crazy. Let’s take a look at why it may be a good idea to install a humidifier in your home this summer.

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How Zone Control Can Improve Your Air Conditioner

Monday, May 23rd, 2016

Central air conditioners have been around for a long time and have been at the top of the market for most of that time. They have a lot going for them, but they’re not perfect systems. There are a number of different issues associated with using central air conditioning, which contribute to a loss of efficiency and comfort. Fortunately, there is a way to solve for these problems. Read on to find out more about zone control.

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How Duct Cleaning Benefits You

Monday, August 3rd, 2015

The vast majority of homeowners are unaware of their ducts most of the time. This is no great surprise, as the ducts are sort of designed to be inconspicuous. However, this has the unintended effect of giving the impression that the ducts don’t need any sort of attention once they’re installed. This is untrue. If you don’t have your ductwork properly inspected and cleaned at least once a year, you could run into some pretty nasty consequences. Read on to find out more about duct cleaning, and why it is necessary.

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The Advantages of Using a Dehumidifier in Your Home

Monday, July 13th, 2015

Most of us already have air conditioners to keep us cool during the summer, but far fewer of us have methods for dealing with high humidity. Humidity issues are common in Washington State, and are especially bad during the summer. If you often have very humid air in your home, don’t just rely on your air conditioner to keep you comfortable this summer. Let’s take a look at how a dehumidifier can vastly improve your indoor air quality by removing excess humidity.

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What are the signs of a mold or mildew problem?

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

©Martin Scott-Jupp

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What is System Zoning?

Tuesday, January 6th, 2015

What is System Zoning?

The temperature in your house can vary depending on the different qualities of your rooms and layout. For instance, if a room has a lot of windows that allow sun to come in, it can be harder to keep cool during the sunny season. Or if a room has a vaulted ceiling, it can be harder to retain heat. There is a long list of reasons why rooms differ in heating and cooling efficiency and one way to even the whole house out is to use a process called system zoning.

zoning

System zoning is the placement of multiple thermostats throughout the home. The thermostats operate dampers in the ductwork that modify the output of heating or cooling in specific zones of the house by opening and closing airways. The thermostats read the separate temperatures of each zone and distribute heat accordingly. Systems like this are extremely useful if you have certain rooms that have a hard time maintaining heat and they also may save you money by increasing the efficiency by optimizing your heating and cooling distribution.

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The Benefits of Switching to a Ductless System

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

ductless heating system

The Benefit of Switching to a Ductless Heating and Cooling System Increased comfort:

Ductless heating and cooling systems are extremely efficient at distributing heat evenly throughout your living space. One indoor unit is enough to regulate the temperatures in a large space. Ductless systems are suitable for any open floor plan and are easy to control. With a duct system the air has more distance to travel before entering the room it will be heating or cooling. Duct systems can waste an average of 40% of your heating and cooling energy.

Monthly savings:

Ductless systems can replace the primary heat source in all electrically heated homes. Ductless systems heat homes for a fraction of the cost of a baseboard, electric furnaces, or wall and ceiling heaters.

Heating and cooling all in one unit:

This allows you to control your comfort no matter what season it is. With a ductless system, the heating and cooling is all done from one unit making it a great choice for controlling the temperature of your home all year round. No more external air conditioners and the maintenance that comes with them.

Easy, low-cost installation:

Ductless systems do not require costly and complicated ductwork. This allows you to set aside your worries of duct cleaning and expensive maintenance. A ductless installation can usually be completed within a couple of days.

Breathe cleaner, healthier air:

With a ductless system you can say goodbye to dirt, dust, germs, mildew, and odor causing gases. A ductless system will continuously be circulating fresh air into your living space, making it a prime choice for people who suffer from allergies.

Incentive opportunities:

Many local utility companies such as Puget Sound Energy offer cash incentives up to $1,500 for changing to a ductless system. This can make it a whole lot easier on your pockets when making the transition.

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6 Steps to an Energy Efficient Home

Tuesday, November 18th, 2014

home energy

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The Dangers of A Clogged Furnace Filter

Tuesday, November 4th, 2014

The Dangers of a Clogged Furnace Filter

One of the most neglected home maintenance tasks is replacing your furnace filters. Believe it or not, it is recommended that the generic furnace filters be changed at least every 8 to 12 weeks. A once per month change is recommended for those with pets or those with various allergies to dander or dust. If you find you are changing your generic filters monthly you may want to invest in a higher end filter, such as an Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC).

If you have just moved in to a new house, change your filter once every month for the first 6 months to ensure that the remaining sawdust and sediment is filtered. If the dust and sediment persists, you may want to clean out the duct system to solve the problem. This would need to be done by a license professional contractor.

If you are like most of us, you probably haven’t thought about your furnace filter in awhile, or may not even know how to check for its expiration. It is too often that we go to work on a malfunctioning furnace only to find that the cause is something as simple as the furnace filter. When the filter is clogged with debris, it causes the furnace to malfunction from being overworked. It is important to maintain proper airflow to keep this from happening.

Your furnace filter could look like this.

furnace filter

If so, you could be losing money every month. With a clogged filter, the furnace must work up to 30% harder to regulate the temperature of your home. Not to mention it can cause dust and debris to be continuously re-circulated throughout your home.

Checking your furnace filter can be an easy task on some models. If you find it difficult to locate or change out, contact us at 360–456-4956.

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