Indoor Air Quality and Your Business: What You Should Know

Some of our commercial customers ask us what they should do to improve the quality of the indoor air in their businesses. Indoor air quality is one factor that can have a big effect on the health of both employees and visitors to your buildings.

However, diagnosing an indoor air quality problem can be tricky. It isn’t always obvious, and health symptoms are very similar to those of a cold or the flu. Here are some clues that your problem may be more than the common cold.

■Everyone gets sick at the same time.
■Everyone feels better as soon as they leave the premises.
■The onset of the symptoms comes suddenly after a change, like freshly painted walls.
■People feel better outdoors.
■A doctor has identified the symptoms of an indoor air quality-related illness.
If indoor air quality becomes an issue, what can be done? Let’s discuss six practical, low-cost measures that business owners can take to improve the quality of indoor air in their buildings.

1. Eliminate the source. Mold, school bus exhaust, garbage—all of these can be sources of indoor air quality problems. Small things like replacing moldy material, prohibiting cars and work vehicles from idling in or around garages and buildings, and keeping garbage out of rooms with HVAC equipment can do a lot to minimize air pollutants.

2. Exhaust at the source. The source of a pollutant cannot always be eliminated. Installing exhaust systems in employee lounges and kitchens, duplicating rooms, restrooms, and industrial areas can remove pollutants before they spread throughout the building.

3. Ventilate the air. You really need to replace polluted air with cleaner, conditioned outdoor air.

4. Control the exposure. This involves changing either the time or location of exposure to pollutants. If your building has a painting, floor stripping, or waxing project, why not schedule it on a Friday evening, and give the indoor air a full weekend to recover?

5. Clean the air. There are ways to filter particles and gases out of the air as it passes through ventilation equipment. An HVAC technician can help design a system to fit your particular needs.

6. Educate about Indoor Air Quality. Teach your employees about the importance of indoor air quality and some basic steps that they can take to improve it.

Both business owners and their employees make decisions that directly affect their indoor air quality. It’s up to each business to provide proper education about the importance of good, clean 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,click here to visit our website.

Tightly Sealed Homes Need Proper Ventilation

When it comes to insulating your home, you can have too much of a good thing. A tight house often lacks proper ventilation, which is necessary in order to keep mold, mildew, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants from building up. Ventilation also helps prevent moisture build-up that can cause structural damage.

Good air flow is important for a healthy home. So, the general rule of thumb for insulating is that you should do what you can to seal up your home, then mechanically ventilate your indoor air. This creates cleaner, healthier air inside your home, reduces air leaks and keeps moisture from rotting your wood and damaging insulation. Some air leakage is likely in any home, especially older ones. However, if you have good ventilation that removes indoor air pollution and brings fresh outside air in, you should see an improvement in your home comfort as well as the quality of the air you breathe.

Whatever the status of air leakage in your home, mechanical ventilation systems can play a significant role in promoting air flow and reducing odor and moisture in your home. One way to achieve better ventilation is to install fans that remove moist air. Every home should have both kitchen and bathroom fans to effectively remove moisture and odors. In fact, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE) recommends that kitchens have an intermittent exhaust capacity of 100 cfm (cubic feet per minute), and bathrooms 50 cfm.

ASHRAE also recommends a minimum ventilation rate of 15 cfm per person (or .35 air changes per hour), whichever is greater. That means introducing fresh or filtered air equal to just under one‐third of the total volume of air in your home every 60 minutes or more than 8 complete air exchanges per day. To put this rate of exchange into perspective, an older home without insulation or weather‐stripping might have as many as 8 air exchanges per hour. During the heating or cooling season, that adds up to a lot of energy consumption, and a lot of wasted energy dollars.

So, if your home is showing signs of ventilation problems such as high energy bills, moisture build up, condensation on the windows, mold, mildew and other unpleasant effects of poor air quality, have us come out to assess the situation. This is also a good time to talk about how to improve air quality through various mechanical means, such as dehumidifiers and air cleaners that work with your air conditioning to provide clean, cool and dry air year round.

Overinsulating has become an issue, especially with newer homes that are built to more energy-efficient standards. Mechanical ventilation helps keep your indoor air healthy and prevents costly repairs to your home down the line. Ask us about your options for sealing and ventilating your home to achieve better comfort.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Ventilation and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.

Make Sure your System is Installed Correctly

Over half of the HVAC systems in the U.S. are not properly installed. As a result, they aren’t performing to their rated efficiency, and are more likely to suffer from breakdowns and costly repairs down the line. When it comes to getting the most comfort and energy savings out of your system, a quality installation is key. So, homeowners need to know what distinguishes a professional job from one that’s going to cause future problems. When it comes to installation, there are many points to look at, including:

* Proper sizing- Bigger is not better when it comes to your heating and cooling system. A system that’s sized too large will cycle on and off too much, leading to poor performance, early equipment failure and less comfort. Your contractor should do a load calculation to determine what size components are right for your home.

* Duct sealing- About 20% of your conditioned air is lost to leaky ducts. During installation, ducts should be properly sealed with tape or mastic, and all kinks should be eliminated for proper air flow.

Refrigerant charge- Over 60% of air conditioning systems are incorrectly charged at the time of installation. This leads to reduced life for system components and poor performance.

* Air flow- Your contractor should test for proper air flow through your system. Too much or too little air flow could result in higher energy bills as your system has to work harder to keep your rooms comfortable.

It’s also a good idea to have a checklist of important points for your contractor to cover during the installation:

1.Equipment has adequate space around it for maintenance.
2.Proper air flow is tested and verified.
3.Programmable thermostat is set and tested, and instructions for use are provided.
4.Instructions for changing filters are provided.
5.Furnace or boiler is tested for proper venting and burner operation.
6.Refrigerant levels in A/C units are checked and at the proper level.
7.Outside condenser unit is placed in a protected area.
8.Certificate for energy tax credit is provided, if applicable.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has a Quality Installation Specification available online that contains important guidelines for homeowners and contractors, so check it out for more details. A professional, quality installation job gives you years of comfort and energy efficiency, so make sure your contractor does it right the first time.

Replacing your Existing Heat Pump

We’ve outlined some of the factors involved in replacing your old HVAC system. The first one to consider is this– when choosing a new system, there are certain limitations imposed by your existing system. To many people, it would seem that the obvious solution to replacement is to swap out your old heat pump with a newer model of the same type. Before you replace your heat pump, however, you need to determine if the current heat pump is sized correctly, and if the ductwork is also the right size for the new unit. Your ducts may be undersized (at least half of all systems are), or it may not be able to evenly heat and cool your home.

So, if your system is starting to perform poorly, and you think it might be time for a change, contact a qualified HVAC contractor. We inspect a lot of systems, and sometimes, we end up recommending a heat pump replacement. Here are some signs that your system may be at the end of its useful life:

1. Age: While age isn’t necessarily a reason to replace, a system that’s ten or fifteen years old is probably not operating very efficiently any more. The efficiency of your current system can be measured. The most common measurement used for heat pump efficiency ratings is the Coefficient of Performance, or COP. This refers to the ratio of the heat pump’s BTU heat output to the BTU electrical input. A water or ground source heat pump has a rating of three to five. An air source heat pump usually has a COP rating of two to four. When the outside temperature drops, the COP of air source heat pumps decreases.

Another method of determining heat pump efficiency is the Energy Efficiency Ratio or EER. This evaluates the efficiency during the cooling cycle of the particular unit. This rating is also used for air conditioners. If the EER rating is higher than ten, then it’s operating efficiently.

2. Uneven heating- If you find that there is unequal heating or cooling in the rooms of your house, then you should check your heat pump unit for certain problems. These problems could be due to improper installation, trouble with the ducts or, worse, your equipment is no longer functioning well. In this scenario, it’s likely that you’ll have to replace your old model.

3. Increased operating costs- Consider how much it costs to operate your current system. If your energy bills and the expenses spent on repairs and parts are increasing each year, replacement is probably in order. These expenses will continue to climb each year you own your old heat pump and, to add insult to injury, your system performance is likely to deteriorate.

4. Noise- If you start noticing that your system is becoming noisy, it could be a sign that parts are wearing out. Before additional damage is done, have a qualified HVAC contractor come check it out.

Contact us when you think it might be time to replace your heat pump. We can help you determine if your entire system needs replaced, and weigh your options. There are many considerations when replacing your current system, so we want to make sure that the benefits outweigh the costs involved.



Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Heat Pump Systems and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.

What Can A Whole House Dehumidifier Do For You?

We’ve talked a little bit about how to stay cool and comfortable in hot, humid conditions. Here at Conditioned Air, we believe that dehumidifying your indoor air is one of the most effective ways to improve your comfort all year long, keep indoor air healthy and save money on air conditioning costs. Whole house dehumidifiers can be used to supplement your air conditioner’s air drying capability. If you think you might need one, there are a few things you should know.

How they work

Whole house dehumidifiers connect to your existing heating and cooling system. They pull hot, humid air from your indoor spaces into return ducts, remove the moisture and refrigerate it, then return dry air back into your home. These units work well in conjunction with your air conditioner to balance the humidity levels in your home. They can also be used to provide fresh, dehumidified air on days when your A/C system is turned off or not needed.

Ventilating dehumidifiers provide an exchange of stale, humid indoor air for fresh, outdoor air. These units refrigerate and dehumidify outside air then introduce it into the home. By ventilating your home, these dehumidifiers help keep pollutants such as VOCs ( volatile organic compounds) and pollen from accumulating while providing dry air for increased comfort during times when the A/C needs a little help.

Choosing your dehumidifier

Just like any piece of HVAC equipment, your whole house dehumidifier needs to be sized for your home. This is calculated based on the size of the home, the number of rooms and the airflow of the unit. Proper sizing allows the unit to work at maximum efficiency and meet ventilation requirements.

Your technician can help you determine if you need a ventilating unit. An advantage to these types of dehumidifiers is their ability to provide fresh, treated air all year, regardless of weather conditions. This kind of mechanical ventilation is an energy efficient way to supplement your A/C’s dehumidification.

What can a whole house dehumidifier do for you? It’s a quiet, efficient way to improve your indoor air quality by keeping your home cool, dry and free from pollutants all year, in any conditions. Using one to supplement your air conditioning will ensure that hot, humid Florida weather doesn’t affect your indoor comfort.


Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about whole house dehumidifiers and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.

Replacing your Existing Heat Pump

We’ve outlined some of the factors involved in replacing your old HVAC system. The first one to consider is this– when choosing a new system, there are certain limitations imposed by your existing system. To many people, it would seem that the obvious solution to replacement is to swap out your old heat pump with a newer model of the same type. Before you replace your heat pump, however, you need to determine if the current heat pump is sized correctly, and if the ductwork is also the right size for the new unit. Your ducts may be undersized (at least half of all systems are), or it may not be able to evenly heat and cool your home.

So, if your system is starting to perform poorly, and you think it might be time for a change, contact a qualified HVAC contractor. We inspect a lot of systems, and sometimes, we end up recommending a heat pump replacement. Here are some signs that your system may be at the end of its useful life:

1. Age: While age isn’t necessarily a reason to replace, a system that’s ten or fifteen years old is probably not operating very efficiently any more. The efficiency of your current system can be measured. The most common measurement used for heat pump efficiency ratings is the Coefficient of Performance, or COP. This refers to the ratio of the heat pump’s BTU heat output to the BTU electrical input. A water or ground source heat pump has a rating of three to five. An air source heat pump usually has a COP rating of two to four. When the outside temperature drops, the COP of air source heat pumps decreases.

Another method of determining heat pump efficiency is the Energy Efficiency Ratio or EER. This evaluates the efficiency during the cooling cycle of the particular unit. This rating is also used for air conditioners. If the EER rating is higher than ten, then it’s operating efficiently.

2. Uneven heating- If you find that there is unequal heating or cooling in the rooms of your house, then you should check your heat pump unit for certain problems. These problems could be due to improper installation, trouble with the ducts or, worse, your equipment is no longer functioning well. In this scenario, it’s likely that you’ll have to replace your old model.

3. Increased operating costs- Consider how much it costs to operate your current system. If your energy bills and the expenses spent on repairs and parts are increasing each year, replacement is probably in order. These expenses will continue to climb each year you own your old heat pump and, to add insult to injury, your system performance is likely to deteriorate.

4. Noise- If you start noticing that your system is becoming noisy, it could be a sign that parts are wearing out. Before additional damage is done, have a qualified HVAC contractor come check it out.

Contact us when you think it might be time to replace your heat pump. We can help you determine if your entire system needs replaced, and weigh your options. There are many considerations when replacing your current system, so we want to make sure that the benefits outweigh the costs involved.


Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Heat Pump Systems and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.

How an Energy Efficient Landscape Can Save You Money

Here’s something you may not know– if you want to reduce your energy bills, one of the most effective ways to do it is through your landscaping. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the proper placement of just 3 trees will save the average homeowner up to 25% per year in energy costs. When you implement an energy-efficient landscape design, you can help your cooling system work more efficiently by preventing the weather from affecting its performance. If you want to take advantage of potentially significant savings on your energy costs, we have some tips for you.

The first thing to consider when installing an energy efficient landscape is your climate zone. Here in Northeast Florida, we live in a hot-humid zone, which requires a landscaping plan aimed at keeping your home cool naturally. Anyone who has spent time in a park or wooded area can tell you that the temperature in these places is noticeably cooler than in areas without shade or covered with asphalt. Your landscaping can do the same thing for your home.

Here are the main elements of energy-efficient landscape design:

Shade- The area around trees is cooler for a reason. Trees not only provide shade from the sun, they also move and release water vapor in a process called evapotranspiration. Shading your yard with climate-appropriate trees can lower the air temperature around your home by 9 degrees. Energy efficient placement of your trees channels breezes toward your home in summer and maximizes shade during the hottest summer days. Pay attention to where shadows fall during certain times of day to determine where your trees should be planted, and be sure ask us about how to get the greatest energy savings by adding shade to your outdoor spaces.

Remember, it’s a good idea to plant trees or shrubs around your outdoor A/C unit. Providing shade for your air conditioner can save you as much as 10% on its operating costs. Just allow two to three feet around the condenser for air flow.

Wind Control- Unlike some areas of the country where windbreaks are desirable, here in Florida good ventilation is necessary in order to keep the home cool and reduce humidity. So, you may want to encourage wind movement in your yard. Smart wind control can help keep your air conditioning from working harder than necessary, so consider including this element when designing your landscape.

An energy efficient landscape pays for itself in energy savings within about 8 years, and can reduce air conditioning costs by 15-50% depending on other factors. So if you’re looking for ways to save money on energy costs, don’t neglect this important element of home comfort.



Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about filtration and filters and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website.