A Few Tips as You Clean Summer Debris This Fall

It can be amazing how much debris builds up in your home and yard over the summer. Between extra time outdoors, barbecues, lots of people coming and going, gardening and extra pollen in the air, summer can really take a toll on your home. This is especially true when it comes to your home’s indoor air quality.

If summer has left behind debris in your home, fall is the perfect time to be proactive about clearing it away and working to clean the air in your home. To help you with this process, here are a few tips to make it a little easier for you to get a clean home and clean air this fall.

Ensure that Your Air Filters are Clean

Whenever you start to talk about clean air, it seems that air filters are one of the first things to come up. However, given their role in keeping your home’s air clean, this only makes sense.

Air filters help to keep allergens, pollutants, and other particles from circulating throughout your home. As such, they play an integral role in making sure that your indoor air is clean and safe.

However, when your air filters are dirty, they not only can’t keep your air clean, but they also put an extra strain on your HVAC unit. Avoid these issues by ensuring that your air filters are clean and in good condition.

Even if you regularly replace your air filters, it’s still a good idea to check them at the end of the summer. The summer months put an additional strain on air filters, often making it necessary to replace them more frequently than you usually do. Knowing that they’re under additional pressure this time of year, make sure that you take a moment to check and replace them this fall!

Be Aware of the Cleaners you Use in Your Home

As you work to scrub and clean away extra dirt, pollen and debris in your home, make sure that you pay attention to the cleaners that you use.

While cleaning can be a great way to improve the air quality in your home if you’re using cleaners with lots of chemicals it can actually have the opposite effect.

One easy way to make sure you’re helping to create clean air is by using all-natural cleaning products. The great news is that you can even make your own products using vinegar and water, tea tree oils or baking soda. These natural products are safe and effective and will give you the peace of mind to know that your family isn’t breathing any dangerous chemicals.

Take a Moment to Check for Gas Leaks

While you’re focusing on clean air, it’s a good idea to take a moment to check for gas leaks. Gas leaks can lead to serious safety issues and can pose concerning health hazards.

Consequently, it’s important to locate and address any gas leak as soon as possible. In an effort to do this, take a moment this fall to check for any gas leaks or any concerning areas in your gas line.

This is one simple way to help ensure that your home’s air is clean and safe. We hope you had a great summer and that you’re having no trouble cleaning away some of the lingering debris from the season. But, if you have any questions or concerns about your home’s air quality, call Laney’s Inc. today at (701) 237-0543.

Spring Cleaning is For Indoor Air, as Much as For Your Home

For centuries, people have designated the spring season, March through May, as the time to clean their homes for the rest of the year. That’s right- we said centuries! In fact, the origins of spring cleaning can be traced all the way back to the Persian empire.

In many ancient cultures, spring cleaning coincides with important holidays that take place during the spring months. In western culture, however, spring cleaning came about as a way to get rid of all the damp mess left behind during winter, which can affect your air quality.

Get All Your Spring Cleaning Done at The Same Time

It is said that historically, March was considered the perfect time to dust in your home, because it was warm enough to open the windows and allow the dust to b blown out by the breeze, but cool enough that bugs would not be a problem.

Blowing away dust isn’t the only reason to open the windows after months of having them closed, though. It also releases some of the stale, stagnant air that has been trapped in the house all winter.

So you see, even several centuries ago people understood the importance of including air in their spring cleaning checklist, as well as surfaces.

How’s Your Indoor Air Quality?

It’s always a good idea to keep tabs on your air quality throughout the year. That way, you’ll be aware if it decreases due to higher pollen count, excessive dust, or even a deadly gas leak.

If you’re not sure what kind of shape your indoor air is in, you can purchase an air quality monitor for under $300 that will help you figure it out. These devices will also help you monitor your indoor air quality throughout the year.

Get Your HVAC System a Spring Tune-Up, While You’re at It!

And while we're on the subject of spring cleaning, and improving our indoor air quality, it wouldn't hurt to schedule an appointment for a routine HVAC inspection and tune-up.

At least twice a year, you should have a maintenance call for your HVAC system, to ensure that it is working properly and that it is able to maintain your new and improved air quality.

While these visits can take place at any given time of the year (every six months is recommended), it might be worth it for you to get it over with now, while your mind is already on cleaning up.

Another easy way you can improve your indoor air quality is by keeping your home as free from dust as you can, year round. Don’t just leave your duster behind after spring cleaning is over! Remember to dust all furniture (even, or especially, the hard to reach parts) as well as your ceiling fans.

An accumulation of dust, especially in high places, like the tops of furniture and fans, can fall to the ground, compromising your indoor air quality on the way down. Keep in mind that if you should need more in-depth work on your HVAC system, you should call a professional, like the ones at Laney’s Inc at (701) 237-0543 for assistance.

Experiencing Duct Problems? When Should You Schedule An Air Duct Cleaning?

It used to be that the ventilation in a home only really got used during the winter, when the furnace was turned on, and warm air was pumped through the vents. But with the advent of centralized air conditioning, HVAC systems now took advantage of the existing air duct system and were used in the summer as well to keep a home cool.

Now, most homeowners commonly rely on their air ducts for both cool and warm air throughout the entire year, and that means they get a lot of usage. This might lead you to wonder if you need to have ducts serviced with something like an air duct cleaning. Here are the basic facts on that.

A Dirty Duct Is An Unhealthy One

Fortunately, provided you don’t physically interfere with your air ducts, these important parts of your home generally take care of themselves and, like your drainage pipe, require very little servicing.

They are designed to be airtight and durable, with no moving parts, so it’s quite normal for them to be used for the entire life of a home. However, even if the physical condition of your air ducts is good, cleanliness can be an issue.

Dirt can’t hurt your air ducts, but they can hurt you. Mold spores, dander from pets, and, if rodents take up residence your ductwork, virulent contaminants from their fur and waste can all pose anywhere from moderate to serious health risks.

When To Get A Duct Cleaning

Under ordinary circumstances, your air ducts will largely take care of themselves. If you want the peace of mind that comes from knowing your ducts are clean, a good average is between 3-5 years for a cleaning.

However, if you’re thinking of selling your home, or you’ve just bought one, now is a good time as well. On the other hand, if you are noticing that you or people in the home are experiencing allergic reactions while inside, think about getting an air duct cleaning.

If you’ve just had rodents exterminated and you were told they took up residence in the duct, get them cleaned. If you smell something musty every time your AC turns on, or you see actual dirt/dust or spores coming out of your vents, it’s definitely time for a cleaning.

Keeping It Clean In Between

One of the best things you can do is help keep your air ducts cleaner between professional air duct cleaning sessions. This isn’t that hard to do, it just means you remain diligent about other, necessary household chores.

One of the biggest is your HVAC filter. Try to stick to the recommended replacement period of every three months at the latest. If you want to really be sure, you can also switch to a monthly replacement schedule.

The other important task is to make sure your home is clean! Regularly sweeping up dirt, and vacuuming your home for dust and pet fur/dander will mean these contaminants stay in your vacuum or trash and don’t get a chance to drift into your air ducts where they can anchor on and stay there.

We rely on our HVAC systems throughout the year in Fargo, ND, so it’s important to make sure they stay clean. The last thing you want is for the system that keeps you comfortable to subject you to constant, daily allergic reactions.

Your Complete Guide to Improving Indoor Air Quality During Your Next Home Renovation

Keeping your air breathable during a home renovation is a huge concern, but one that is often overlooked when people are planning how they are going to live during a home renovation.

They might be more concerned with the situational aspects, such as moving their sleeping quarters to a quieter area, eating out more often or arranging to borrow a neighbor’s bathroom for a while.

Unfortunately, it is not until the renovations have started that many people realize the serious impact that the strong odors, fumes, and dust have on their ability to breathe in their own home.

Fortunately, there measures that you can take to help improve your air quality during the renovation and make it easier for you, your family and your pets to stay there without too much interruption to your daily routine.

Don’t Use Your HVAC System During Renovations

Unless the temperature outside is forbidding it, do not turn on your HVAC system while workers are actively working in your home.

This is because these systems, especially any fan units can suck up the contaminated air in the rooms being worked on and spread the dust throughout your system, dirtying the ducts and fouling the air.

Insist that your contractors use dust-control methods while renovating, which involves lightly misting housing materials so that the dust is dampened and does not rise upwards.

If you must use your heating and ventilation system, make sure that the air filters are examined for large amounts of dirt and dust before you turn it on and replace them if necessary.

Seal Off Areas to Be Renovated From Other Areas in Your Home

Before you even begin the renovation, make a plan about how you are going to live through the ordeal by identifying the areas to be worked on and making them off limits for living.

You should make sure that the doors to these areas are closed and that they are sealed with plastic draping and tape. This prevents dust from drilling, sawing and other renovation activities from permeating your living areas.

Use Portable Fans and Air Cleaners to Manage Air Quality

One of the best ways to manage your indoor air quality is to use fans and open windows in the sealed off rooms to direct paint, glue and varnish fumes outside.

Keep one or two portable air cleaners on hand that you can move from room to room to help clear the air of where you are cooking, sleeping or living of mold spores, dust particles, and allergens.

Despite your best efforts, you may notice dust accumulating on surfaces and it is a good idea to remove it with a damp cloth as soon as possible if it is landing in your cooking, sleeping and bathing areas.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality with a New HVAC System

If you are planning a renovation, Fargo ND homeowners might also want to consider installing a new HVAC system. There is no better way to improve the overall air quality in your home at any time and you can save up to 15% on your annual energy bill. Newer HVAC systems also require less maintenance and the air filters are easier to replace without the help of a professional.

However, whether your system is newer or older, you should have your furnace, air conditioner and ducts inspected and cleaned at least once a year. This makes sure that they are never blocked and that the air you are breathing in your home is always fresh, clean and odorless.