Protecting Your Home From Radon Gas

In order to keep your home safe and your indoor air quality high, it is important to make sure that radon gas is not seeping in and causing harm to you and your loved ones. The harmful effects of inhaling radon gas can be prevented by proactively testing and, if necessary, cleaning and mitigating the radon from your home—services that your local HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) provider can perform for you.

Effects of Radon Gas

Radon gas is currently one of the leading causes of lung cancer next to smoking. It is unidentifiable by human senses like smell and taste, and thus is especially dangerous if your home goes untested. It is released through the natural decay of uranium in the ground from where it rises above the soil, into the air and, unfortunately, our homes. Much like the cancer causing agents from smoking, radon gas is a carcinogen that over time will raise your chance of developing lung cancer. If left alone, a house contaminated by radon gas will severely decrease your indoor air quality and home comfort. There is no reason to take the risk that you and your family might be breathing in this toxic gas.

Testing for Radon Gas

Even though the existence and effects of radon gas are frightening, the solution to preventing risk of exposure is quite easy. Testing for radon gas is relatively quick and inexpensive. There are tests you can buy and do yourself that take several days to get a reading, or you can have a professional test your home for you. If your home tests above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), your indoor air contains above the safe amount of radon gas and further action should be taken. However, radon levels do change, so taking another test might be prudent before spending money on unnecessary services to clean and mitigate the radon gas. If the testing continues to score above the recommended level, more aggressive action should be taken to ensure the safety of you and your family while improving your indoor air quality. This may even be something you want to have measured before buying a new home. Also, keep in mind that a level of 4 pCi/L has a far less chance of causing a person to develop lung cancer, but the chance is still there. The lower the amount of radon in your home the better. 

Radon Cleaning and Mitigation

When it has been determined that your home contains an unsafe amount of radon gas, you should contact your local provider who will be able to deal with lowering the amounts of radon gas within your home. They will be looking for ways to decrease the amount of radon by removing it from your home and by preventing more from seeping in, often by using pipes and vents to suck radon gas away from your home and into the outside air. These measures will bring you peace of mind as you and your family continue to live in your home, ensuring you of your indoor air quality and improving your home comfort and, very possibly, your health.

Importance of Home Humidifier

As cold weather approaches and the air gets dyer, a home humidifier is a good option for putting moisture back into your home’s air, improving your indoor air quality, home comfort, and health. They can also help to keep your home from suffering undo wear in the dry winter months. There are several different kinds of humidifiers to choose from, so do not forget to consult with your local HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) provider to learn what humidifier is right for you.

Health Benefits

The dry air during winter has a way of making you more susceptible to common seasonal illnesses. A humidifier will help to resupply your home’s air with moisture, which will help your body to maintain its ability to fight off colds, the flu and other such winter related illnesses. It can help keep your skin from becoming chapped and cracked—a painful annoyance throughout the whole season. Humidifiers can be especially helpful for people with asthma by increasing their overall indoor air quality. They can even help to lower the level of static electricity, reducing the likelihood of receiving unwelcome static shocks. Keep in mind, however, a humidifier will only provide these benefits as long as it is being frequently cleaned and maintained. A dirty humidifier will collect bacteria that will then be released into a home’s air supply, possibly causing more susceptibility to illnesses. Be sure to ask your local provider on how to maintain your home humidifier, so you and your family continue to reap the benefits they offer.

Home Benefits

Not only do humidifiers help to keep you healthy, they also help keep your home and furniture safe from the dry winter air. Your wood floors and furnishings can shrink from the dry air created from the season and your heating system, which can cause wear and creaking, especially in wood floors. Having a home humidifier will put moisture back into your home and prevent your wood furnishings from unneeded damage. Other parts of your home that will benefit from a humidifier are wallpaper, paint, and houseplants. Even your electronics will benefit from the reduced amount of static electricity in your home. Having a humidifier in your home during the winter months will lower the amount of time and money spent on upkeep, which will create a higher level of home comfort and relaxation during long winter months.

Picking a Humidifier

It may seem reasonable to buy smaller portable humidifier units for individual rooms, but there are few reasons why you should consider a larger home system. Individual units often operate from a standing pool of water inside a tank at the bottom of the unit. If these units leak, it can actually cause damage to your home and furnishings. Also, individual units will not be able to distribute moisture evenly throughout your home like a bigger home unit, which releases the moisture into your ventilation system, working along side your heater. More units will also mean more to upkeep and more chances of forgetting to clean out filters and stagnate water sources, which can lead to unhealthy particles being released in your home, reducing your indoor air quality, home comfort, and health. Keep in mind that your local HVAC professionals can answer any questions about the benefits of a home humidifier. 

Heating Your Garage

Most people would agree that having a heated garage is something of a luxury, but for those of us who use their garage as a workspace know how necessary heat can be in the dead of winter when the temperatures drop below freezing. It is very difficult to do any sort of task with your hands when they are cold and stiff. Whether you use your garage space for car repair, woodwork, or other such activities and projects, the cold will inhibit you from doing quality work, and it may even affect your health. For those who need a warmer environment for such work activities, there are some things to keep in mind while shopping for the right garage heater for your space.

How is the Space Used

Depending on what you use your workspace for, there are some options that need to be taken into consideration. If you work with wood or any kind of project where you need the air to be still, you might consider a radiant heat system that does not require airflow to be effective. If you will be working on cars or doing something that requires spending a lot of time close to the ground, it may be better to get a different system that has more airflow throughout the garage, so the lower areas stay warm as well.  By expressing your needs and concerns to your local provider, they will be able to guide you to the right garage heater for your purposes.

The Right Heater for Your Garage

There are several different options when it comes to the kind of heat system you can buy for your garage. Some use electricity while others use propane and other traditional heat sources. Some will run independently while others can connect with your home’s heating system. You will have to consider what is cost efficient for you and the set up of your home and garage. Say you have an attached garage; it might be easier to heat it through your home’s current heating system. If it is a separate garage, it might be easier to run an independent electric heater. Another thing to consider is the size of the space being heated and if you need the entire area to have heat coverage. How big is your workspace? Can you get away with just heating a single corner or wall, or do you need the entire garage to be heated? Certain systems may require more ventilation and others may require you to increase your fuel costs. A professional from your local heating provider will be able to help you find the best and most economic garage heating option for your situation.

Insulating Your Garage

Depending on the state of you garage, you may want to invest in making hold its heat more efficiently. Look for any cracks or gaps where heat can escape easily and seal them up. Also, most garages have concrete floors and very little insulation to prevent the heat from escaping. Upgrading your garage’s insulation and by strategically placing your garage heaters and ventilation will help lower fuel costs, and keep your workspace warm and usable during the winter months.

Solar Heating and Cooling and You

Have you ever thought of switching to a solar heating and cooling system or purchasing a one for a new home? There are many reasons why a solar heating and cooling system may or may not be the right choice for you, depending on factors like where you live, the set up of your home, and the amount of money you want to spend. Taking these things into account will help guide you in your efforts to create a more energy and environment friendly heating and cooling system, but do not forget to consult with your local HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) provider for a more personalized analysis. 

Solar Heating and Cooling Pros

Of course, one of the biggest pros of solar heating and cooling is the lower fuel costs that come with it, since the sun is a completely renewable energy source. The money saved this way may often be worth the cost of integrating such a system into your home, old or new. A benefit of solar cooling is that on hot sunny days, when your home needs cooling the most, you will be receiving the most solar energy to keep your cooling system running efficiently. The solar heating and cooling systems can also be fit to best suit your home by placing the solar panels to strategically collect the most solar energy. They are also very quiet and require little maintenance. All of these reasons, as well as the environmental benefits of solar heating and cooling, offer support for why buying such a system can be a wise decision for your indoor air quality, and your checkbook. To be certain you will be able to reap these benefits, be sure to consult with a professional from your local HVAC provider.

Solar Heating and Cooling Cons

Beyond the fact that many people believe solar panels are unattractive, there are a few factors to keep in mind when buying a solar heating and cooling system that may direct you away from this form of heating and cooling and towards a more traditional option. Solar heating and cooling is much more effective in certain areas of the world. While it is true that your heater will be running most efficiently on sunny days, areas that experience more cold, overcast weather will have more issues heating homes that use solar energy. In such areas, solar heating and cooling may be implemented more practically as a supplement to an existing heating and cooling system. Also, keep in mind that the purchasing and installation prices can be high, so if those costs outweigh the savings in other areas, it may be prudent to ask your local HVAC provider about other options. 

Is Solar Right for You?

These are just a few of the reasons for and against solar heating and cooling. If you are considering switching to this type of system, be sure to search out a local professional to help you weigh the costs. He or she will be able to examine your situation and tell you what options are best for you and your home, creating a cheaper, more fuel efficient heating and cooling system without detracting from your personal home comfort.