Protecting Your Home from Radon

Radon gas is a naturally occurring substance that rises out of the ground from the radio-active decay of various types of materials found in the Earth’s crust. It exists most everywhere to some degree—in most places the amount of radon is negligible, especially in an outdoor environment. But inside buildings, including your home, radon gas can become more concentrated, causing severe health risks for the people living in that space. Radon gas is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, which means that to be sure your home is free of this dangerous element, proper testing is necessary. Radon gas being such a risk, it only makes sense that everyone should ensure it is not putting their family in danger.

Radon and Your Health

Radon gas in a domestic setting has been directly linked to lung cancer, making it one of the most potent causes of lung cancer after smoking. There are tens of thousands of deaths related to radon caused illness per year. The danger it poses to you and your family is significant and should not be ignored. 

Testing for Radon

Testing for radon gas is the important first step in removing it as a threat to your family’s welfare. There are test kits that you can buy fairly cheap that will give you an inkling to what the radon levels in your home might be. Be aware that these tests are not definitive, because radon levels fluctuate based on a variety of factors, so properly testing for radon gas should include a series of small tests to get a clear picture of the radon levels your home is exposed to over time. Since there are factors that change the amount of radon gas generated in any given place, you may wish to test for it every few years to make sure nothing has changed. If you are thinking of buying a new home, be sure to have the property tested. This can be a big factor when buying a new home that often gets overlooked.

Radon Mitigation

If after you test your home for radon gas, the results come back with dangerous levels, you will want to employ various methods of radon mitigation—reducing the radon levels within your home. One such method uses pipes directed under your home to blow radon gas out and away from your home to the outside where it can dissipate into harmless quantities. This is one of the most reliable and most used methods of radon mitigation. Since radon originates from the ground, it is pumped away from your home before it is given a chance to enter it. Occasionally, radon gas can be produced by certain building materials, causing it to originate within the home. If this is the case, there are methods of removing it from your home through a special ventilation system. Both of these methods have proven to be effective to combat against radon gas, but there are other methods available to you if neither of these are what you need. Be sure to speak with our local representative about radon testing and mitigation, so you can keep your family safe in the comfort of your home.

How Can Ultraviolet Air Cleaners help during winter?

Ultraviolet air cleaners are effective at helping to remove indoor pollutants, something which can be a real problem during the winter months when, for obvious reasons, there's less inclination to open the doors and windows and let in that chilly air. Ultraviolet air cleaners can help overcome this problem when ventilating the home with clean air from outdoors just isn't a viable option. While some ultraviolet air cleaners are designed to be installed in your homes HVAC system, others are more portable. While their portability can be an advantage, they can only be used to clean the air in a specific area or room and will not be able to cope with filtering the air throughout the whole home.

How do Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Work?

Ultraviolet air cleaners work in a very straightforward way, as they simply use ultraviolet radiation produced from lamps to destroy various biological pollutants. This ultraviolet light is a part of the spectrum of electromagnetic energy and isn't visible, even though it's called light. These pollutants include bacteria, mold and other viruses and allergens that can be found in the air throughout the home. They're not a substitute for filtration systems, but should always be considered as an additional feature. They are ideal for anyone who is especially health-conscious, and are perfect for catching bacteria and viruses that are simply too small to be picked up by conventional air cleaners. While ultraviolet light is extremely effective at removing microbes, it cannot prevent certain infections being transmitted. These infections include colds as they are spread by coming into direct contact with an infected person.

Are Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Safe?

These types of air cleaners are very safe, and have been used for decades so the technology is tried and tested. Everyone receives some exposure to ultraviolet light, generally in the form of sunlight, and while overexposure can be dangerous, this is not something that can occur from the use of ultraviolet air cleaners. The only thing to bear in mind is that these types of cleaners can only kill the germs they come into contact with, so it is worthwhile choosing your cleaner carefully and asking a professional installer for their opinion on the best system for your situation and your family’s needs. On the plus side, some experts feel these types of cleaners may be a good defense against diseases that have gradually become more resistant to drugs, and point out the ultraviolet light found in sunlight is responsible for killing off microbes that are exposed to the outside air.

Ultraviolet Air Cleaners are great for Home and for Work

While there is little doubt that ultraviolet air cleaners can be a huge advantage when fitted to a home HVAC system, they can also work well for use within the working environment. Sicknesses are often contracted while at work, and anything that reduces the number of days off due to illness will pay for itself within a very short while. In addition, workers who are healthier will be more able to perform their jobs properly, and will certainly feel better about being at work every day. Many offices have windows that are unable to be opened, even during the summer months, so these types of air cleaners are perfect at helping to improve the atmosphere.

Facts about Solar Heating and Cooling Systems for Your Home

Everyone is looking for ways of becoming more green these days as no one can fail to have heard warnings about oil running out in the future, but one of the problems with choosing green energy can be the initial cost, and some people are also put off by the fact that they don't know very much about it, and there can be a feeling that it's not a tried and tested technology. Even so it is well worth exploring all the options, as a properly installed green energy system can lead to lower fuel costs and greater energy savings. This has to be something of interest to everyone given today's high energy prices. There is little doubt that these types of heating systems are becoming more popular, but how do they work, and are they really that effective? Solar heating and cooling systems are just one of the ways you can heat your home while using less energy. They collect the thermal energy from the sun, using it to provide heating, hot water and cooling when necessary for residential homes, and the good news is they're becoming far more affordable.

Is a Solar Heating and Cooling System Right for My Home?

Renewing any type of heating system is a big investment these days, and most tend to reach the end of their useful life after 10 or 15 years. In the past solar heating and cooling systems were even more of an investment, but greater use of this technology has brought the price down, and now families can easily recoup the money spent on a solar heating and cooling system within six years, or even less. This makes it a viable option for many, and is well worth looking into if you do not intend to sell your home within the next few years. Even if you think you might sell your home relatively soon, it may well be worth your while investigating these types of systems and doing your sums, especially as it could increase the salability of your home.

Can Solar Heating and Cooling Systems Be Fitted in Any Home?

You’ll find solar heating and cooling systems can be easily installed in most homes throughout the US. They generally consist of a solar collector, hot water storage tank and insulated piping. You can choose to have electronic controls, and if you live in a colder part of the world then it's well worth investing in freeze protection. In fact there are solar heating and cooling systems that are specifically designed for colder climates, so if you really don't need to live somewhere warm and sunny to benefit from this free energy source.

A Safe and Effective Way of Enjoying Lower Fuel Costs

A properly installed solar heating and cooling system could lead to considerable energy savings. Heating and cooling costs typically account for around half of the average amount spent on utility bills. Perhaps just as importantly you'll be doing something to help the planet stay healthy. Solar energy is clean and has little impact on the global climate. It's renewable, as whenever the sun shines you can generate electricity, and even better it's free.

Is it Really Possible to Lower Fuel Costs in winter?

It is something most of us dream about, especially nowadays when many people think twice before turning up the heating due to high energy prices. So is it really achievable, or is it just a dream? The good news is that most people will be able to do something to lower fuel costs, as very few have the perfect energy efficient system installed. The first thing to do is to assess your current system, and decide whether or not you’d be better off replacing  or upgrading it, or whether it just needs some modifications to make it friendlier on the wallet. It is highly likely that if your heating system is more than ten or fifteen years old that it needs replacing. You could choose to try to upgrade it, through adding electronic zoning, new thermostats and filters and through having that fall furnace tune up, but ultimately you may be better off putting the money towards a brand new system. It is something your local installer can advise you on, and it is certainly well worth seeking their opinion. So what happens if they do advise you to get a new system? How do you choose from the vast array available today?

Choosing the Best Heating System for the Greatest Home Comfort

Your choice may be down to several things, including your budget, and how long you intend to stay in your present home. Obviously if you are thinking about moving in the shorter term then you’ll want the most cost effective system that isn’t going to leave you out of pocket, but which will improve the saleability of your home. If you are intending to stay in your home for quite a few years then you may want to choose a system that may take a little while to recoup the initial installation costs, but which will ultimately prove to be more energy efficient.

Hybrid Systems for Home Comfort

A lot of people will find a hybrid system is right for their needs. This is a system that uses two different fuel sources, leading to lower fuel costs. The most common type of system is one that uses a gas furnace combined with an electric air conditioner. The beauty of this system is that the gas furnace is an effective source of heating during the winter months, while the electric air conditioner is able to utilize the gas furnace air blower to distribute cooler air throughout your home.

Using Geothermal Heating and Cooling in your Home

Geothermal heating and cooling systems have a lot to recommend them, and are certainly very green. They literally harness energy from the earth, so it is effectively free. Free is always an excellent word when thinking about today’s high energy prices. However while the energy savings can be considerable, there are some things that need to be taken into account. The cost of installing this kind of heating and cooling system can be quite high. You may find there are various tax breaks for choosing this kind of energy efficient system that can help offset these costs. These types of systems also need regular maintenance, but even so they are very environmentally friendly.