As we approach the tail-end of summer, we may still be using the air conditioning in our homes fairly regularly throughout the day. While it keeps us and our homes cool, many of us are likely keeping in mind how much this could affect our electric bill. That’s not the only side effect of using air conditioning, however.

This year had been a rough one for people suffering from allergies. Coughing, sneezing, and congestion can make being anywhere uncomfortable – including at home. It might not just be allergy season (or even allergies) that can be causing this though. It’s possible that it’s related to the air quality in your home.

So, how do we know if the air in our homes is affecting us negatively and what can we do to change that?

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According to the National Hurricane Center, a hurricane only impacts the New York area every 19 years. Major ones – Category 3 or above – only happen every 74 years. Hurricane Sandy hit October 29, 2012 and resulted in many deaths and injuries… and billions of dollars in damages.

Hurricanes, though rare, are dangerous forces of nature. But knowing what to do to prepare for one can help save lives and reduce potentially costly repair bills.

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Long Island summers can get really hot! It may not get quite as hot as a handful of parts of the country… but depending on the direction your house faces and the kind of doorknob you have, you likely have already had mornings or afternoons where you can’t have your hand on that knob for too long. Luckily, many of us have at least some air conditioning available to us in our homes.

That said, extreme heatwaves can strain any system. If you do have air conditioning available, you may only have units dedicated to some rooms and not others. Even if you have central air conditioning, energy costs are a major factor for everyone and increasingly so as costs are rising across the board. So, what is the smart way to keep our homes cool in extreme heat?

What Is The Quickest Way To Cool A House?

Outside of simply turning on an air conditioning unit, you can still use a number of different ways that can cool your home. Preventing excess heat also matters.

Using a ceiling fan with air conditioning may or may not help, depending upon how the fan is set. This guide explains how to use it to create a sort of “wind chill effect” that will make you feel cooler instead of interfering with your air conditioner.

One of the biggest things you can do to prevent excess heat is to keep your blinds and curtains closed later in the morning into the evening. This will prevent the sunlight from coming in directly and warming up your home. There are different brands of blinds that can do this more efficiently than others and should be considered for your home.

Avoid using electronics and appliances when you can… and keep them unplugged as well when possible. Even your dishwasher generates a good deal of heat – so hand washing in the summer months when you can could be preferable. You can also try running the dishwasher during hours you are not home or are going to bed if you have a dependable dishwasher. You might be surprised by how hot a kitchen can get with the dishwasher and oven both on at the same time, for example. That heat can move into adjoining rooms and cause needless discomfort.

What Should I Set My AC At During A Heatwave?

When cooling your home over the summer – whether it is a heatwave or not – the recommendations can vary somewhat. Many homeowners might say to set the temperature to 72 degrees.

According to Energy Star, 78 degrees is the ideal if you want to keep your home cool during the summer months (or a heatwave) and keep your energy costs down. That said, be mindful of having air conditioning on if no one is home. You will want the temperature lower to sleep, when possible – ideally around 65-67 degrees to sleep comfortably.

Does Putting Ice In Front Of A Fan Really Help?

It may be hard to believe… but putting ice in front of a fan can really help lower the temperature of a room. It could reduce the temperature within the fan’s range by up to 10 degrees.

That said, its effectiveness is limited by factors including the strength of the fan you are using, how fast the ice melts, the distance you are from the fan, and more. If you tried it once before with an old fan that is on the other side of the room, it probably was not highly effective. It may be worth trying again while keeping the above points in mind.

Tragar Home Services Is Your Trusted Name In Residential Cooling

Providing 24/7 service to the Long Island area for more than 60 years, Tragar Home Services is the trusted name in air conditioning and home cooling installation, maintenance, and repair. You can count on us to be available for emergencies even during a heatwave. Contact us today to learn more about our services and to get a free estimate for our services.

Between the tail end of flu season, Asthma Awareness Month, and rising Covid-19 numbers… the issue of air quality is at the forefront of many people’s minds. With so much of the workforce still working from home (and so many still hesitant to go out), you want your home HVAC and associated systems to protect you with the best and most current technology.

As a result, many homeowners are interested in air purifier systems – as well as how to improve air quality using their current HVAC systems. However, as we all know, the COVID situation is one that is constantly evolving. The solutions below represent the best practices and information currently available as of the time of this writing.

How Does HVAC Affect Air Quality?

Indoor air quality is vital and HVAC systems certainly have an impact on the quality of that air. On the negative side, poorly designed or poorly maintained systems can actually introduce pollutants into the atmosphere – making things worse. Regular servicing and inspections can usually prevent this from being an issue.

Twenty-first century technology has developed a vast array of options available to improve air quality – many of them developed from hospital and laboratory tech. A wide variety of home air filters and air cleaners are on the market now. Over the long period of COVID their development has accelerated.

Can HVAC improve air quality?

Your HVAC system can certainly have an impact on and improve indoor air quality. The first aspect of that is air filtration… and that means filtration that is up to the task of stopping viruses.

As far as HVAC HEPA filters go, checking the MERV rating is important. MERV stands for “minimum efficiency reporting value” and is a rating used to compare filters. MERV 13 filters through the new, cutting-edge MERV 16 filters are industry leaders due to their ability to block out some airborne viruses. But air filters are only part of the equation.

Combining better filtration with UV lights (designed to destroy microorganisms and contaminants) creates a harsh gauntlet to run for any airborne viruses attempting to infiltrate your home through the HVAC system. Our Healthy Climate® HEPA systems can include UV germicidal lights – which have the added advantage of not producing ozone like some systems do.

Talk to Tragar About Our HEPA Systems and UV Germicidal Lights

If you want to improve your indoor air quality and take the best precautions currently available against airborne viruses like COVID, talk to Tragar Home Services about a whole house air filtration system and/or an HVAC upgrade that includes the Lennox air purification/filtration options mentioned above. To learn more, contact us today.

Many of us will have to deal with allergies in our lives, and if not us personally, someone in our household likely will. That’s because more than 50 million Americans are affected by allergies and the numbers seem to be on the rise.

Allergic reactions for many people manifest in itchy eyes, itchy or runny noses, coughing, sneezing, or sinus headaches. More severe allergic reactions result in asthma and – in certain instances – the throat closing up to the point of suffocation and ultimately death if not properly treated.

There are many allergens out there that can trigger allergic reactions from people… including dust, pollen, mold, and more. We may think we’re keeping our houses clean but are still being affected by allergies. Is it possible that our HVAC systems could have something to do with that?

Can HVAC Cause Allergies?

This is a more complicated question than you might think. Technically, your HVAC does not cause allergies. Your HVAC system is circulating the air that it has available to it.

If there are impurities in the air around your home, those air pollutants could be making it into your home. If pollutants have made their way into your HVAC system, those pollutants will circulate when your HVAC system is on. That may make it seem like the HVAC system itself is to blame.

Is Central Air Good For Allergies?

Central air can absolutely be good for your allergies. Properly maintained HVAC systems will allow high quality air to circulate in your home. However, proper care includes both regular duct cleaning and system maintenance.

That said, there is a rare condition worth being aware of known as cold urticaria. This is a condition in which the skin breaks out in hives when exposed to cold air and – in more severe cases – can lead to swelling, a drop in blood pressure, and going into shock. Again, this is a rare condition… so this is fairly unlikely.

Can My Allergies Get Worse When The AC Is On?

Your allergies (outside of cold urticaria) should not get worse by the AC simply being on. However, if your HVAC systems are not properly maintained then worsening allergies could potentially happen. This is why you need to clean your HVAC system and maintain your home to avoid mold growth.

In order to properly clean and maintain your HVAC systems, you’ll need to make sure you are replacing the air filters regularly. Cleaning the vents is important as well. We’ve all seen vents with dust building up around it… where do you think that dust goes when the vents are on?

It’s also important to make sure that you don’t have standing water around your home that can breed bacteria. You’ll want to control the humidity in your home as well to avoid mold. You also may want to invest in additional air purifiers if that isn’t enough. Allergy solutions also include improved filters. Talk to your HVAC service provider about HEPA filters and other allergy solutions.

Ultimately, no matter how vigilant you may be, you should have HVAC professionals cleaning and tuning your units when needed as well.

Tragar Home Services Is Long Island’s Trusted HVAC Provider

A trusted name on Long Island, at Tragar Home Services we provide 5-star service for our customers during and after business hours. Our highly trained professionals can evaluate your HVAC systems and perform maintenance and repair to keep your home as allergen free as possible and help everyone in your home live comfortably.

We provide many other services as well including HVAC installation, oil delivery, gas services, and more. Contact us today to see how we can help you get the most out of your home.