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Allergy Symptoms? Blame Your Home's Poor Indoor Air Quality

2013.03.04 12:00:00

As our mild winter gives way to our already-warm spring, you could be finding yourself with

uncomfortable allergy symptoms. Because of such an uncharacteristically warm winter, pollen and

dust levels are higher than normal, and those irritants could be making their way into your home.

Here is a three-step plan to reduce your allergy symptoms and improve your home’s indoor air

quality.

Identify the cause of your allergies

If you don’t already know what causes your allergies, seek advice from a medical professional. A

doctor can help you figure out what causes your allergy symptoms and whether you need

treatment.

Remove the source of the allergens

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and the Environmental Protection

Agency, the best way to improve your allergy symptoms is to remove the source of the allergens

from your home. This could be your pet, houseplants or a dust mite-infested couch. Remove the

offending object from your home and your indoor air quality will be immediately improved.

Reduce exposure to allergens

Unless you remove everything from your home and live in a concrete cell, you will likely still have

some indoor air pollutants in your home that aggravate your symptoms. You can reduce your

exposure to these indoor air pollutants in five ways.

* Clean – Keep the surfaces in your home clean and free of dust that can easily make its way

back into the air. Regularly wash your bedding, pillows and stuffed toys in hot water to kill

dust mites.

* Vacuum – Vacuum the carpets and upholstery in your home at least weekly. Most indoor air

pollutants settle, living in the carpet, upholstery or other permeable materials.

* Ventilate – Use the ventilation fans in your bathroom and over your stove while cooking and

showering. This will expel moisture (which causes mold and mildew) and other indoor air

pollutants.

* Filter – The standard air filter in your home heating and cooling system doesn’t remove most

allergy-causing indoor air pollutants. Upgrading your system to a more efficient filter can

remove more airborne allergens.

* Sterilize – Mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria thrive in the cool damp environment created by

your air conditioners coils. An ultraviolet lamp is designed to kill these indoor air pollutants,

keeping them from circulating throughout your home.

* Seal – Many allergens and airborne pollutants enter your home through cracks, leaks or

holes in your ductwork. Keep these harmful contaminants out of your home by getting your

air ducts sealed.

Spring can be a beautiful time with blooming flowers, trees and great weather. But it can also be a

major problem for allergy sufferers. Use this four-step plan to improve your home’s indoor air

quality.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific

to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County

including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst,

Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and

Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.

2013.02.04 12:00:00

One of the best and easiest ways to ensure consistently low heating and cooling bills — as well as adding many faithful and functional years of service from your HVAC system — is to simply make and keep bi-annual service and maintenance appointments with a reputable local HVAC technician.

As spring and fall tend to be the seasons in which your HVAC system is least likely to be working overtime, these seasons tend to be the best times to schedule service. The truth of the matter is that as long as you have your air conditioning system serviced once a year and your heating system serviced once a year, it doesn’t matter when. Preferably you would have them done about six months apart.

Be sure to schedule your HVAC maintenance appointments well in advance, and see if any local HVAC technicians in your area offer discounts for customers that are on a regular schedule for bi-annual service of their HVAC systems.

It is difficult to stress enough how important it is to keep these bi-annual maintenance schedules faithfully, as there can be many ugly consequences to forgetting to do so. Besides the obvious consequences of higher heating and cooling bills due to a system that has to work far harder than it needs to, many HVAC system warranties come with clauses that demand regular maintenance as a condition of continued warranty coverage. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Bradbury Brothers offers full service for heating and cooling systems. Contact us any time, and we’ll have an expert answer any questions you have and provide any services you need.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball.

Furnace First Aid

2013.01.07 12:00:00

Heating your home is a winter necessity. When furnaces and heat pumps break down, the only option is a speedy repair job. The good news: some problems are safe and simple to solve. Before contacting a service company, look for the problems you can fix yourself.

Power Switch

If you have a power switch next to your furnace, the switch can be mistaken for a light switch. If you have guests who are unfamiliar with your home, this switch is more likely to be flipped. Make sure it is on. Before starting any repairs, turn the switch off.

Thermostat

Anything from an accidental brush against the dial, to a loose wire can cause the thermostat to malfunction. Check the batteries on digital thermostats, and replace if necessary. Make sure the thermostat is set and programmed to your desired temperature, and is set to heat. If this does not work, remove the unit from the wall and clear the area of dust and other debris. Make sure the two wires (one for heating, and one for air conditioning) are securely connected.

Circuit Breakers

During power outages from winter storms, some electronics short when power is restored. Try flipping the circuit breaker to your furnace completely off and then back on again to get the electric current running again.

Owner’s Manual

Consult your furnace owner’s manual or visit the manufacturer website for information about your specific model. Most model names and numbers are found on the front of the machine. Your owner manual can guide you through:

• Replacing your filter

• Checking and re-lighting your pilot light

• Unclogging intake and exhaust vents

• Replacing broken belts in the furnace motor

Vent Registers

Check the supply vents in each room. At least 80% of the registers in your home should be open. If only a few rooms in the house are not receiving heat, the problem could be in the duct system.

When To Call a Service Company

If the steps listed above don’t do the trick, contact a professional heating contractor for advanced problems with your furnace. Some of the problems you shouldn’t tackle yourself:

• Furnace motor isn’t running properly

• Furnace isn’t providing any heat

• Furnace is turning on and off

• Furnace is leaking gas (evacuate and call for repair as quickly as possible)

If your furnace still does not function properly, Bradbury Brothers can help. Give us a call at 281-651-5484 or visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball.

2012.08.06 12:00:00

As we all know, Texas summers can be unbearable even when you have air conditioning. As this summer approaches and temperatures rise, you may be considering buying a new central air conditioning system for your home. When talking with your local comfort consultant, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

All new central air conditioners have an energy rating system referred to as seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER. SEER basically determines the amount of energy needed to provide cool air. Since 2006, new central air conditioners must achieve a SEER of 13 or higher. This is the minimum required rating when purchasing a system, but a homeowner can save more money with a higher rating (up to 21 SEER).

If you want to cut additional energy costs on your bill, consider purchasing an air conditioning system that is identified as an Energy Star-qualified model. Cost savings on an energy efficient model can decrease your cooling bills by 30 percent.

While buying an energy efficient model is a major factor in your purchasing decision, there are a few other things that should be examined when buying a new air conditioner. These include:

A high-temperature rating, or EER, greater than 11.6, which also provides high-efficiency operation on the hottest days.
The ability to operate in fan-only mode, which provides ventilation without the high costs of running the unit.
A filter warning to remind you to change the filters.
A programmable thermostat that is included as part of the central air conditioner unit.
A unit that operates quietly.

Adding a new central air conditioning system to your home can be a costly purchase. As a homeowner, it is prudent to make a well-informed decision on your investment.
Feel free to contact Bradbury Brothers with any questions you have. We’ll be glad to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball.

2012.02.06 12:00:00

Unfortunately, many of us don’t think about the maintenance of their air conditioner until something goes wrong. By then, it can often be too late. The last thing your family needs is a system shutdown in the middle of a hot Texas summer!

If you’re wondering if your air conditioner will last through the summer, but haven’t had time to talk to a professional, there are a number of signs that may warn of an impending breakdown.

Age is a major factor in air conditioning efficiency. If your system is over 10 years old, it probably needs to be replaced. Older systems, even at full capacity, just aren’t as efficient as newer models. Depending on the specifications of your current model, you could save at least 20 percent in energy costs by upgrading to an Energy Star qualified model.

Increased or abnormal system noise is another sign of trouble. Be it a problem with your coil or ductwork, A/C noise is cause for concern. Contact a professional before further damage comes to your system.

Another obvious warning sign is a lack of cooling. If your system isn’t able to consistently cool your entire home, you are probably in need of repair or replacement. The inefficiency of a struggling air conditioning system will also be reflected in your monthly utility bills.

If your system is experiencing any of the issues mentioned here, contact a professional as soon as possible. A qualified HVAC technician can help you find the source of your problem and correct it before further damage comes to your system. Unfortunately, sometimes repair is simply not enough and a system replacement is required.
For the most accurate assessment, an HVAC professional will need to examine your system. The Bradbury Family has been serving heating and air conditioning needs since 1987. If you have questions about your air conditioning system, let Bradbury Brothers provide the answers today.

Tag: HVAC

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