Author: Georgia Havens

While the first day of spring has officially passed, most Virginia Beach locals have been experiencing spring allergies for weeks. The pollen began earlier than normal this year and has many of us feeling the effects. However, there is still time to escape the outdoor allergens and have clean air inside your home this spring season. In this blog, we discuss ways to improve indoor air quality in Virginia Beach and decrease spring allergies at home.

What Is Causing Allergy Symptoms Inside My Home?

The most common outdoor causes of spring allergies include tree and grass pollen, mold spores, and insects. Outdoor pollutants can enter homes through windows, open doors, and ventilation systems without proper maintenance. While many outdoor allergens can impact health symptoms, it is important to be aware of indoor pollutants affecting your health as well. Below we have listed common indoor air pollutants in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas.

• Dust
• Pet Dander
• Mold & Mildew
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

How Does Poor Indoor Air Quality Affect My Health?

Do you know what you are breathing inside your home? As humans, our homes are typically our resting place where we spend multiple hours at a time breathing the air. The average adult gets 7 or more hours of sleep, which means that is 7 hours of breathing in harmful pollutants affecting your health. Below are specific ways poor indoor air quality can affect you and other residents’ health this spring.

• Irritation of the eyes
• Runny nose
• Dry or sore throat
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

If you or someone in your home struggles with a respiratory illness such as asthma, it is all the more important to maintain clean air to breathe. Breathing in harmful pollutants can worsen symptoms and present more long-term health conditions.

How To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air? This is due to not enough ventilation causing pollutants to build up. Poor indoor air quality is contributed to by a variety of daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and burning candles. It is important to maintain positive indoor air quality, because allergens can negatively impact your health and comfort in your home. Below we have listed five ways to decrease spring allergies at home and improve indoor air quality in Virginia Beach!

• Install A UV Light System
• Maintain Clean Air Filters
• Control Humidity
• Groom Pets Outdoors
• Perform Spring AC Maintenance

Install A UV Light System

UV light systems are beneficial to air quality, because they purify the air by killing bacteria and mold. The system emits ultraviolet rays to destroy select harmful pollutants before the allergens circulate into your home’s air. UV lights can be installed in the air handler or ductwork of your HVAC system to catch mold and bacteria before it harms air quality. UV lights can significantly reduce and prevent allergy symptoms and improve indoor air quality in your home! Give a Galactic technician a call to install a UV light system in Virginia Beach and surround areas this spring!

Maintain Clean Air Filters

The main purpose of an air filter is to catch pollutants before they enter the air you breathe. Over the course of three months, air filters have caught many allergens, such as dust and pet dander, and need to be switched out with a new, clean filter. If air filters in your home remain clogged with pollutants, the filter struggles to catch allergens and allow more to enter your home’s air. Not only do dirty air filters harm air quality, but also increase allergies and energy costs each month.

Along with maintaining clean air filters around your home, consider installing high efficiency media filters in Virginia Beach. Unlike air filters located in the intake vents, high efficiency media filters are placed directly on the air handler or furnace for a whole-home filtration system. These filters are typically changed every 6 months depending on certain pollutants in your home. Give us a call to install a high efficiency media filter in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas!

Control Humidity

Being located near the Atlantic Ocean can create high levels of humidity. Humidity is a necessary component of your home, but should be controlled to maintain comfort and good air quality. Your home in Virginia should remain between 30-50% humidity year-round. If your home has high humidity, it can increase mold and mildew growth and affect indoor air quality. Dehumidifying systems help remove excess moisture in the air and prevent mold from growing. If your home has low humidity, it can create uncomfortable dry health symptoms and skin. We recommend installing a whole-home humidifier to maintain proper humidity levels.

Groom Pets Outdoors

While we love our furry indoor animals, their pet hair can contribute to poor indoor air quality. We would never suggest getting rid of your indoor animals, just grooming them outside of your home! Regularly grooming your pets can cut down on pet dander affecting allergy symptoms and poor air quality. Whether you brush your pets outside or take them to a groomer, your allergy symptoms this spring will thank you!

Perform Spring AC Maintenance

We promise, AC maintenance is worth it each spring! Not only does air conditioning maintenance ensure your system is well prepared for the workload of the summer season, but can also improve indoor air quality! During spring AC maintenance in Virginia Beach, a Galactic Air technician will clean the inside and outside of your air conditioning system. Allergens and dirt can build up over time and be distributed throughout your home, which harms allergy symptoms. Additionally, we can help maintain clean air filters to keep you breathing easy all spring.

Let a Galactic Air technician help improve indoor air quality and reduce allergy symptoms in your home this spring! For indoor air quality services in Virginia Beach, give us a call or visit our website to schedule an appointment with a trained technician!

When temperatures drop in Virginia Beach, it is up to your heating unit to keep your home comfortable. However, heating your home can be a costly expense. Homeowners should never have to choose between comfort and cost when it comes to staying warm in the winter, which is why we are here to help! In this blog, we will discuss 5 simple ways to lower your heating bill this winter in Virginia Beach.

Keep Your Heating Costs Low With These Tips!

Staying warm in your home shouldn’t break the bank each winter. No matter the heating system your home utilizes, you can lower heating costs with proper home maintenance and upkeep. Below we have listed five tips to keep heating costs low.

• Install A Smart Thermostat
• Open Curtains & Blinds
• Utilize Ceiling Fan
• Schedule Heating Maintenance
• Seal Air Leaks

Install A Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats are an easy way to keep utility bills low in every season. The home devices can monitor temperature preferences, personal schedules, and the current weather conditions to heat your home accordingly. The program settings in smart thermostats alter the temperature when you are home or asleep, which cuts down on energy costs. Additionally, smart thermostats can be controlled on all smart devices for your convenience. According to Energy Star, smart thermostats average saving 8% on heating and cooling bills.

Open Curtains & Blinds

An easy and cost effective way to save money on heating bills is by allowing the sun to naturally heat your home. During the day, we recommend opening curtains and blinds to let sunlight enter your home. This process can increase heat gain naturally and allow you to lower your thermostat setting. The lower your thermostat temperature, the more you will save in the winter season. Be sure to close curtains and blinds at night to keep in the warm air!

Utilize Ceiling Fan

Did you know that your ceiling fan has a setting for both summer and winter? In the winter, ceiling fans can create an upward draft and relocate warm air trapped near the ceiling. The warm air can be distributed throughout your home and allow you to turn the thermostat down without feeling a temperature difference. To change your ceiling fan setting, locate a small switch typically on the motor housing. Ceiling fans in winter mode will spin clockwise, while summer mode will rotate counterclockwise. However, ceiling fans can only provide comfort in occupied rooms. Be sure to turn off ceiling fans when you leave a room to continue saving on energy costs.

Schedule Heating Maintenance

The best way to maintain low heating costs is to regularly schedule heating maintenance. High utility bills can be due to underlying issues causing the heating system to work harder. A Galactic technician can inspect and repair any issues each season to prevent future problems from arising. A properly working heating system will use less energy and keep heating bills low!

Seal Air Leaks

Heating costs can be expensive, which is why it is important to keep warm air inside and cold air outside. Warm air could be escaping through leaks in windows, doors, and other places around your home. If air is escaping, your heating unit works harder to make up for the lost warm air. This process uses more energy and raises heating costs. We recommend sealing air leaks by caulking or weather stripping. This method is a cost effective and simple way to maximize your home comfort and keep money in your pocket. According to the EPA, sealing leaks and insulating can save up to 15% on heating costs.

Additionally, air can escape through leaks inside ductwork. Leaking ducts make it hard for your heating unit to effectively distribute heat around your home. A Galactic Air technician can inspect your ductwork and repair leaks or other issues as needed. Ductwork services in Virginia Beach can also increase efficiency and indoor air quality.

Additional ways to keep heating costs low in Virginia Beach:

• Maintain a clean air filter
• Add insulation
• Clean air vents
• Lower thermostat

Let us help keep money in your piggy bank this winter with these five tips. If you are in need of heating repair or experience a heating unit breakdown, give us a call! Our trained technicians can quickly repair and restore your home comfort.

It’s finally that time of the year when your family gets together to celebrate the holidays and welcome in the new year. We know how exciting yet hectic the holidays can be as there is lots of traveling, planning and spending involved. The last thing you want is to worry about spending money on your HVAC unit rather than gifting your loved ones a well-deserved present. There are many things you can do to ensure that your HVAC unit remains working efficiently throughout the holiday season. This blog will go over some helpful holiday HVAC tips that all homeowners should follow.

Going Out Of Town For The Holidays?

Your parents have decided to host this year’s holiday family reunion so you’re having to leave town for a few days. Before you pack your bags and head out, these are some of the things you should do to ensure your unit continues to run efficiently when you’re not home:

• Don’t turn your HVAC system off
• Make sure your air filter has been cleaned out
• Clean the area around the outdoor unit
• Schedule a check-up

1. Don’t Turn Your HVAC System Off

Although it may seem like turning your HVAC system off when no one’s home is a good idea, it can do more harm than good. Depending on how long you will be gone for, most technicians recommend homeowners to turn their thermostat up by up to 5 degrees. Doing so will ensure that your home doesn’t get too cold and it is comfortable enough for when you get back. If you often travel around this time of the year, it would be a good idea to consider installing a smart thermostat for your home. Smart thermostats are efficient and easy to use, as they allow homeowners to control their home’s temperature through their smartphone, no matter where they are.

2. Make Sure Your Air filter Has Been Cleaned Out

As you are probably aware, keeping your air filter clean is a crucial part of ensuring that your system runs smoothly. If you haven’t cleaned or replaced your air filter in over 90 days, it may be a good idea to do so before you leave town. Doing this will prevent dust particles and debris from clogging the air filter and circulating around your home. Failing to change your air filter every 60 to 90 days can significantly affect your home’s indoor air quality levels and lead to health complications.

3. Clean The Area Around The Outdoor Unit

Keeping your outdoor unit clean will help ensure that it is operating efficiently. Oftentimes, dirt and dust may build on top of the condenser unit due to the weather in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas being cold and windy during this time of the year. Wind can easily bring dust particles and leaves that may cause a disturbance in your unit’s efficiency levels.

4. Schedule A Check-Up

If you missed your fall maintenance appointment, this is your sign to schedule one before heading out. You will want to make sure your unit is up and running efficiently to prevent any complications while you’re away. A unit that is experiencing complications may begin to work harder than it’s meant to and lead to higher energy bills.

Additional Tips:

Vacuum your floors and carpets

You may be wondering how vacuuming your carpets correlates to your HVAC system working efficiently. In fact, making sure that your home is free of dust particles and pet dandruff will reduce the likelihood of your system’s air filter from easily getting clogged.

Contact A Professional Today

If you’re planning to go out of town, you may want to consider scheduling a check-up appointment with one of our knowledgeable technicians. Galactic Air is here to help answer any questions about your HVAC system! We want to ensure your holiday season is free of costly breakdowns so you can enjoy your time with friends and family. Give us a call today at 757-575-5334.

Your air conditioner is one of your home’s most important appliances and should be properly taken care of. Unfortunately, a youtube video DIY is not the answer to your broken air conditioner. There are many components of a cooling unit, which can be dangerous if not handled properly. Our expert technicians are trained to properly service your AC unit for your convenience and safety. In this article, we will detail why you shouldn’t repair your AC unit yourself.

Call A Professional Instead!

Repairing your air conditioner yourself could be dangerous to the health of you and your unit. Below we have listed 5 reasons to call a professional rather than repairing yourself.

• Safety
• Reducing Efficiency
• Creating Bigger Problems
• Warranty
• Equipment

Health & Safety

Air conditioners have electrical components that can comprise safety. Your system runs on high voltage and runs the risk of an electrical shock if tinkered with. Consider your safety before attempting to fix a wiring problem with your air conditioning system. DIY air conditioning repair could also lead to a refrigerant leak, which poses a threat to your health. Refrigerant is odorless and tasteless, and can poison your lungs. We strongly recommend calling a professional to handle AC repairs, especially if they require electrical attention.

Reducing Efficiency

A trained technician can evaluate and properly repair your air conditioning system. If you attempt to DIY, important procedures can be skipped and harm your unit’s efficiency. An air conditioner has many components that all work together, and one part can cause the whole system to malfunction. Your unit will run with a broken part, which uses more energy and drives up your utility bills.

Creating Bigger Problems

Attempting to repair your air conditioner yourself can lead to bigger problems. It is difficult to identify the source of the AC problem, and fixing something that is not broken can cause issues. You could cause more damage to your system by attempting to find the issue, whereas a professional often can identify repair signs and quickly locate the problem.

Warranty

Most air conditioners come with warranties, which is a promise to repair or replace within a certain time window. Generally, warranties require proof that maintenance and repair has been performed by an HVAC professional to qualify for the warranty service.

Equipment

Air conditioning repairs require special equipment that is not typically found in a tool box. The tools are designed to be used and read by a trained professional, which can be difficult for a homeowner. Thousands of dollars are typically invested in the tools and technology utilized to evaluate and repair your air conditioner.

Things You Can Do

Although you should leave AC repair to the professionals, there are a few things you can do to help your air conditioner function smoothly all year long!

Regularly Change The Air Filter.

Your air filter can be the source of many air conditioning problems. A clogged air filter can harm airflow, efficiency, allergies, cooling, and many other things. A general rule is to change your air filter reverie 90 days, or sooner depending on factors such as animals and allergies.

Schedule Maintenance Check Ups

Your technician can catch problems before they arise in a preventative maintenance checkup. Maintenance should be performed twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall. Preventative maintenance ensures your system is ready to cool or heat your home with no obstructions.

Maintain A Clean Unit

Your outdoor unit can gather debris from the weather. We recommend regularly checking the cleanliness of your outdoor unit and removing any leaves, branches, or other debris from the unit to maximize efficiency and airflow.

While some issues within your home can be simply fixed without professional attention, your air conditioner is not one of them. Attempting to repair your air conditioner yourself can threaten you and your air conditioner’s health and safety. To avoid further air conditioning issues and consequences, give Precision Heating and Air a call for air conditioning repair.