How to monitor indoor air quality at home?

Indoor Air Quality monitoring is very necessary if you live in or near the states Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, North Caroline, etc. These are the areas that have changing atmosphere throughout the year.

 The HVAC technician can help you with HVAC Repair Service in Richmond, VA. The Richmond Air Conditioning repair company – W.G. Speeks has been serving Richmond and areas near that since 1943. While most indoor air can be noticeably freshened with this technology, it’s not always obvious which homes need it the most. So here is the few indoor air quality monitoring measures: 
 

1. Radon Testing: 

Radon is toxic colorless gas, which radiates from decaying radium used in radiography and cancer treatment. You may not have any radium at your home but it could generate from underground soil. Radon in the soil can seep into homes through cracks in the foundation, so if your home has never been tested, start immediately. 

2. Carbon monoxide testing: 

Carbon Monoxide is again an odorless gas that could kill you immediately. It could generate from boilers, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, gas and kerosene heaters, gas and wood stoves and clothes dryers. The carbon monoxide detectors are reliable and easily available in the markets. Install one of these on every floor of your home and test the carbon monoxide. 

3. Mold testing: 

The mold testing detectors are easily available in hardware store in the form of disc. Mold has a distinctive smell, so if you have active mold growth in your home, the odor is likely to be the first telltale sign. So, you could easily contact your HVAC technician for the guidance or call IAQ inspector for the thorough check-up. 
 

These are the few indoor air quality measures that you could check it at your home. If you are unable to maintain your HVAC equipment, you could always contact W. G. Speeks.

How to Protect your AC Unit from Theft

Your outdoor AC unit contains valuable copper in the coil, refrigerant lines and wiring. Unfortunately this means your AC unit is a target for thieves; and they won’t think twice about destroying your entire unit to get what they’re looking for.

Here are some ways to protect your AC unit from theft and avoid inconvenient and costly equipment replacement.

1. Enclose the unit

Of all the tips to protect your unit from theft, this one is probably the most foolproof. You can use a unit fence or a cage to enclose your unit, but make sure the unit can still “breathe” so it continues to operate correctly. Be sure to consult an HVAC Professional about what would work best for your unit.

2. Lock the Disconnect Box

This box disconnects the unit from electrical power. Thieves will turn the power off before removing the condenser to make it safe. If you prevent them from being able to open the disconnect box, chances are they will leave it alone.

3. Install a camera and lights

This combination allows you to monitor your outdoor unit 24/7. Make sure they are installed where they can’t be vandalized and place warning signs to deter thieves.

4. Set up an alarm

There are a few different products made to drive away perpetrators if your unit’s voltage is interrupted, the refrigerant lines are cut or any tampering is taking place.

5. Camouflage the unit

If your unit is hard to see, thieves will most likely pass your home by. On the flip side, leaving the air conditioner exposed can work just as well. If the ac unit is in plain sight near frequent drive-by traffic, this could also discourage thieves.

6. Use a tracking device

GPS technology offers a state-of-the-art tool to monitor movement of your HVAC unit. The device will track the unit’s location if stolen as well as alert you and the police.

7. Get a dog

Just like dogs can help prevent thieves from targeting your home, they serve as a great deterrent for thieves targeting your HVAC unit.

For more advice on protecting your AC unit from thieves or for any of our other services, call us at 804-776-5770 and see why W.G. Speeks has been the reliable Richmond, VA heating and air conditioning experts since 1943.

Reference: How to Protect your AC Unit from Theft

Improve Comfort this Summer with a Dehumidifier

 It’s not quite summer yet, but warmer weather is definitely close by. And with warm weather comes humidity, which can unfortunately make your indoor air quality worse than the outdoor air. Your home’s humidity levels should be between 30%-50%; anything higher than 50% could lead to mold development or other negative issues.

In addition to being unsightly, mold can have a seriously negative health impact on you and your family. Fortunately there is a way to prevent too much humidity and the possibility of mold in your home. The solution lies in a whole-house dehumidifier! And we want to help you find out if this is the right move for your home.

Property Protection

Humidity causes excess moisture, which can cause many aesthetic problems for your home, from peeling wallpaper and increased dust to warping your wood floors. When you reduce your home’s humidity levels, you decrease the risk of these problems. Some other benefits of dryer air include clothes drying faster and rust buildup prevention.

Health Protection

This one is obviously very important. Too much moisture in the air can trigger symptoms in people who suffer from asthma or allergies. A dehumidifier will keep this from happening as well as reduce skin and respiratory system irritation. Breathe easier and be comfortable in your home with a dehumidifier.

But do you really need a dehumidifier?

To determine if a dehumidifier would truly benefit your home, look around for signs. Have you noticed water stains on the walls or ceilings? Does your home sometimes smell musty? Is there frequent condensation on your windows or an unusual amount of dust? These are all signs your home has too much moisture and a whole-house dehumidifier is the right solution.

For more information on whole-house dehumidifiers or to schedule a dehumidifier installation with one of our experts, call us at 804-776-5770 and see why W.G. Speeks has been the reliable HVAC Richmond, VA experts since 1943.

Content Source : Improve Comfort this Summer with a Dehumidifier

 

HVAC Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners

Owning a pet is a rewarding experience. Pets offer companionship and
unconditional love. But owning a pet is a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken
lightly. As a pet owner, it’s your job to provide your animal with a safe and
loving home environment. This means you need to put in a little-added effort
when it comes to your HVAC system. Here are some tips to keep your home
safe and comfortable for both you and your pets.

Keep it clean

We’ll start with the most obvious tip; keep your pet clean. Pet dander is a huge
issue when it comes to the quality of your air. Dander from dogs and cats is
actually the leading cause of allergies. This is why regularly bathing and
brushing is crucial in ensuring good air quality in your home. You should also
vacuum and dust regular to keep pet hair at a minimum.

Check for exposed wires

Exposed wires to your HVAC system can be an alluring “chew toy” for many
pets. This is obviously most common in puppies and kittens, but you can never
be too safe even with your grown pets. To keep the wires and your pet safe,
enclose wires in conduits.

Change your HVAC system’s air filter

Having a pet means you should change your HVAC system’s air filter more
often than those without a pet. Check your air filter once a month to make sure
it’s not dirty or clogged with pet hair. A clogged air filter means higher utility
bills and it could even shorten the life of your HVAC system.

Enclose outside condenser units

If your pet has free reign of the yard, they pose a threat to your outside unit. If
your pet claws the fins on the condenser coils, they could injure themselves
and damage your unit. Also, dogs mark their territory by urinating. Your
condenser could be a target. Urine can cause the fins to erode over time and
even cause costly refrigerant leaks. Avoid any of these potential issues by
putting up a fence or some type of barrier around your condenser unit.
The HVAC Richmond professionals at W.G. Speeks can provide you with regular
maintenance to make sure everything is running properly, and if it’s not, we
can fix it. If you live with cats or dogs, give us a call today at 804-276-2800 to
see how we can help you improve the air quality in your home for you and your
pets.

Content Source : HVAC Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners

Ease Spring Allergies with HVAC Servicing

Spring is a wonderful time of year; there’s more sunshine and the weather starts to get nice, but then there is the issue of allergies. For people with bad allergies, Spring can sometimes feel like a nightmare. Pollen, grass and all kinds of other allergens are at an all time high in the Spring, causing many to experience runny noses, itchy eyes and scratchy throats.

Unfortunately, it’s not just the outdoor air to blame. The air inside your home can also be filled with allergens, causing symptoms to flare up when you’re indoors too. Thankfully we have some tips for HVAC maintenance that will help decrease your Spring allergy symptoms.

Change your air filter

This tip is probably the most important because your HVAC system’s air filter can end up coated in pollen, dust and other allergens, which lower the air quality in your home. These allergens get pushed out into the air every time your HVAC system is running. Replacing your air filter each Spring can dramatically help reduce the amount of allergens in your home. It’s also important to check the filter once a month and clean it when necessary.

There are also more efficient types of filters to keep out more allergen particles, such as medium efficiency filters or HEPA filters.

Have Air Ducts Cleaned

Changing your air filters is very important, but allergens can still be hiding in your air ducts whether or not your air filters are clean. When the heat or air is on these allergens are blown around the ducts, entering different rooms through your vents. Having your ducts cleaned removes these allergens. Our HVAC professionals can inspect your air ducts and get rid of any allergen buildups. Contact us for Air Duct Cleaning in Richmond VA.

Schedule regular HVAC maintenance

Routine HVAC maintenance helps reduce indoor allergens and ensures that your system is able to run efficiently. This will increase its lifespan and lower repairs in the long run. The experts at WG Speeks can help you save time and money by keeping your system maintained.

For more questions, or to schedule routine HVAC maintenance or any of our other services, call us at 804-776-5770 and see why W.G. Speeks has been the reliable Richmond, VA heating and air conditioning experts since 1943.

Content Source : Ease Spring Allergies with HVAC Servicing

3 sustainable HVAC equipment quintessential for your comfort

HVAC equipment is short for of Heating Ventilation Air-Conditioner equipment, which presently is very cardinal for a comfortable stay. People do not consider that as the luxury anymore, especially when the atmosphere is steadily recasting into Heating and Cooling in Richmond, VA.

Below listed are the 5 quintessential HVAC equipment for your homes and offices for

1. A/C: A/C or Air Conditioning in Richmond, VA is the basic requirement of any house in Virginia. It has mountains and valleys which keep the climate moderate and humid continental. Severe weather including tornadoes, cyclones, and winter storms, impacts the state on a regular basis. Thus, it is necessary to install A/C and its regular service to keep them healthy.
   
   
2. Heater: Like A/C, Heaters are also required for Heating in Richmond, VA. As the climate of Virginia could be tricky, there could be storms and tornadoes. The weather tends to be cold and windy during these days. A heater is must required equipment for weather of Virginia.
   
   
3. Furnace: Heater is a primary requirement and so is Furnace. Furnace keeps the whole house warm and is useful when electricity supply is cut off due to storm or tornado. It could be very useful for the commercial purpose. There could be various types of furnaces which are required to maintain and service every once a while.

The W.G. Speeks are HVAC Repairers of Richmond, VA as well as installers. We are experts in HVAC repairs, commercial services, residential services, Air Duct Cleaning in Richmond, VA. Visit them at 10711 Paul brook Drive, Midlothian, VA 23112.

Running Your Air Conditioning System Properly

W. G. Speeks are experts of Heating and Air Conditioning in Richmond, VA since 1943. We believe that unclean systems can cause hazardous indoor air quality; soiling of grills, walls, and furniture so, contact W.G. Speeks – the best HVAC Repair of Richmond, VA that will maintain a clean and more efficient HVAC system. Products and services of W. G. Speeks include:

• Air conditions
• Heat pumps
• Furnace
• Commercial services
• Boilers
• Indoor air quality
• Duct cleaning

Any queries regarding any HVAC equipment, W. G. Speeks is the solution.

Contact us at:
Address # 10711 Paul brook Drive, Midlothian, VA 23112
Phone number # 804-276-2800