ServiceMax Blog: Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

How Insulation Makes Your Home More Energy Efficient

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Insulation in Skokie isn’t just about keeping your home warm during winter; it’s about making your home energy efficient all year long. This is why it’s important to have good insulation in your home from top to bottom. The main job of insulation is to slow the transfer of heat, which is important for both heating and cooling your home efficiently. If you are concerned about the level of insulation in your home, call the professionals you can trust: Malek Heating & Cooling.

Why Insulation Is Important for Energy Efficiency

There are 3 ways in which heat moves through your home:

  • Convection – the way heat circulates through liquids and gases
  • Conduction – the way heat moves through materials
  • Radiation – heat that travels in a straight line and is absorbed by anything exposed to it

Heat will always move toward colder environments; this is a basic law of thermodynamics. As such, during the winter, your heat will want to travel toward cooler spaces; insulation slows this process considerably. During the summer, heat tries to move into cooled indoor areas, and insulation helps prevent this heat transfer.

Without proper insulation, your HVAC system will have to work harder, whether it’s cold or warm outside. Any time your system has to work harder, it uses more energy. Good insulation helps to retain the air in your home, lessening the load on your system.

Types of Insulation

There are four main types of insulation, and they can be used in combination with each other to maximize insulation capability:

  • Batt insulation (roll insulation) – the most common type of insulation, typically rolled out in layers on floors and in walls.
  • Foam board/rigid foam insulation – stiff board insulation that is best used in walls, ceilings and floors.
  • Loose-fill insulation (also known as blown-in) – made of 100% recycled materials, loose fill is great for retro-fitting older homes needing more and better insulation.
  • Spray foam insulation – a very popular choice, spray foam is an adhesive that when sprayed, expands up to 100 times its size. Spray foam forms an air-tight seal wherever it is applied.

Good insulation in Skokie can increase your energy efficiency and comfort, and reduce stress on your HVAC system. Call Malek Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our insulation specialists.

 

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on How Insulation Makes Your Home More Energy Efficient

How Professionals Perform Air Duct Cleaning

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014

Duct cleaning involves a lot more than just vacuuming the dust you can see. Unfortunately, unless you hire trained, experienced and certified professionals to perform your duct cleaning, you cannot expect a thorough cleaning of your air ducts. Professional air duct cleaning in Wilmette involves the use of professional-grade tools, a thorough, deep-cleaning of your system and proper removal of contaminants. Duct cleaning offers several benefits, but unless the cleaning is done correctly, you may not see these benefits. When you hire the trained professionals at Malek Heating & Cooling to clean your air ducts, you can be assured that your ducts will be cleaned the way they should be.

Professional Tools

There are several kinds of tools your technician may use to clean your air ducts:

  • HEPA professional-grade vacuums, both truck-mounted and hand-held
  • Mechanical brushes
  • Pneumatic tools
  • Visual aid tools
  • Access tools

How Duct Cleaning Is Performed

Here is a general overview of what happens during a routine duct cleaning appointment:

  • All furniture and registers are covered to protect them from blowing dust
  • The technician will make a thorough inspection of your system
  • The ductwork will be opened at various access points
  • The first major vacuum will occur (usually with the truck-mounted vacuum)
  • A second inspection will be conducted
  • The smaller, harder-to-reach areas will be cleaned
  • Any sticking debris will be removed
  • A final inspection is performed to ensure all the ductwork has been cleaned
  • Access ports will be closed
  • Protective coverings removed
  • All vacuumed contaminants will be removed from home

Benefits of Duct Cleaning

  • Improved air quality – any dust, dirt and debris in your ductwork will blow directly into your home with each cycle of your HVAC system. Removing these contaminants during cleaning helps to significantly increase your indoor air quality.
  • Better energy efficiency – significant build-up in your air ducts can restrict air flow, which puts stress on your HVAC system. Properly cleaning your ductwork allows the air to move freely, which helps to increase energy efficiency.
  • Less wear on your system – a system that operates under stress for any reason, including dirty ductwork, can age your system prematurely, or cause malfunction and/or breakdown. Maintaining your ductwork with professional cleaning reduces the level of wear on your system.

It’s recommended that ductwork is cleaned every 3-5 years. If it’s time for you to schedule air duct cleaning in Wilmette, call the people you can trust to do it correctly: Malek Heating & Cooling. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on How Professionals Perform Air Duct Cleaning

Subpar Indoor Air Quality? Is Humidity the Problem?

Monday, July 28th, 2014

Maintaining great indoor air quality in Chicago, IL can be more difficult than you may initially expect. There is a lot that can go wrong with your indoor air quality, and the problems may be the result of environmental conditions which are simply beyond your control. While you may not be able to change the catalyst of your IAQ issues, though, there are plenty of tools to help you improve conditions within your home. Give Malek Heating & Cooling a call today, and we will help you to determine the best way in which to boost your indoor air quality. The culprits in such situations differ on a case to case basis, but humidity is one common issue that homeowners grapple with.

Humidity can go either way, meaning that too much or too little of it can be equally problematic. Whole house humidifiers and dehumidifiers are certainly your best chance of resolving humidity problems in your home effectively and efficiently. Just remember that such equipment must be installed and serviced by a professional IAQ technician. Before you even get to that stage, though, you must determine what, if any, the problem with your humidity levels are.

Very humid air has some pretty serious implications for your indoor air quality. You may find that there is a lot of condensation throughout your house, on your windows or exposed pipes and bathroom fixtures. You may also notice damp spots on your walls or carpeting, as well as aggravated respiratory issues. Humid air is conducive to biological pollutant growth, so this is a problem that you want to resolve as soon as possible. If you notice any of these conditions in your home, a whole house dehumidifier may be necessary.

Because very dry air is just as problematic as overly humid air, you should also know some of the warning signs that a whole house humidifier is needed. Splitting wooden furniture or floorboards, dry, itchy skin, aggravated allergies, and sore throats or sinuses are all signs that your air is too dry. To ensure that you have the right amount of humidity in the air, a whole house humidifier just cannot be beat.

To learn more about the problems that inappropriate humidity levels can lead to, contact the IAQ pros at Malek Heating & Cooling. We are more than happy to help you enjoy improved indoor air quality in Chicago, IL. Call us today for more details.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Subpar Indoor Air Quality? Is Humidity the Problem?

Why Schedule Professional Air Duct Cleaning?

Monday, July 14th, 2014

The ductwork upon which you depend to distribute heated and cooled air throughout your property must be kept in outstanding condition if you hope for your heating and cooling system to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. Because your ductwork is largely hidden from view and is quite inaccessible, though, you may not always realize immediately that there is a problem with its condition. That is why you must familiarize yourself with some of the warning signs that service is needed. Here is some information about the importance of air duct cleaning in Chicago, IL, why it must be completed by a professional technician, and ways in which you can spot the need for such service. Call Malek Heating & Cooling for more details.

Only a qualified technician has the tools and training to complete your duct cleaning thoroughly and effectively. You cannot just walk around from vent to vent with a role of paper towels or a vacuum cleaner. Your air ducts must be accessed, special agitating tools used, and a powerful industrial vacuum is needed for cleanup. Don’t risk damaging your air ducts attempting to open them up, only to find you lack the proper tools for the job anyway. Hire a professional duct cleaning technician.

There are a number of signs you may notice which can indicate the need for professional duct cleaning. For instance, you may find that your home is dustier or dirtier than usual. Allergy symptoms may also be aggravated, and it is even possible for heating and cooling efficiency to suffer. When dirt and dust build up on vital components of your system, your HVAC equipment is going to have to work harder than it should have to. To learn more about spotting the need for professional air duct cleaning, give us a call.

The benefits of cleaning your ductwork are many, provided that the job is done by a trained technician. Indoor air quality can be improved upon, as can your comfort. You may even be able to save money on energy costs, all while knowing that your HVAC equipment is protected. If you suspect that it is time to schedule air duct cleaning in Skokie, IL, Malek Heating & Cooling is the company to call.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Why Schedule Professional Air Duct Cleaning?