Name: Bounds Heating & Air
Address: 25645 West, Newberry Road, Newberry, FL, 32669
Telephone: 352-472-2761

Indoor Air Quality Basics You Need to Know

A typical family can generate a considerable quantity of pollutants, such as pollen, dander, smoke, dust, and other irritants, as they go about their daily life. These contaminants can be continually recycled and circulated by the home’s HVAC system. As an HVAC repair and installation expert, we highly recommend removing these pollutants and maintaining your home’s indoor air quality. Learn more about this topic here:

What Is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality or IAQ refers to the air quality within and around structures and buildings, particularly as it relates to the comfort and health of the people occupying those buildings. Improving a building’s IAQ by understanding and controlling common indoor pollutants can help reduce the risk of indoor health concerns. Many people spend the majority of their time indoors, so maintaining good IAQ is important.

Improving Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

There are three basic strategies to improve IAQ, including using air cleaners, improving ventilation, and controlling the sources of pollutants. Source control is the most effective way to improve your home’s IAQ. Eliminate the sources of pollution inside your home or reduce their emissions. You can also improve your home’s ventilation. As an indoor air quality and air conditioning repair expert, we can assist you by providing effective products.

You can also install an air cleaner to remove pollutants from your indoor air. There are many different types of air cleaners on the market. You need to consider how well the air cleaner draws air and how well it collects pollutants before making your choice. Give us a call if you want an accurate assessment of your home’s IAQ needs and if you want to learn which air cleaners will meet those needs.

Bounds Heating & Air can help you with your indoor air quality and HVAC maintenance because we have over two decades of experience and employ some of the best technicians in the industry. Our goal is to provide top-notch services at highly competitive rates. We serve many areas of Florida including Alachua, FL. Call us at 352-472-2761 to learn more about our services and products.

Avoiding Problems Caused by Improper HVAC Installation

High-quality installations are just as important as choosing the perfect heating and cooling system for your home. Your HVAC installation has a big impact on your system’s performance and its lifespan, so it’s important to know what to look for when choosing an HVAC repair and installation company. Bounds Heating and Air explains more:

Decreased Indoor Comfort

Mistakes during your HVAC installation can waste energy and lead to a less comfortable interior. The poor comfort control results from performance issues arising from improper installation. Problems include uneven temperatures throughout the home and decreased amounts of cooling or heating. On the other hand, a proper HVAC installation will mean that your new system will perform according to its stated specifications.

Shortened System Lifespan

A faulty HVAC installation does not just consume more energy; it also decreases your new system’s life span. A unit that is not installed according to correct specifications is more likely to fail earlier than a properly installed unit. Poor installation forces the HVAC system to work improperly, putting a lot of stress on the system. HVAC components wear out faster, leading to more breakdowns. As an air conditioning repair expert, we recommend hiring a reputable company to perform your HVAC installation for you.

Reduced Efficiency

Improper installations also lead to decreased efficiency. Even if the unit you bought has high energy performance ratings, the poor installation will not allow your unit to reach its full potential. Instead of saving you money, the unit can end up costing more when installed improperly. Work with experienced companies that carry proper certifications and qualifications.

Bounds Heating & Air can help you with all of your HVAC maintenance, repair, and installation needs. We have over 20 years of experience and our technicians are factory-trained and NATE®-certified. We have the skills, knowledge, and qualifications necessary to guarantee a flawless installation of your HVAC system.

Call us at 352-472-2761 to learn more about our services and products. We serve many areas in Florida, including Newberry, FL.

Keeping Your HVAC System in Good Shape This Summer

HVAC Maintenance in Summer

Summer is the time of year that every homeowner constantly uses their air conditioning system. Because of his, it’s important to check your air filter every month to make sure that it has not become full of contaminants. Since you may have to replace your air filter earlier than the three-month mark, have a replacement air filter ready just in case. Inspect all the registers and return air grilles in your home regularly as well; these vents should never be blocked. Move your carpets, rugs, furniture, and other items are away from the vents.

Check your exterior cooling equipment routinely as well. As an air conditioning repair expert, we recommend trimming away any vegetation that has grown around the unit and clearing away debris surrounding it. Don’t store outdoor furniture in the areas immediately surrounding the exterior cooling equipment. Inspect your cooling system’s drip pan and condensate drain lines for clogs too. Finally, for best results, schedule a professional HVAC inspection.

Our Professional Maintenance Program

Bounds Heating & Air offers maintenance programs that prevent system breakdowns and can save you money on your energy bills. Our services can keep your system working at peak efficiency. Using one of our maintenance programs also means that you will receive a discount on parts necessary for repairs, as well as a reduced rate for service calls. All our maintenance specialists are NATE®-certified and factory-trained, so rest assured that your heating and cooling units are in good hands.

Rely on Bounds Heating & Air for all of your professional HVAC maintenance needs. We have over two decades of experience in the industry, ensuring that your HVAC projects will be quick and hassle-free. We serve many areas of Florida, including Gainesville, FL. Call us at 352-472-2761 to learn more about our services and products.

How to Check for Air Leaks, and Save Money!

Before it starts to get really hot here in Gainesville, you should check your home for air leaks. Studies indicate that leaks cause approximately 25-30% of the cool air to escape from your home, wasting both energy and money.

So, how can you prevent air leaks? Here are our DIY tips for keeping your cool air in the home.

Check to caulk and replace worn-out weather stripping

It’s essential that your doors and windows are properly sealed to prevent air leakage. One way to determine whether they are leaking is to shake the doors and windows– if they rattle then you are definitely losing cool air.

Proper caulking is critical to keeping your home insulated. Investing in silicon caulk is recommended, as it is waterproof and incredibly crack resistant. In the long run, you will save both money and time when it doesn’t need to be replaced as frequently.

Weatherstripping around your windows, doors, and attic will wear over time due to age, exposure to the elements, pests, and more. Here are the ways you can tell if it’s time for a replacement:

Self-adhesive foam tape: this will peel from your windows and doors over time, and will generally only last 3-5 years
Rubber and vinyl: this material will become brittle or cracked
Spring metal: can become loose due to missing nails, cracks, or bends

If you don’t have it already, you should add weather stripping to your attic door for optimal insulation.

Insulate around recessed lights

Homes often have many recessed lights, and most have a vent that opens to the attic. Look for lights labeled ICAT, for “insulation contact and airtight.” If your lights do not have this label, you should insulate around them to prevent cool air from escaping. An airtight baffle is a quick and inexpensive fix and is easily installed behind the lightbulb.

Do a walkthrough and a walk around

For the inside of the home, here are the top culprits of air leakage aside from doors, windows, and attics:

TV and phone lines
Where the dryer vents go through walls
Vents and fans

You should also take a walk around your house and inspect any places where two materials meet, such as corners, between the siding and foundation, and water faucets.

Now that you’ve identified where these small leaks are, what do you do about it? Caulk is great for filling gaps under ¼ of an inch, while squirt foam is most effective for those ¼ to 3 inches wide.

The biggest air loss offenders are your doors and windows, so make sure to do the rattle test– if you shake it and it rattles, it’s time for new insulation.

If you’d like to lower your monthly bill, give Bounds Heating and Air a call at 352-472-2761, or visit our website to learn more about our energy audits. We will evaluate your monthly energy spending and air leakage to find solutions that will conserve our planet’s energy, and reduce your monthly costs.

5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Over 50 million Americans indicate that they suffer from allergies each year, but for some, could the problem be something else entirely? Dust, mold, mildew, and other air pollutants in your home can cause allergy-like symptoms. Recent studies from the EPA have even indicated that air in the home can be up to 70 times more contaminated than the air outside. Everyone can benefit from cleaner air– read our five tips for improving air quality, and start breathing easy.

Vacuum Regularly

As simple as it may seem, frequent vacuuming is essential to reducing the pollutants in your home. Carpet collects dust, pet dander, and whatever else you might track inside. Especially if you have pets, minimize the amount of carpeting in your home if possible.

Groom Pets

For those with pets, it’s important to schedule regular grooming to prevent excessive dander in your home. Even if your house appears hair-free after you clean, these allergens will still collect in your air ducts.

Open Windows

You should open your windows as much as possible to reduce pollutants. Especially if your HVAC system recirculates the air in your house, letting in some fresh air will mitigate indoor allergens.

Change Your Filter

A dirty filter will circulate pollutants throughout your house. Generally, it’s recommended that you change your filter every 1-3 months. Most filters will indicate their useful life on the packaging, but you may want to change it more often if you have pets or live near a construction site. In addition to improving air quality, replacing a dirty filter will also reduce your AC’s energy consumption by 5-10%. If it’s been a while since you’ve changed yours out, spring is a perfect time!

Clean Ducts

Air ducts can collect mildew, mold, bacteria, and many other pollutants. So, how often do you need to get your air ducts cleaned? The answer depends on whether you regularly change your filter, have pets, or are suspicious of mold or mildew growth. If you suspect mold, have vermin in your air ducts or see that the inside of your vent register is coated with black debris, it is definitely time to get your ducts cleaned. If none of these issues are present, it is generally recommended to get your ducts cleaned every 3-5 years.

If you would like to speak with a professional about improving your home’s air quality, give Bounds Heating and Air a call at 352-472-2761, or visit our website to learn more about our indoor home air quality solutions. Find out why we’re Gainesville’s choice for heating and air services!

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