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

Tackling Indoor Humidity

With frequent weather changes during this time of year, there is no telling when high heat and humidity will pose a problem. The team here at Bounds Heating & Air is here to educate you on the causes of high home humidity and how to reduce moisture levels in your home.

Indoor Humidity = Discomfort

Floridians are no strangers to humidity and the stuffy feeling that so often hangs in the air. Humidity not only causes an uncomfortable feeling in your home, it can also negatively affect your health. Humid air causes a slowing of the evaporation of moisture from your body, resulting in an increase in body temperature and even difficulty breathing.

Mold Growth

High temperatures in your home combined with humidity result in an ideal breeding ground for mold growth. Development of mold can be a fast process as mold spores multiply and spread throughout your home. Once mold growth begins, it can become difficult to control. But you can reduce the occurrence of mold spore growth by controlling humidity in your home.

Condensation

One clear sign of high humidity levels in your home is window condensation. When you spot condensation on your windows it is essential to wipe the window dry. Allowing condensation to linger can cause window frame damage, frame rotting, and mold development.

Here’s a few useful tips to help you maintain and lower humidity levels in your home:

Increase Air Circulation – Running ceiling fans helps with air circulation by drying out standing water within your home. Increasing air circulation will also decrease overall room temperature.
Check For Water Leaks – Water leaks can be a contributing factor to high humidity in your home. It is recommended to regularly check for leaks under sinks, behind toilets, and in laundry rooms.
Run Exhaust Fans – Cooking and showering can contribute to high humidity levels. Running exhaust fans avoids buildup of moisture throughout your home.
Monitor Outdoor Weather – Outdoor humidity will affect your home’s indoor humidity levels. When indoor humidity levels are high and outdoor humidity levels are low it is recommended to open your windows to circulate air and humidity throughout your home. If outdoor humidity levels are higher, it is essential to keep all windows closed as it may throw off levels in your home.
Home Dehumidifiers – Typically air conditioning units remove humidity from the air, but in some cases you may see that it takes longer to regulate indoor humidity. Home dehumidifiers can help with maintaining humidity levels alongside your A/C unit. With home dehumidifiers, you are able to set your ideal humidity level in your home and the system will help maintain the levels of moisture in your home.

If you have further questions on your home air quality, reach out to the experts at Bounds Heating & Air at 352-472-2761.

Houseplants That Can Improve Indoor Air Quality

Think about the amount of time that you spend in your home. Now imagine the number of toxic compounds in your home that come from chemical-based cleaning products, air-fresheners, and other products. These are everyday household items that you typically don’t think twice about, but they can emit toxins that are detrimental to your health. Other indoor pollutants can stem from pollen, mold, bacteria, and more! These pollutants tend to be more harmful in small or poorly ventilated areas.

In the late 1980s, NASA conducted a study providing which plants the best help reduce indoor pollutants. Upon discovery, people began to see plants as more than just decor, but also as a home essential to help purify their air. Here are a few plants that you can add to your home to help filter out harmful elements and purify your air.

Spider Plant

The Spider Plant, also known as Chlorophytum comosum helps filter toxins such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and xylene which can be found in leather and rubber. The Spider Plant is also one of the easiest plants to care for and is pet-friendly.

Chinese Evergreen

If your home is exposed to minimal sunlight, the Chinese Evergreen plant is for you. This plant thrives in low light conditions and immediately begins to remove toxins from the air. Due to the plant’s tropical nature, they tend to flourish in low humidity. If you begin to experience browning of the leaves, simply mist the plant with water.

Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera Daisies not only add a beautiful touch to your home, but they also serve as a purifier that removes benzene (which is a cancerous chemical). These daisies are also known to release oxygen overnight which helps improve your sleep patterns.

Areca Palm

Areca Palms not only purify the air by removing toxic elements, but they also release tons of moisture. This plant performs best in areas exposed to an adequate amount of sunlight and when watered regularly.

For more information on how to effectively remove toxins from your home’s air, call Bounds Heating & Air for expert advice at 352-472-2761.

The Benefits of HVAC Zoning

During the hot summer days here in Florida, you may find it difficult to keep the temperature in your home balanced. Whether you have a sitting room that is exposed to large amounts of sunlight and never stays cool or a room that is always too cold, you may be wondering how to find a balance in temperatures. This problem stems from a traditional HVAC system that uses one thermostat to regulate the temperature of your entire home. With traditional HVAC systems, you may find yourself turning the AC up too high or too low to accommodate that one area of your home that doesn’t maintain the same temperature as other rooms, which can also increase your bill.

Zoning systems, unlike traditional HVAC systems, allow for you to regulate temperatures in different rooms of your home or business. Typically with zoning systems, there are two or more thermostats placed in your home or business. These systems are commonly used in businesses or homes with multiple levels, rooms with high ceilings, home add-ons, or larger floor plans.

Zoned HVAC systems are typically composed of dampers, temperature controls for each zone, and a control panel. Dampers serve as a regulator that controls how much air passes through the ductwork at a time and redirects the airflow to needed areas in a room. Based on the set temperature on the temperature controller, it then communicates to the control panel which ducts to open to either cool or heat an area.

Other benefits that zoned HVAC systems offer when it comes to your home or business include:

Energy Efficiency

Zoning systems allow for you to set precise temperatures in different areas of your home, therefore you are no longer overcooling or overheating. The ability to control temperatures by zones helps reduce your monthly energy bills.

Comfortability

With the ability to control temperatures levels in different areas, you will be able to adjust to your liking.

Increased System Lifespan

Now that your HVAC system is only heating or cooling smaller zones it is no longer working as hard to maintain a balanced temperature, causing less wear and tear on HVAC parts.

Choosing the Best Air Filter for Your Home

Typically when people experience problems with their home air quality, they associate the issue with malfunctions within the HVAC system as a whole. Although, one thing that people tend to overlook is their air filter. Do you remember the last time you changed your air filter? Air filters serve as a barrier that prevents harmful debris, pollutants, pollen, and dust, from entering into your home. Depending on the amount of activity and or pets in your home, it is recommended to change your air filters every 60 to 90 days. Lack of replacing air filters in your home can lead to:

The increase of allergens and dust in your home, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, colds, and more!
Dirty ducts as the filter pump debris through your system and home.
Airflow blockage as the A/C isn’t able to maintain levels of airflow causing the system to malfunction, take longer to cool, and increase your home energy bill.

Now that you know the importance of changing your air filter, it’s time to pick the best one for your home. If you’ve ever gone shopping for an air filter, you may have noticed that there isn’t just one size fits all. The team at Bounds Heating and Air has compiled a few things to consider while you’re shopping.

Reference Your Manufacturer’s Instructions

Check out your manufacturer guidelines, here is will you will find suggested filters to use for your specific system in your home. One thing to pay special attention to when referencing your guide is the suggested air filter size. This is a spec that can not be altered, this will ensure that your filter is a perfect fit which allows it to function correctly for the safety of your home.

Disposable or Washable

Choosing a disposable or washable air filter is based on preference. Disposable air filters a convenient option as they can easily be disposed of and replaced. Washable air filters are known for their longevity, as they can be reused several times after each clean.

MERV Rating

The MERV rating, also known as the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value tells you the average efficiency of the air filter that you are looking to purchase. MERV rating range from 1 to 20.

MERV ratings 1 – 4 are primarily used to block larger debris from entering your home.
MERV rating 5 – 8 are known to filter up to 70% of dust, mold spores, and other particles.
MERV ratings 9 – 12 are one of the higher quality filters trapping up to 90% of debris and in-home pollutants.
MERV ratings 13 – 20 are typically used for commercial buildings and not for residential use, but they are known to filter airborne particles such as viruses and bacteria.

Now that you know how to shop for home air filters, another easy way to keep up with when to change your filters is by writing the date on the filter when it’s replaced. And if you are interested in finding out more information on air filters or how to improve your air quality, reach out to Bounds Heating and Air today!

How Cleaning Products Affect Your Air Quality

The summer is winding down and it’s time to go back to school! This is the time where you and your family are in the process of cleaning the house and getting things organized after an eventful summer. Typically people grab their favorite cleaning products to fight germs or dirt in their home without realizing the products toxic ingredients that become airborne affect your family’s health. Along with health effects, cleaning products can also affect your air quality but the team here at Bounds Heating & Air has listed a few primary ingredients to look out for.

When it comes to whitening clothes or disinfecting chances are you turn to bleach or products that contain bleach. Although, chlorine bleach is known to be the most corrosive chemical. Bleach releases gas fumes into your home air causing coughing, irritated eyes, throat, and nose.

Did you know ammonia is commonly found in bathroom, oven, drain, and window cleaners? Once ammonia vaporizes, it becomes infused in your home air potentially causing kidney and liver damage. Typically this exposure can be made worse when mixed with other products containing chlorine bleach causing gas to form, and potentially irritating your skin, eyes, or lungs.

Fragrance chemicals can be found in everyday products such as aerosol cleaners, furniture polish, air fresheners, and much more. These products may leave a pleasant smell in your home, but leave a long-lasting effect on the respiratory system. For example, when an air freshener is sprayed it emits VOC’s which are volatile organic compounds into the air that potentially lead to asthma, dizziness, headaches, and eye irritation.

To avoid emitting toxic elements in your home air, make homemade non-toxic cleaning products or call Bounds Heating & Air a call at 352-472-2761 to learn more ways to improve your home’s air quality.

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