Air ducts play an important role in your home. They circulate the air from your heating and cooling systems into and out of each room in your home multiple times a day. If neglected, air ducts can become your worst enemy. They collect dust, dirt, pollen, mold and allergens, as well as pet hair and dander, which are then recirculated throughout your home. Dirty ducts can also impede airflow, which keep your HVAC system from working efficiently.

Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning

A clean duct system means healthier air for you and your family and a more efficient HVAC system. Just as bookshelves get dusty over time, so does your home’s duct work. It can also collect dirt, pollen, allergens and pet dander — which is then circulated around your home. This significantly reduces your indoor air quality and comfort, especially for those who suffer from allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions. Additionally, dirty ducts can impede airflow, leading to inefficient flow of conditioned air and the potential to use more energy, which can result in higher bills.

Do I Need Air Duct Cleaning?

If your furniture or drapes are dusty, your house is more than 10 years old, or a family member’s allergies are acting up, those are good signs that you should look into air duct cleaning services. If your home was recently remodeled, dust and allergens were likely stirred up enough to warrant a cleaning as well.

Some ducts have been dirty from the time the home was built. It was commonplace — especially in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s — for builders not to clean the ducts after completing construction. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends cleaning your home’s ducts every five years.

What Is Included in Duct Cleaning?

During a Bell Brothers duct cleaning service, we start the process by taking photos of the inside of your ducts to document the “before” condition. Then, we determine the best cleaning method for your particular situation. There are two methods used for duct cleaning: a BrushBeast and a negative air machine. The BrushBeast is preferred; it uses a brushing system attached to a large, specialized vacuum that runs through the ducts. The brush goes down through the registers and back through the main trunk line.

Register grills are removed and air vent cleaning is performed during the service as well. Finally, we deodorize the ducts and provide “after” photos so you can see the difference. The entire air duct cleaning process can take anywhere from four to six hours, depending on the size of your home.

Not all air duct cleaners and services are created equal, however. Beware of low-priced services, as they often simply take off your registers and use a wet/dry vacuum to clean out the supply duct as far as it can reach. This is not what you want. A detailed cleaning helps remove unpleasant odors, improve air flow, and allow your HVAC system to operate at peak efficiency to provide you with the most cost-effective performance.

Duct Cleaning Cost

As with any HVAC service, ensure that the business is qualified and transparent about what is included in their services. Be skeptical of offers that seem “too good to be true.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), proper duct cleaning services typically range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system. The price should be determined by the size of your home, the number of ducts and their configuration. A good duct cleaning will provide five years of clean air for your family and help ensure your HVAC system is operating at peak performance.
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Air Duct Cleaning Before and After

Dirt, dust mites, mold, pollen and pet dander are all allergens that can impact the quality of your home’s air and, in turn, your comfort. Even everyday activities like cooking and cleaning can have a negative effect on indoor air quality (IAQ). The good news is there are a number of HVAC products, such as an air purifier, designed to improve indoor air quality.

Importance of Home Indoor Air Quality

By improving indoor air quality in your home, you can create a healthier and more comfortable environment for you and your family. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), scientific evidence has shown that the air within our homes and other indoor spaces can be more polluted than the outside air, even in large cities. Additional research has also shown that we spend around 90% of our time indoors. Which is why paying attention to the air quality inside your home is so important to your health.

Purchase an Air Purifier for Your Home

One product we recommend to homeowners is a whole-house air purification system. Air purifiers clean and sanitize the air and are designed to reduce mold, bacteria and viruses, as well as pet dander, odors, air pollutants and smoke. Here are a few air purification products to consider to noticeably improve the air in your home:

• iWave-R – As the air flows past the iWave-R, positive and negative ions actively purify the supply air, killing pathogens, mold, bacteria and viruses in the coil and living space. The ionization process also reduces allergens, smoke and static electricity, as well as controlling odors (cooking, pet, VOCs) and other particles.
• Aerus Air Scrubber – Aerus purification products, like the Air Scrubber, uses ActivePure technology to help protect your home and your family from dust, germs, odors, pet dander, viruses and more.
• Air Scrubber Mobile by Aerus® – This eight-ounce, pocket-sized unit plugs into a wall outlet to destroy up to 99% of surface and airborne contaminants in a 500-square-foot area.
• Air Knight – An accessory that mounts in the air ducts of your existing HVAC system and uses naturally occuring peroxides to kill viruses and bacteria in the airstream.
• Aprilaire 5000 Air Purifiers – Installed as part of a home’s heating and cooling system, this whole-house air purifier uses a combination of electrostatic technology and a traditional air filter to to effectively remove polluted air.

You can learn more about other ways to improve the air quality in your home in our essential guide.

 

Air pollution is everywhere, generated by everything from cars to outdoor power plants. But, did you know the air inside your home can be just as bad – and potentially even worse – than the air outside? The EPA estimates that the air inside a home is up to five times more polluted than outside air, so it’s critical to pay attention to the indoor air quality.

Improving air quality inside your home begins with acquiring basic knowledge of IAQ and how it can affect your health and then finding solutions you can use to positively impact air quality right away.

How Does Indoor Air Get Polluted?

While you may think of your home as your safe zone from air pollution, the air you breathe may not be healthy. The primary cause of IAQ issues is indoor pollution, including allergens like dirt, dust mites, mold, mold spores, pollen and pet hair and dander that release gas or particles into the air. The National Institutes of Health estimates that over 90% of homes have three or more detectable allergens, and 73% have at least one allergen at elevated levels.

Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant issues because the amount of outdoor air is insufficient to dilute indoor sources. Other common indoor sources that can cause pollution include:

• Oil, gas, kerosene and tobacco products
• Cleaning supplies, paint, insecticides and other commonly used household products
• Wood- or coal-heating and cooking appliances, fireplaces
• Building materials that may contain asbestos, lead or other chemicals from pressed wood products

The air outside can also contribute to poor indoor air quality. It can enter through open doors or windows, ventilation systems and cracks in structures, walls, floors or ceilings. Radon is just one example of a pollutant that can seep into your home through cracks, construction joints or gaps in foundations around pipes, wires and pumps. In addition, when people enter your home, they inadvertently bring in soil or dust on their shoes and clothing from outdoors, along with pesticides and ozone. Removing your shoes upon entry is a good practice to help reduce the spread of pollutants in your home.

Several other factors can affect IAQ, including how well your home is sealed, air exchange rate, outdoor climate, weather conditions and whether you operate air conditioners, humidifiers, furnaces or space heaters.

How Can IAQ Affect Your Health?

Poor indoor air quality can have both immediate and long-term effects on your health and that of others living in your household, especially the young, elderly or chronically ill. Direct health issues caused by indoor air pollutants may appear shortly after a single exposure or later after repeated exposure. If you’ve ruled out allergies or other medical conditions, it may be worth considering your air quality. Things to look for include:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

More severe and long-term health effects, such as respiratory issues, heart disease or even cancer, can show up years after exposure or after repeated periods of exposure.

If you have any symptoms or suspect you have a problem with IAQ, air quality services are available to help identify IAQ issues. These home air quality inspections can test for mold, radon and other volatile organic compounds that may contribute to health problems.

What Solutions Are Out There for Improving IAQ in Your Home?

Now that you know more about indoor air pollutants and how they can impact your air quality, it’s time to act. In addition to keeping doors and windows closed when outdoor air quality levels are poor and keeping your home clean, various options are available to help improve IAQ.

Furnace Filters and Air Cleaners

When was the last time you changed your furnace filter? An affordable way to improve indoor air quality is to change your filter regularly to help reduce dirt, dust, mold and pollen in your home. The type of furnace filter your system uses will determine how frequently it needs to be changed.

A standard 1- to 3-inch disposable filter should be changed at least once per month. Pleated filters, on the other hand, have more surface area and tend to plug up faster. These should be changed twice a month.

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and can remove at least 99.97% of airborne allergens and pollutants. These filters can be replaced about once every six months.

UV filters use short-wave ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses as they pass through the HVAC unit. Most manufacturers recommend changing this type of filter every 12 months.

A high-quality air cleaner will work with the filter in your current heating and cooling system to collect indoor pollutants. For example, the Dynamic Air Cleaner can remove up to 95% of the particles in the air. Once in place, it forms an electronic polarized-filter field that captures airborne particles as the air passes through.

Air Purifiers

A great way to improve air quality at home is by using an air purification system, like the iWave-R or Aerus Air Scrubber. Air purifiers clean and sanitize the air and are designed to reduce mold, bacteria, and viruses, as well as pet dander, odors, air pollutants and smoke. Air purification accessories also mount inside the air duct and use naturally occurring peroxides to kill viruses and bacteria in the airstream.

Duct Cleaning

Air ducts collect dirt, pollen, allergens and pet hair and dander. As a result, mold spores, bacteria, fungus and mildew can grow and circulate in the air. If your home is excessively dusty or more than 10 years old, or if you’ve done significant renovations to your home, look into an air duct cleaning service. A proper duct cleaning will last five years. The service cost should be determined by the size of your home, the number of ducts and their configuration.

Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers

If you are experiencing IAQ issues in your home, a humidifier or dehumidifier can help. A humidifier can ensure that the air inside your home isn’t too dry in the winter, which can cause you to have itchy, dry skin, chapped lips or nose bleeds. A lack of humidity can also produce static electricity or split hardwood floors, causing indoor discomfort. A dehumidifier is a good idea in the summer to help take the moisture out so the air inside your home is not sticky, muggy or uncomfortable.

You likely spend a good portion of your day indoors, so keeping the air in your home clean is essential to your health and well-being. If you think your home has poor air quality, first get your air quality assessed. Then, reach out to our team of experts to request an estimate for air purifiers, humidification systems or duct cleaning services to help improve IAQ inside your home.

Lately there has been a renewed focus on improving in-home air quality. People are turning to products like air purifiers and air scrubbers to remove dust, pollutants, allergens and airborne pathogens from the air.

One critical task that is often overlooked by homeowners is changing their furnace filters. In fact, many people don’t even realize they have a filter or that it needs to be changed.

A survey by The Zebra indicated that 29% of Americans never change the air filters in their homes and one in five people believes it’s not important to change their air filter.

Changing the filter is the No. 1 thing you can do to maintain your furnace without calling a professional, and it only takes a few minutes. Swapping it out regularly provides several benefits to your HVAC system:

• The furnace and air conditioning coil are protected from dirt build-up on the filter, which keeps the system operating efficiently and prevents the coil from freezing up.
• Because all the air in your home passes through the furnace filter, the indoor air quality is improved and allergens are reduced with a clean filter. Disposing of used filters removes the trapped dirt, pollen and allergens.
• Changing the filter will help prevent furnace shutdowns. A clogged filter can cause a furnace to stop working because it completely restricts airflow. In some cases, a clogged filter can be sucked into the blower motor, tearing up the filter — and the equipment.

The frequency at which your furnace filter needs to be replaced depends on the type that is used by your HVAC system. Let’s compare the different types of filters so you can set a schedule to replace yours regularly.

Different Types of Furnace Filters

A standard 1- to 3-inch disposable filter should be changed at least once per month. Pleated filters, on the other hand, have more surface area and tend to plug up faster. These should be changed twice a month.

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and are able to remove at least 99.97% of airborne allergens and pollutants. These have more surface area and can be replaced about once every six months.

UV filters use short-wave ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses as they pass through the HVAC unit. Most manufacturers recommend that you change this type of filter once every 12 months.

Set Your Schedule — Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly

The longevity of your furnace filter is dictated not only by its type, but also by the cleanliness of the home environment. Filters will fill up faster if there is a lot of dust and allergens in the air.

As a general rule of thumb, you should check your filter at least every 30 days. Consider setting a reminder in your calendar or on your cell phone on the same day each month to make sure it’s getting done regularly.

Dry air in the house is a common issue during Des Moines winters. Humidity is most often associated with those really hot summer days, the sticky, muggy kind that make you uncomfortable. That’s because there’s too much moisture in the air. But in the wintertime, too little is often the culprit for indoor discomfort. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of low humidity levels and what you can do about it.

Dry Air in Your Des Moines Home? Here’s What to Watch For!

Winter is here, and that means dry air. Although there are a number of ways to tell if your home’s humidity is too low, we’ve narrowed it down to the six telltale signs we encounter most often.

• Itchy, dry skin and/or eyes
• Scratchy throat
• Chapped lips
• Nose bleeds
• Static electricity or flyaway hair
• Splitting hardwood floors

If these sound familiar, dry air in your house could be the cause, or at least a contributor. So what now? You could check for and seal any air leaks or try DIY humidification, but the most effective way to manage humidity levels in your home is a centralized humidifier.

What Is a Central Humidifier?

Whole-house (central) humidifiers are connected to your home’s hot air ducts and cold air return and disperse moisture into the air. They can work with your HVAC system or independently and offer a number of benefits:

• Energy and money savings
• Decreased chance of colds, flu, and respiratory illness
• Support for people with allergies or asthma

Types of Central Humidifiers

There are three types of whole-house (central) humidifiers — bypass, fan-powered and steam.

• Bypass humidifiers are installed directly on your central heating and cooling system. They take dry, hot air from the HVAC system andpass it through a water tray, where the water evaporates, turns to vapor and is circulated throughout your home. Because bypass humidifiers use the blower motor of the furnace, your furnace must be running in order for the unit to work.
• Fan-powered humidifiers also take hot air, pass it through a water tray and turn it to vapor. The biggest difference is that while a bypass humidifier relies on the furnace's blower-motor, fan powered units can operate on their own and, as a result, humidify your house faster.
• Steam humidifiers, as the name suggests, work by electrically boiling water to create steam, which is pushed throughout the ventilation system.

Depending on which humidifier you choose, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$1,200, plus the cost of installation.

Managing humidity levels in your home during all seasons is important for comfort, health, and keeping the atmosphere balanced. Want to learn more about humidity control options to better manage the dry air in your house? Call a Bell Brothers professional, we’re standing by and ready to answer your questions about indoor air quality and how we can help.

How CJM Financial Upgraded Office Air Quality to Safely Reopen

As many office-based workforces have debated how best to work during a global pandemic, Trent Murphy of CJM Financial in Ankeny has taken things into his own hands.

CJM Financial is a family-owned invoice factoring business whose main clientele work in the transportation industry. They support entrepreneurs and business owners by providing customized finance and business solutions to increase customers’ cash flow and help shield them from debt.

When COVID-19 hit, Trent and his staff worked remotely March through May. But working with sensitive information in various locations was not ideal.

He felt that working in the office was important, so Trent looked for ways to make the facility safer. He remembered working with us during their 2018 remodel, when we installed a new HVAC system, and reached out to see what other ideas and options we could offer.

To prepare the CJM Financial building for the staff’s return, we installed two Aerus Air Scrubbers, which help keep dust, germs, odors, viruses and more out of the air.

“They installed the air scrubbers very quickly, and they wore PPE and followed safety protocols the whole way,” said Trent. “We felt confident we would be safe coming back to work.”

In addition to improving air quality, the CJM team arranged for staff to be more spread out and work in cubicles with tall glass walls. They’re glad to be back in the office and supporting their customers to the best of their abilities.

To learn more about our indoor air quality, check out this page or give us a call.

Dry skin? Excessive static electricity? You’re not alone. What causes dry air in your house? As the outside temperature begins to drop, so does the humidity level in your home. Dry air in winter is not able to retain as much moisture as warmer air during the summer months, and this can cause humidity levels to drop as low as 15 percent. When the outdoor temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit, the humidity inside your home should be 35 percent.

To know if there is a good humidity level in your home, look for a little bit of moisture on the bottom of your windows. If your windows develop frost or moisture less than 0.5 inches above the bottom, the humidity level is too low, and your house is too dry.

Having extremely low humidity levels in your home can be uncomfortable, so we put together some quick tips to help you combat dry air in your house:

Tip #1: Check for air leaks and seal them.
Always check your windows and doors, but also be sure to check the electrical boxes for recessed lights or outlets, as they’re typically not insulated and can let in dry air. These may seem small, but the extra air coming in can affect the humidity level in your house.

Tip #2: Whole home humidification
Oftentimes older homes aren’t sealed perfectly, which allows cold, dry air to leak in. If your home is over 20 years old, you might benefit from installing a whole-home humidifier to help restore moisture balance to your home.

If you live in a newer home, you might find that you need to de-humidify your home in the winter.Homes built in the last decade are sealed very well with few places for air to sneak inside, leading to higher indoor humidity levels.

Tip #3: Try DIY humidification
There are also a few tricks you can try on your own to add moisture back into the air inside your home:

• Using your stovetop more often to cook or to boil hot water can add humidity back into the air.
• Instead of drying some of your clothes in a dryer, try using a rack or hanging them up to air dry.
• When using your dishwasher, instead of letting the dishes dry with the door closed, open the door and pull out the rack to let the dishes air-dry.
• While taking a shower, keep the bathroom door open and let the steam escape from your bathroom into your house.
• Add some houseplants to your home, which release moisture from their leaves every day. Steps like these won’t completely resolve excessive dry air in your house, but in the cold winter months, every little bit of moisture helps.

If you would like to learn more about humidity control options to better manage the dry air in your house, a Bell Brothers professional is ready to answer your questions.

Updated: August 2nd, 2024

Understanding Fall Allergies & the Importance of Indoor Air Quality

 

Indoor air quality becomes even more important during the fall season, when allergens like ragweed, mold, and dust mites reach their peak. While it’s common to hear complaints about allergy symptoms in the spring, fall allergies are just as real — and often just as miserable.

Ragweed is the biggest offender this time of year — about 75 percent of people allergic to spring plants also react to ragweed in the fall. Meanwhile, mold spores thrive in damp outdoor environments like leaf piles, and dust mites accumulate indoors as we close up our homes for cooler weather. These hidden irritants can turn your home into a hotbed of allergy symptoms during September and October.

1. Keep your windows closed.

Fall temperatures and breezy evenings might tempt you to open your windows, but doing so can invite ragweed pollen and other allergens into your home. Before you enjoy that crisp autumn air, remember what it feels like to endure a full day of sneezing and congestion.

The most effective way to maintain indoor air quality during the fall season is to keep your windows closed. This helps block allergens from entering and keeps your HVAC system from circulating contaminated air.

That said, no one expects you to stay indoors all season. But as the weather cools and you naturally spend more time inside, it’s crucial to keep a clean living environment. Regular vacuuming, dusting, and laundering of linens are simple ways to reduce allergens in your home and limit allergic reactions.

2. Try a dehumidifier for relief.

Dust mites and mold thrive in moist, humid environments. If you are experiencing humidity control issues in your home, a dehumidifier can help you find a good balance and reduce your indoor allergy symptoms during the fall.

3. Change and/or upgrade your furnace air filter.

If you can’t remember the last time you changed your furnacefilter, the first thing you should do when you finish reading this post is go change it. We talk a lot about the benefits of changing your furnace filter, but that’s only because a clean filter is imperative to a functioning heating and cooling system.

Have you changed your filter recently and are still struggling with severe fall allergy symptoms? It might be time to upgrade to a high-efficiency filter. Upgrading to high-efficiency furnace air filters is one of the most affordable ways to improve your indoor air quality during allergy season. These filters collect more dirt, dust, mold, and pollen than standard filters — a crucial step in reducing fall allergies — especially if you change them monthly as directed.

4. Invest in indoor air quality solutions.

Feel like you’ve tried everything to deal with your allergies? You might benefit from installing a home air cleaner — a solution that works with your existing heating and cooling system to improve the air quality of your home.

We recommend the Dynamic Air Cleaner, which can remove up to 95 percent of particles like dust, dirt, mold and pollen from the air in your home. The result is much cleaner, purer air and more relief during the peak of allergy season.

Is there anything more irritating than allergies? I love seeing the trees in bloom and the grass turn green after a long winter. Sometimes I wonder, though, if it’s worth the scratchy throat and puffy eyes we endure during an Iowa spring.

The bad news is researchers believe allergies affect nearly 50 million Americans annually and the number is growing. The good news is Bell Brothers offers the Dynamic Air Cleaner that can help relieve allergy symptoms by reducing allergens in your home.

Before we talk about the benefits of the Dynamic Air Cleaner, let’s take a look at the alternatives and why they may or may not be a good fit for you and your home.

Standard filter

Standard 1-inch disposable filters will remove large particles like allergens from cats and dogs, but smaller particles like dust, mold spores and pollens will pass right through that filter. Since common seasonal allergies include tree, grass and ragweed pollen, these filters probably won’t do much to relieve your itchy eyes.

High-Efficiency Pleated Filter

The next step up is the pleated filters. These are extremely effective at filtering out those smaller particles. Because of their effectiveness, they can actually become detrimental to your HVAC system. When the filters get plugged, air can’t move through them. This can cause the air conditioner to freeze up or a furnace to overheat. When a customer calls to say their AC or furnace is not working, the first thing we ask them is if they’ve changed the filter lately.

Air Cleaner

The Dynamic Air Cleaner, which works with your current heating and cooling system, is easily installed using the existing filter tracks. Once in place, it forms an electronic polarized-filter field. Airborne particles pass through the field and adhere to the filter. The Dynamic Air Cleaner removes an impressive 97 percent of particles including odors, airborne pathogens, pollen and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

It’s important to note that the filters only provide benefits if the furnace fan runs continuously. This can be done by setting the fan setting on the thermostat to “on."

Homeowners who have invested the Dynamic Air Cleaner tell me it’s made a huge difference. If you suffer from allergies and are looking for a solution, contact Bell Brothers today through our contact form or call us at 515-244-8911.