Dr. Scott Yegge grew up on a farm in northern Iowa, but in college, he discovered a love for education and health care. That passion led him to dental school at the University of Iowa.
Scott joined Dr. Greg Brandt at Advanced Family Dentistry in 2006, excited to be part of a practice that was patient centered and family oriented. Since then, the group has grown to four dentists and eight hygienists and prides itself on safe, comfortable care for patients of all ages.
“We also do our best to stay-up on the latest technology and advancements in the field,” said Scott.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Advanced Family Dentistry closed for a couple months to assess how best to proceed. Scott thought a lot about what needed to happen for the business to be able to safely re-open.
“In a dental office, you're working in small rooms and working in people's mouths, so air quality is obviously very important,” he said. Scott began to look at things the business could do to sanitize and purify the air, and that’s when he had a discussion with Jason Gassmann at Bell Brothers.
“They told me about the activTek INDUCT 2000, which is a UV light air scrubber that continually turns over and sanitizes both the air and the surfaces in a room,” said Scott. “Once the UV light air scrubbers were purchased, Bell Brothers had them installed within two days — the turnaround time was amazing.”
Because of the dental environment, Scott also knew they needed to mitigate aerosol, so they purchased E HEPA aerosol vacuum and air purification units. Even though Bell Brothers didn’t sell that product, we gladly helped them install the E HEPA filter system.
“Now we have what’s essentially like a hooded duct we place near the patient’s face, and the air goes through both the E HEPA filter system and the UV light air scrubbers to remove pathogens and become sanitized,” said Scott.
With both IAQ solutions in place, Advanced Family Dentistry is proud to provide a safe and sanitary environment.
“Bell Brothers was a true partner in the whole process,” said Scott. “We want our patients and employees to feel safe coming in, and I think they really do now.”
Learn more about our air quality solutions on our website or give us a call at 515-244-8911.
Many states, including Iowa, have begun the process of loosening stay-at-home restrictions and are allowing businesses to begin resuming normal operating procedures. As businesses begin to reopen and bring employees back into the office, providing a work environment that supports employee health and safety is a main priority.
In this next phase of recovery during COVID-19, businesses are focused on workplace readiness and preparing their building. This includes cleaning plans, pre-return inspections and HVAC and mechanical checks.
Here are some HVAC related tips and things to consider as businesses begin to reopen and employees come back to work.
Commercial HVAC Maintenance
Many buildings have been closed for eight weeks or more, making it important to do a thorough inspection of the heating and cooling system. Because of the time of year when COVID-19 heightened in the United States, many building managers may have been unable to schedule their spring commercial HVAC maintenance.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to schedule a maintenance appointment with an HVAC contractor. This will provide much needed cleaning and inspection of equipment as employees begin to return. Here are a few of the key things that should be done during a maintenance and service check:
- Full cleaning of HVAC system
- Inspection of safety switches and devices
- Check of heat exchangers for cracks or damage
- Filter replacement
- Calibration of temperature controls and economizer controls
- Adjustment of fans and belts
- Inspections of all electrical components
- Check for proper AC compressor operations and refrigerant levels
- Check AC cooling coils and clean as needed
When your air filters are replaced we recommend using the highest efficiency rated filter allowed by the manufacturer. If your building or facility manager is replacing the air filters be sure they use proper safety procedures and PPE. Try to avoid dropping or shaking the filter and dispose of the filter in a plastic bag to limit exposure to the indoor office space as much as possible.
Building managers should also do a quick check of the building controls and thermostats to make sure they are at the correct set points and batteries are replaced if needed.
How to Improve Office Air Quality
There a couple of things building managers can do to improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Increasing outdoor air ventilation within the office building by adjusting the outdoor air dampers as high as 100% to eliminate recirculation can be helpful but be aware that this can also create some comfort issues as we head into the warm and humid summer months.
We recommend having an HVAC contractor do an inspection of the ventilation system to make sure it is working properly and hasn’t been disconnected because of previous problems. The final thing that can be done to support air flow and ventilation is to run your system 24/7.
There are also a variety of air purification products that support indoor air quality inside the office. These solutions can by no means prevent illness, but they can be used as a preventative measure.
Businesses can look into investing in ion generating air purifiers to support and improve IAQ. Ionizing products have been around for many years, but up until now they have mainly been used in hospitals and labs. This type of air purifier works by using ions to remove particulates, microbes and odors from the air.
Supporting Local Businesses With HVAC Guidance & Air Purification Solutions
We sell a variety of air purification systems and have experts here on staff that are happy to speak with businesses about if one of these products is right for them and answer any additional questions they may have.
HVAC can play a role in helping to control the spread of COVID-19 within the workplace. But even more significant prevention tactics are social distancing, hygiene and our personal behavior.
Here at Bell Brothers, it’s our priority to provide whatever support we can to individuals, families and the small business community during this unprecedented time. If you would like to speak to one of our HVAC professionals as you prepare to reopen your business, please don’t hesitate to 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.
3 Easy Ways to Breathe Cleaner Air in the New Year
With 2017 rapidly approaching, we’re all thinking about our resolutions for the upcoming year. If keeping a cleaner home is on your list, don’t overlook your indoor air quality. Dirt, dust mites, mold, spores, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens are all threats to the quality of your home’s air and, in turn, your comfort. Luckily, there are some simple changes you can make to improve the air you and your family breathe. Follow these tips to have cleaner air by the start of 2017.
Before I tell you how you can combat indoor pollutants, it’s important to note none of these solutions will work if the fan in your furnace system is not running. Another blog we wrote explains why you should use the fan “On” function on your thermostat over the “Auto” function. Don’t let the misconceptions fool you: Running your furnace fan continuously does not cost more or cause more wear. Now, on to the tips.
1.) Invest in high-efficiency filters
Upgrading to high-efficiency furnace filters is one of the most affordable ways to improve your indoor air quality. High-efficiency filters collect more dirt, dust, mold and pollen than standard filters if you change them monthly as directed.
2.) Install an air cleaner
A high-quality air cleaner will work with your current heating and cooling system to collect dust, dirt, mold, pollen and other pollutants. Bell Brothers offers the Dynamic air cleaner, which can remove up to 95 percent of particles from your home’s air. Once in place, it forms an electronic polarized-filter field that captures airborne particles as they pass through.
3.) Enlist the help of an air purifier
While air cleaners filter the air, air purifiers take it a step further and sanitize the air. Designed to reduce mold, bacteria and viruses, as well as odors, air pollutants and smoke, an air purifier can noticeably improve the air in your home. We sell an air purification accessory called the Air Knight that mounts into your existing system and uses naturally occurring peroxides to kill viruses and bacteria in the airstream.
Let us help you improve the air quality in your home. To learn more, give us a call or contact us online.
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.
Allergy season is my least favorite time of the year. I dread late summer when I know I’ll come down with a case of red, itchy, burning eyes. I have a feeling many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Did you know it’s estimated that over 50 percent of homes have at least six detectable allergens present inside? While there’s not much we can do to rid the outdoor air of pollen and allergens, we can make our homes a safe haven.
The easiest step to take is to keep your windows closed. This will reduce the amount of allergens invading your house. Unfortunately, there’s another way allergens get into our homes: us. We don’t stay in our homes 24/7. We go to work, school, the store, the homes of family and friends, wherever. When we get back home, the allergens follow us right inside on our clothes, shoes and hair. So it is important to make sure to keep a clean house — vacuum the carpet, dust surfaces and wash bed sheets to remove the allergens we bring in.
The next step is upgrading to high-efficiency furnace filters. These filters grab and trap more allergens and dust than standard filters. This is an affordable option for people looking for cleaner air in their home.
Finally, to really gain significant relief from allergens in your home, we recommend investing in a home air cleaner. We offer the Dynamic Air Cleaner, which works with your current heating and cooling system. It 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. It removes odors, airborne pathogens, pollen and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
It’s important to note that the filter and Dynamic Air Cleaner will not provide any benefits if your air conditioning system is not running. There are two misconceptions out there about running your blower continuously: 1) it costs more and 2) the blower motor will wear out faster. This is just not the case because 1) the electricity usage spikes to start the motor, then drops down to almost nothing while it runs and 2) the motor has highest potential for failure when starting and that’s when the wear and tear takes place.
Homeowners who have made the investment in the Dynamic Air Cleaner tell me it’s made a huge difference. Regardless of the financial level you are willing and able to invest, implement one or more of these easy steps to reduce allergens in your home, and relieve yourself of those red, itchy, burning eyes and all those other terrible allergy symptoms.