Johnny On the Spot Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Indoor Air Quality’

Welcome to Our New Site, a Hub for Homeowner Education on All Things HVAC and Plumbing

Wednesday, December 27th, 2023

Johnny On The Spot is all about helping you take care of your home’s HVAC and plumbing problems, but where many companies simply provide a service, we’re also providing education to homeowners. It’s terrible when you’re not only nervous about a broken-down air conditioner or stuck garbage disposal, but not knowing why your specific problem is happening? That just makes it worse.

The inconvenience of a broken air conditioner or faulty heater in your home is a lot less worrisome when you know what’s happened and what it takes to fix it. That’s where this new website’s blog comes in.

This not only serves as a place for you to learn all about the services we offer and how we provide you with fantastic value, but you’ll also be able to learn about your home systems. What to expect, how they work, and a bunch of little gems of information that help you master your home, one blog post at a time.

Call us today if you have any air conditioning, plumbing, or heating concerns that you need help with. We’ll be there as quickly as possible to help you out.

Continue Reading

3 Ways Your Pets Impact Home Air Quality in Anthem, NV

Tuesday, June 13th, 2023

No matter how much you love them, your furry friends greatly impact the air quality in your home. As an Anthem, NV, resident, you should know the following impacts and how to address them:

Pet Dander and Allergy Symptoms

Pet dander contains tiny particles of skin and fur that become airborne when disturbed. These particles can be inhaled, causing allergic reactions such as sneezing, watery eyes or difficulty breathing in sensitive individuals. To reduce the amount of pet dander floating through your house, vacuum regularly, and use air purifiers to filter the particles.

Smells and Odors

Pets also produce odors that can linger in your home, making it feel stuffy. This is especially true for cats or dogs with long hair, which can easily trap odors.

Bacteria from pet waste can also circulate, causing health issues and foul odors. To reduce pet smells in your home, scoop out litter boxes at least once daily, dispose of the waste in an outdoor trash can and bathe your pets regularly. Vacuuming up fur or using a lint roller on furniture can also help to reduce odors.

Pet Germs and Infections

Pets also spread germs that can contaminate the air in your home. From saliva to fur, these germs easily spread through the air and onto furniture or other surfaces before being inhaled by humans.

To prevent this from occurring, wash your pet’s food dishes regularly, disinfect their living spaces with bleach-free wipes and always wash your hands after handling them.

Though pets bring much joy and love to your home, it’s crucial to be aware of their negative impacts on air quality. You can contact Johnny On The Spot for all our indoor air quality services. We’ll help you breathe cleaner and fresher in no time, even if you have pets in your household.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

5 Ways to Boost Airflow and HVAC Efficiency in Blue Diamond, NV

Wednesday, October 12th, 2022

Ensuring you have good airflow is critical for maintaining a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. Without adequate airflow, indoor air can become stagnant and stale, leading to various health problems. Here are ways you can boost airflow in your Blue Diamond, NV, home:

Keep Doors and Windows Open

One way to improve airflow in your home is to ensure that all doorways and windows are clear of any obstructions. This will allow fresh air to circulate and help to eliminate any stagnant air that may be present. In addition, opening doors and windows can help regulate temperature levels, preventing the buildup of pollutants.

Ensure Airflow Vents are Clear

Vents help to improve airflow and prevent your home from feeling stuffy. If you block the vents, this can reduce the air quality in your home and make breathing more difficult. In addition, blocked vents can cause your heating and cooling system to work less efficiently, leading to higher energy bills.

Schedule Duct Cleaning Service

Your ductwork is essential to your HVAC system and must be in good working order. One of the essential steps you can take to maintain the efficient operation of your ductwork is to have service specialists inspect it regularly for leaks or blockages. A blocked duct can lead to poor indoor air quality and decreased comfort levels.

Install Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a great way to improve airflow in your home. Ceiling fans create a gentle breeze that circulates the air in a room, helping to distribute heat evenly. In addition, ceiling fans help to reduce energy costs by making it easier to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Schedule Annual HVAC Maintenance

The best way to keep your HVAC system running efficiently is to have our service specialists inspect it annually. During a maintenance visit, our service specialists will check for any issues causing decreased airflow, such as the buildup of dirt and debris in the ductwork. They’ll also clean and lubricate all of the system’s moving parts, which can help to improve its overall efficiency.

The key to a comfortable home is a well-functioning HVAC system. Unfortunately, many homes have HVAC systems that aren’t operating at peak efficiency. Contact us at Johnny On The Spot today for all your HVAC needs, including installation, repair and maintenance services.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

Why Should I Improve My Indoor Air Quality?

Saturday, September 3rd, 2022

Improving indoor air quality involves eliminating elements like dust and pollen that pollute your home’s atmosphere. Here are some benefits of improving the air quality in your Anthem, NV, home:

Better Health

When you get rid of airborne irritants in your home, you reduce your respiratory system’s exposure to them. This means that you reduce the risk of contracting various health issues, such as headaches and asthma.

Improving indoor air quality also eliminates the particles that trigger allergies. This can help protect you and your family from sneezing and having itchy eyes and runny noses whenever you’re in the house.

Easy Breathing

Clean air makes breathing easier. This is because your body doesn’t have to process dust, unpleasant odors or pollutants that could cause respiratory irritation.

Clean air protects your respiratory system and supplies the body with adequate oxygen. It also helps boost your mood and enables you to focus more on your work.

Restful Sleep

If you’re feeling restless when you sleep and end up tired throughout the day, it may be time to work on your indoor air quality. When the air you breathe is clean, it helps bring oxygen to your bloodstream. In turn, that can decrease your stress levels. Not only is it easier to sleep when you’re less stressed, but you can reap the benefits of not having to deal with potential airborne allergens or foul odors.

Lower Energy Costs

Another reason you should improve indoor air quality is to reduce energy costs. Improving airflow and eliminating indoor pollutants optimizes your HVAC system and prevents it from working too hard to filter different contaminants. This efficiency automatically translates to lower energy consumption.

In summary, you should prioritize indoor air quality in your maintenance projects. Contact our service specialists at Johnny On The Spot today to install our air quality solutions and make your home healthier and more comfortable.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

Why is Whole-Home Ventilation Important?

Friday, August 19th, 2022

Whole-home ventilation in Henderson, NV, helps homeowners reduce energy usage and maintain healthier environments. These systems are available in four basic types: exhaust ventilation, supply ventilation, energy recovery ventilation and balanced ventilation. Keep reading to learn how whole-home ventilation systems work and tips for choosing the best one for your home.

What’s Whole-Home Ventilation?

A whole-house ventilation system removes stale air and replaces it with fresh air. The ongoing removal and replacement of air results in improved indoor air quality. As the system constantly uses several fans and ducts to replace stale air with fresh air, this helps avoid the buildup of pollutants, which translates into health advantages, particularly for those with asthma or allergies.

Choosing the Right Ventilation System

Understanding characteristics of each type of ventilation system can help when choosing which system is best for your Henderson, NV, home. There are a few options:

  • Exhaust ventilation system: An exhaust ventilation system works well in cold climates but is not appropriate for hot and humid climates. It’s also worth noting that exhaust systems can cause backdrafting.
  • Supply ventilation system: Supply ventilation systems provide greater control when compared to exhaust ventilation but can also cause moisture concerns in cold climates. Although supply ventilation systems prevent backdrafting, they don’t remove moisture from the air they pull into the home.
  • Balanced ventilation system: Balanced systems are appropriate for all climates. However, they typically have a higher installation and purchase price than exhaust and supply systems.
  • Energy recovery ventilation system: Energy recovery systems, on the other hand, do have high maintenance and care costs but are available in both wall- and window-mounted versions and even come in central ventilation models.

Indoor air quality is often two to five times more harmful than outdoor air quality. A simple way to address this issue is with a whole-home ventilation system. Contact Johnny On The Spot today to learn more about improving your home’s air quality with duct cleaning and a new ventilation system.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

3 Ways You Could Benefit From a Whole-Home Air Purifier

Friday, September 17th, 2021

There are increasing concerns about indoor air quality recently. As such, homeowners are using equipment such as whole-home air purifiers to improve it. Air purifiers have germicidal properties that help destroy viruses and bacteria and reduce allergy triggers such as pollen, dust and pet dander. Here are three ways you could benefit from installing a whole-home air purifier in your Summerlin, NV, home:

Reduce Harmful Chemicals

If you reside in areas with heavy vehicle traffic, outdoor pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide will find their way into your home. Exposing your family members to these harmful gases will increase their chances of developing health complications.

Household cleaning agents such as bleach contain toxic volatile organic compounds such as chlorine, ammonia and phthalates. Although exposure to these chemicals in small quantities doesn’t cause major harm, routine exposure can have long-term negative effects on the body.

The great news is that it’s possible to control the circulation of these harmful chemicals by installing an air purifier. The activated carbon component removes these toxic chemicals. As a result, it prevents the occurrence of these ailments. The carbon is highly porous. It t allows carbon filtering, which traps these chemicals, allowing the recycling of fresh air in the home.

Relieve Respiratory Illnesses

Indoor pollutants such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander affect the air quality, triggering asthma and other allergies. These particles will stick to your clothes, flow in through the open windows and doors, and land on furniture and carpets. Increased moisture in the home is a breeding ground for dust mites, a common indoor allergen.

Although vacuuming the furniture and floors will remove a percentage of these particles, some contaminants will remain suspended in the air, which increases the chances of asthma attacks and allergic reactions. Therefore, you should consider investing in an air purifier to capture indoor pollutants. This improves your indoor air quality and prevents asthma and other allergy triggers among your family members.

Eliminate Odors

Different products such as aerosol sprays, paints and air fresheners contain volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde that break down at room temperatures, thus releasing strong and irritating odors. These odors trigger symptoms such as breathlessness and nausea. An air purifier can eliminate these odors and help your home smell fresher.

If you reside in Summerlin, NV, contact our service technicians at Johnny on the Spot to install, maintain and repair whole-home air purifiers. We look forward to serving you.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

5 Benefits of Whole-Home Air Cleaners in North Las Vegas, NV

Saturday, June 12th, 2021

When it comes to indoor air quality, it’s hard to know what will really make a difference. There are a wide variety of cleaners, filters and purifiers in an assortment of different sizes. Here are five benefits of choosing whole-home air cleaners to improve your indoor air quality in North Las Vegas, NV:

Fewer Allergens

Indoor air cleaners provide a much finer filter than your standard HVAC system’s filters. These cleaners remove much smaller particles, which are often various types of allergens. From pollen to pet dander, these cleaners help reduce the triggers for many airborne allergies.

Improves Sleep

When you suffer from an allergy, you may experience nasal congestion, a runny nose, itchy eyes and coughing or sneezing. All of this inhibits quality and restful sleep mainly due to shallower breathing. By removing the allergens and reducing your allergic triggers, you create an environment more conducive to good sleep.

Less Dust Buildup

Doing more cleaning than necessary is nearly universally agreed to be an undesired chore. When you improve your air quality by reducing the number of microscopic particles circulating, you reduce the sources of dust. Less source materials means less dust, which means your home stays cleaner longer.

Fewer HVAC Repairs

As air circulates through your HVAC system, it deposits those microscopic contaminants throughout your system. Once these collect over time, they impede the proper function of your system, leading to additional operation strain. This strain causes your system components to fail, requiring preventable AC repairs.

Everyone Benefits

One of the strongest reasons to use whole-house air cleaners instead of independent room models is that everyone benefits. With standalone models, they only affect the individual room, and many times only immediately around the device.

Whole-home air cleaners have a much higher circulation rate because they plug directly into your HVAC system. Due to the dynamics of the airflow around your home, a higher proportion of air gets cleaned and recirculated. This benefits everyone in the house, regardless of whether they’re in the room with the cleaner.

Don’t let poor air quality ruin your home experience. Call Johnny On The Spot to schedule an indoor air quality consultation with one of our experienced service specialists today.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

Ways an Air Scrubber Can Improve Indoor Air Quality in Summerlin, NV

Friday, February 26th, 2021

Are you looking for ways to improve the air quality for your Summerlin, NV, home? If so, consider an air scrubber. Air scrubbers are a great solution to keeping you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Below are some ways an air scrubber can help you improve the quality of the air you breathe.

What are Air Scrubbers?

An air scrubber is a filtration system that removes air pollutants such as chemicals, particles and gases. While it’s mostly associated with large industrial renovation jobs, it can equally apply in homes. Air contaminants such as dirt and pet dander will always find a way into your home and often get trapped in your furniture and carpets despite your cleaning efforts.

The contaminants are responsible for the low indoor air quality that leads to health complications like allergies and asthma. The air scrubbers work by drawing in the air and filtering all hazardous materials.

Benefits of Air Scrubbers

An air scrubber with ActivePure® technology can help reduce certain illnesses. The illnesses may include:

  • Allergies.
  • Coughs.
  • Sinuses.
  • Eye, throat and nose irritations.
  • Headaches.
  • Nausea.
  • Dizziness.
  • Fatigue.

Air scrubbers can also reduce dander and dust in your living space. They also reduce other contaminants, which include:

  • Tobacco smoke.
  • Food odor.
  • Pet odor.
  • Volatile organic compounds.

Cleaning Your Indoor Air Supply

While air filters work by capturing large particles, air scrubbers with ActivePure® technology work by attracting positive ions. The majority of contaminant particles are positively charged, so the scrubbers use negative charges to attract them. They not only filter the air but also deodorize, purify and clean it.

Extend the Lifespan of Your HVAC System

Apart from cleaning your indoor air and enhancing your comfort, air scrubbers also help extend the lifespan of your HVAC system. Instead of dirtying and damaging your unit, the indoor air pollutants get broken and eliminated. By doing so, your HVAC system experiences fewer repairs and increases its efficiency, which leads to a longer service life.

For more information about system maintenance, contact the team at Johnny On The Spot. We offer a free service call with repair and professional service specialists.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

Why is My Furnace in Las Vegas, NV, So Noisy ?

Sunday, January 17th, 2021

Furnaces aren’t entirely silent when operating. But they may produce unusual loud noises as an indication of problems. There are all kinds of reasons your furnace in Las Vegas, NV, could make loud noises. Here are four of them:

Damaged or Loose Blower Belt

Furnace belts may be loose and produce loud squealing sounds. Another cause of a squealing sound in your furnace is a dry shaft bearing. To solve such issues, a professional will lubricate all the moving parts to keep your heating system performing optimally.

In case of a loose belt, you need to adjust or replace it. While you may perform adjustments to the fan belt by yourself, never attempt to replace it on your own. Contact a service specialist for inspections of the fan belt.

Blower Motor Issue

When turning on your heating system, you may hear loud rattling and screeching noise. The noise could mean either the bearings of the blower or the blower motor itself has a problem. Your blower often needs routine specific kinds of lubrication to prevent such noises.

If you let the noise continue without professional inspections, it could lead to severe damage and expensive repairs or replacements. Contact an HVAC company for proper inspections, oiling and repairs.

Faulty Heat Exchanger

Loud, continuous rattling sounds from your furnace could mean a loose screw or panel. In case of a loose screw, you can turn off your heater at the power source and use a screwdriver to tighten the screw. However, if the noise isn’t from the loose screw, it’s likely an indication of a severe problem from a faulty heat exchanger.

The main reason for a faulty heat exchanger is the lack of enough airflow. Dirty filters, coils or blowers can restrict airflow, causing heat buildup within the heat exchanger. The heat then causes splinters and cracks to the heat exchanger, producing a loud rattling sound.

The cracks could lead to leakages of carbon monoxide, which lowers your indoor air quality. If the sound isn’t from loose screws, immediately contact a service specialist to prevent further damage and possible air poisoning.

Dirty Burners

If you hear a loud bang or boom sound when you turn on the furnace, this means its burner has dirt that needs cleaning. Dirty burners may delay ignition, causing a buildup of gas and a possible explosion. Another reason for a booms sound is an unbalanced ratio of air to fuel.

If you hear any unfamiliar sounds coming from your furnace, contact Johnny On The Spot for inspections and maintenance. Never ignore any of the above sounds, and remember to schedule annual furnace maintenance.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading

Are Pets Suffering While Inhaling Indoor Air Pollution?

Monday, October 5th, 2020

Much like their human owners in Anthem, NV, poor indoor air has a negative impact on your pets. Our animals can suffer from human symptoms like allergies, irritated eyes and sinus problems. Let’s look at some of the common issues that tell how pets suffer while inhaling indoor air pollution.

Why and How They Suffer

As dogs and cats are smaller animals and spend more time indoors than you likely do, they’re susceptible to health problems produced by indoor air pollution. There are skin reactions, nausea, fatigue, headaches, colds and more. In severe cases, you might see organ damage, weakened immune systems and respiratory illnesses.

Cats are more likely to develop asthma. Dogs have shown everything from Alzheimer’s to canine malignant lymphoma. And since these animals have a greater sense of smell, it’s likely they have greater exposure to bad air.

Careful With Clearing the Air

Use diffusers and warmers that release oils with caution. Birds are particularly sensitive to these aromas. Cats have lower metabolic enzymes, and their livers are negatively impacted by tea tree oil.

What You Can Do

It’s as important to not smoke around pets as it is other humans. In fact, eliminate indoor smoking altogether. Nicotine residue gets in clothes, carpets, furniture and in the air.

Choose non-toxic cleaning products, vacuum often and keep areas ventilated. Humidifiers help balance humidity to improve indoor air quality.

The best way to protect pets is with a high efficiency HVAC system. These devices manage climate and reduce air contaminants. As a result, they can improve comfort and IAQ.

Johnny On The Spot is a leading HVAC company that offers the heating and air conditioning service you need. Call us to improve your indoor air quality and to protect your pets and family members. We’ll make sure you’re breathing the cleanest air possible throughout the year.

Image provided by iStock

Continue Reading