Some plants can help you reduce your allergy symptoms!

More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies.  Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic diseases in the United States.  They are a widespread problem. 

     

Unfortunately, your home can contribute to allergy problems.  Today’s tight construction traps allergens and other airborne particles in the home.  The EPA says that airborne pollutants may be 25 to 100 times worse indoors than outside.  And we spend 90% of our time indoors!

    

If any of your homeowners suffer from allergies, we recommend two solutions.  First, and simplest, buy a few air cleaning houseplants.  Some of the best are:

·        Areca Palms

·        Bamboo Palm

·        Boston Fern

·        Corn Plant

·        Dwarf Date Palm

·        English Ivy

·        Ficus

·        Lady Palm

·        Peace Lily

     

Second, consider offering an electronic air cleaner for their home.  Electronic air cleaners are mounted in your duct system and quietly work to clean the air, trapping particulates as small as 0.3 microns.  This is smaller than tobacco smoke particulates, cat allergens, dust, pollen, and mold spores.

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Only TRANE CleanEffects™ removes up to 99.98% of the tiniest allergens.

• Pollen
• Mold Spores
• Smoke
• Dust
• Pet Dander
• Bacteria

 Give us a call and we'll do our best to give you relief from your allergies!  918.610.7300

           

Curb your allergy symptoms this spring!

Last week, we mentioned a few ways you can improve the quality of your indoor air.  This week, we will go over those steps in depth.

Source Control

The starting point for a home indoor air quality strategy is source control.  It makes sense, if you can control a pollutant before it becomes airborne — you’re ahead of the game.  Source control strategies include the use of low emission paints, varnishes, carpeting, no smoking, no inside pets, maintaining optimum humidity levels, with regular cleaning, and servicing of combustion appliances, such as furnaces.  Unfortunately, you cannot always control pollutant sources.
 

Use your air conditioner to control humidity for the spring and summer months and a duct mounted humidifier in the winter.  Get your air conditioner serviced every spring and your furnace serviced every fall.  The most economical approach to maintenance is a Preventive Maintenance Agreement.

Ventilation

Fresh air ventilation is a close second in air standards according to the EPA, the air inside your 
home is far worse than outside air.  Even during allergy season?  Possibly.

Fortunately, there is a solution that improves fresh ventilation without compromising comfort or energy costs.  It’s called an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV).  It exchanges stale, polluted indoor air with fresh air and cleans the incoming air.  The ERV captures roughly 85% of the heating or cooling energy from the indoor air.  Not only can it improve air quality, it can actually reduce utilities in certain circumstances.

Air Cleaning

The third way to fight indoor air pollution is air cleaning.  Do not buy the cheap tabletop and gadget air cleaners you hear advertised.  They are a waste of money.  According to an American Lung Association® report, “The reviewed data provide little reason to endorse the use of inexpensive tabletop, appliance-type air cleaners, regardless of the technology they employ. In general, high-efficiency particle collection requires larger filters or electronic air cleaners.”

We recommend a whole-house approach with a duct mounted UV light and either a HEPA filtration system or an electronic air cleaner.  What’s appropriate for your home depends on your budget, comfort system, and family.

At Elite Service Company, we may not be medical doctors, but we are air doctors.  We know air.  We know filtration.  We know ventilation.  And we know service.  We can assemble an indoor air package that fits your family and budget. 

The food your family eats is regulated and inspected.  The water your family drinks is tested and treated.  Yet, when it comes to the air your family breathes, it’s all up to you. 

When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters! 


Call Elite today to book any services listed above!  918.610.7300

Allergy season strikes again!

Ah, Spring.  The weather is turning.  The grass is growing.  The flowers are blooming…and so are your allergies!

For a quarter of the population, this is not Spring--it’s allergy season.   It’s the season of red and itchy eyes, sneezes and runny noses, wheezing, congestion, shortness of breath, headaches, drowsiness, and all around misery.

People with allergies inhale pollen, dust, dust mites, animal dander, and other nasty stuff that fills the air.  Breathing these impurities can trigger the release of histamine—a neuro-transmitter that is produced when an allergic reaction occurrs.  Histamine causes nasal tissues to swell and mucous to build as your body becomes a battlegroud. 

I’ll just stay indoors…

Unfortunately, shutting yourself inside on a beautiful spring day is not the answer to conquering your allergies.  After all, indoor air pollutants are all around us.  They include pollen, molds, fungal spores, viruses, bacteria, smoke, gas combustion by-products, outgassing from carpets, furniture, plywood, and drywall, cleaning supplies and other personal care items, pet dander, dust mites (their feces and body fragments) cockroach body parts, and more.  Blech! 

Allergy Management

Aside from taking antihistamine medication, what can you do?

The only solution for allergy sufferers is to avoid the allergens that cause the reaction.  I know you’re rolling your eyes, thinking, “Easier said than done, lady!”

The following are a few simple steps to prevent your allergies from ruling your life this spring:

·        Keep your windows closed at night 

·        Run the air conditioner to dehumidify your home 

·        Drive with your car windows rolled up. 

·        Shower when coming in from the outdoors to wash away the pollen and mold that     collects on your skin, clothes, and hair

·        Clear out cobwebs from high ceiling corners.

·        Flip your mattress

·        Vacuum your mattress and boxspring

·        Take down drapes and curtains for cleaning

·        Vacuum all sofa and chair cushions and coverings

·        Move furniture and vacuum underneath

·        Use a paper mask when performing yard work
 

Improving conditions indoors

John L. Kirkwood, President and CEO of the American Lung Association® says, “Keeping the air in your home clean is particularly important for people with asthma or allergies, but the quality of indoor air is something all Americans should be concerned about.”

There are three ways to fight indoor air pollution: 

·        Source Control

·        Ventilation

·        Air Cleaning

Over the next few weeks, we are going to provide you with tips to escape the misery of allergy season, while helping you improve the quality of your indoor air.

Tips on reducing your energy consumption (part 4)

Welcome to the final installment of Elite's energy tips!  We've discussed things you can do to reduce your energy usage at home and services you can schedule to correct energy leaks.  We've reached the end of the road.  What do you do when there are no other changes you can make, and your energy bills are still astronomical?

Upgrade your equipment

The biggest savings come from replacing old equipment.  Heating and air condition equipment is two to three times more efficient than a couple of decades ago, depending on the type of equipment.  This means that your can dramatically reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home, simply by upgrading equipment and making your home more comfortable in the process.
Upgrading your equipment does require an investment, but it is less than you might think.  The energy savings usually offset the monthly payments.  Depending upon the age and condition of your existing equipment, you could easily end up with more money in your pocket at the end of the month by upgrading.
You can either pay the utility, or you can invest in an upgrade.  The utility will keep wanting more and more with nothing tangible to show; on the other hand, upgrading your equipment will improve your home’s comfort and continue saving you money long after the equipment is paid off.

To schedule an estimate with Joel or Lowell, call 918.610.7300!

Tips to reduce energy consumption (part 3)

Here it is!  The long awaited third installment of our energy reduction tips!

Preventive maintenance

Your heating and cooling system needs regular maintenance to operate at peak performance.  Consider the benefits of a preventive maintenance agreement.

·        You’ll save money.  A poorly tuned a/c or heating unit wastes both energy and your money.  In fact, by having a system cleaned and maintained professionally, you can save an average of $32 a month on your summer cooling bills.

·        Preventive maintenance can help prevent future emergencies.  Regular maintenance can detect minor heating and air conditioning problems before they turn into major system failures.  Since replacing a compressor can be costly, a small investment in regular tune-ups can mean big savings in the future.

·        Equipment lasts longer.  Operating your a/c during the summer months is like driving a car about 40,000 miles at 30mph.  Without regular maintenance and cleaning, your systems part and major components can break down under this heavy work load.  A well-maintained system lasts longer.

Humidification

Tight houses help conserve energy in the summer.  During the colder months, however, the savings can be counteracted by low humidity.  As the temperature rises, air can hold more moisture.  Heat your home in the winter and the air draws moisture like a sponge.  This causes the moisture on your skin to evaporate immediately, creating a cooling sensation.    By introducing supplemental moisture to the air, humidity is raised and comfort increases despite a lower winter thermostat setting.  Proper humidity saves energy because people feel comfortable with a lower thermostat setting. 
While tabletop humidifiers abound, the best solution an automatic whole-house duct mounted humidifier.  These products sense the humidity in the home and add moisture directly to the air stream as needed.  You can set it and forget it.

Helpful tips to reduce energy consumption (part 2)

In the spirit of being green, we have put together a list of ways to minimize your energy consumption.

The following are reliable ways to assess where your energy leaks are:

Get a blower door test

A blower door is a diagnostic tool that measures the airtightness of a building and helps to locate air leakage sites.  It consists of a frame and flexible panel that fit in a doorway, a variable-speed fan, a pressure gauge to measure the pressure differences inside and outside the home, and an airflow manometer and hoses for measuring airflow.  Knowing the airtightness of a building is useful when trying to increase energy conservation, decrease indoor air pollution and controlling building pressures.

Walk-through energy audits

The best way to determine how to cut your energy costs is to audit your home’s current energy use.  A walk-through assessment is the easiest and least expensive means of identifying and evaluating energy use in your home.  An energy audit’s purpose is to identify places in the home where energy is being wasted and prioritize the projects needed to fix them.  The end result is intended to reduce the amount of energy the home needs to operate and keep occupants comfortable.  While the word “audit” may sound ominous, a home energy audit is just the first step in the process of lowering energy bills by making a home more efficient. 
If you own the home, there is a clearly defined benefit for your efforts.  Many have found that conducting a walk-through energy audit results in significant benefits not only in occupant comfort, but with new ways to save energy by identifying energy inefficiencies.  You’ll start saving money on your energy bills as soon and you identify and fix energy wasters.

Helpful tips to reduce energy consumption (part 1)

Are your electric bills outrageous?  Many Americans want to cut their energy costs in as many ways as possible.  We’ve put together a list of things you can do to help reduce your energy consumption and ease the strain on your pocket book.  Some are inexpensive.  Other options require investments in your home, but the pay off is nearly immediate.

Here is the first installment in a series of energy saving home improvements:

Air infiltration

One of the simplest ways to reduce utilities is by reducing outside air infiltration into your home.  In other words, take your mother’s advice and stop air conditioning the whole neighborhood!

Air infiltration is a bigger problem with older homes than newer ones.  New homes are usually built tighter.  There is not a lot of leakage from the inside out in a newer home.  Older homes, however, were built to different standards in a time when energy usage was less of a concern. 

What to do:  Visually inspect weather stripping, look for cracks and gaps where airtightness might be compromised.  Use an incense stick to check for drafts and air leaks around windows, doors, recessed lighting fixtures, and attic hatches.  Replace old weather stripping and seal the leaks.

Infrared thermal imaging
We know everyone works hard for their money and would like to keep that money from flowing out the doors and windows.  You may not realize how much of your hard earned income is doing just that.  We also know that you would like to reduce your energy bills in the winter months and then again, in the summer months.  A good place to start would be a professional, infrared home-energy efficiency inspection.  Our infrared thermal inspection will physically show you where you are wasting your hard earned energy dollars and can help us to offer you solutions to put an end to needless energy wasting.

Spray Foam Insulation

Did you know that 40% or more of your home’s energy loss is due to air leakage?

The walls in your home are the main structural component of the building.  In wood frame construction, the weight of the roof, shingles, standing rain water and snow can add weight and exert a downward force on the walls resulting in compression.

Strong winds and gusts from storms impose lateral forces on the walls of your home.  These forces can distort the walls with what is called a “shearing force.”

Building codes require that the walls of your home be designed to withstand these various forces and loads.  However, when walls are built to just the minimum standards, while still safe, symptoms of movement such as creaking and shaking during high winds or occupant usage can still occur.

Building envelopes with increased insulation levels are becoming standard practice.  Homebuyers are increasingly involved in the selection of building products used to construct their homes.  The rising cost of energy and the discomfort associated with allergies, asthma, mold and noise pollution have created a demand for products that exceed traditional insulation performance. 

For these reasons, there is no better home insulating material than Spray Foam Insulation (SPF).  SPF insulation can seal your home from air and moisture intrusion, save on costly utility bills, strengthen your home and can help protect your family’s health from dangerous molds.

Higher density, closed cell spray foam insulation inside your stud walls fully adheres to--and reinforces--both the exterior sheathing and the studs.  With this added support, there will be less wall movement due to wind, vibration and occupant activity.  Additionally, your walls have greater than code required resistance to “racking events” such as hurricanes, tornadoes and other strong wind situations.

SPF insulation plays multiple roles to improve the performance of the building envelope.  Spray foam technology expands 120 times its initial volume, sealing all voids, gaps and crevices.  SPF insulation is the perfect fit to fill cavities of any shape, provide and continuous, protective air barrier that practically eliminates air leakage.

Air moves in and out of a home through every hole, crack and seam, allowing one third of all air to seep into your home.  The Department of Energy reports that heating and cooling (space conditioning) account for 40-60% of the energy used in the average American home.  SPF open-cell insulation helps to maintain and comfortable indoor climate while using less energy.  The application eliminates unwanted air and heat exchange and decreases the amount of moist air that leaks through the house, reducing the adverse effects  of mold and mildew growth on the inside walls and ceilings.

Basic benefits of SPF insulation are:

Stops air and moisture infiltration

Makes your home more comfortable

Saves on energy costs

Adds strength to the building structure

It is permanent and will not sag

Keep dust and pollen out of your home

Eliminates ice damming

Improves air quality

Reduces capacity requirements, maintenance and wear of HVAC equipment

Meets all building codes

Construction Benefits:

HVAC equipment downsizing:  Installing SPF insulation to the room underside creates a semi-conditioned space for air handling units and ductwork to operate more efficiently.  Tightening the building envelope allows for HVAC equipment downsizing, which means savings for you!

Flexibility in framing:  High R-value allows for stud and rafter size reduction to increase living space.

Simple installation:  Eliminates steps for air barrier and vapor barrier installation where permitted by code.

Stand out from conventional homebuilders by adding Spray Foam insulation to your construction project.  To find out more information on spray foam applications, call Joel or Lowell at 918.610.7300.

Facts about geothermal systems

What is geothermal energy?  Geothermal energy is produced from heat stored in the earth and can be extracted and used to heat homes and to produce electricity.

How does it work?  Geothermal units use a system of loops buried deep in the ground that utilize the constant temperature of the ground to heat and cool your home through energy exchange.

In the colder months, the water in the underground loops absorbs heat from the earth and transfers it to the geothermal unit.  From there, it is compressed to a higher temperature and sent as warm air to heat your home.

In the summer, the process is reversed and the loop system siphons heat from your home through the loops and back into the earth.

How can a geothermal system help lower your energy costs?  “With home heating oil reaching $5.00 a gallon, it’s not uncommon for a family in the northern parts of the country to spend $4,000 or more heating their homes during the cold winter season. In the warmer southern areas, electricity bills of $300-$400 a month are not unusual as families battle the heat with inefficient air conditioning systems.”*

Geothermal energy does not use fossil fuels to operate and also uses very little electricity.  The dramatic decrease in electricity consumption can provide you with up to 55-70% savings on your heating and cooling bills.  In addition, a geothermal system produces hot water which can reduce your cost for hot water use up to 60%!

The life expectancy of a geothermal system is much longer (20-25 years) than a standard HVAC system (12-15 years) when properly maintained. While it may cost more on the initial installation, a geothermal system pays for itself in the first few years of operation with the energy savings you will accrue.

How much does a geothermal system cost?  The average cost of a geothermal system varies due to many factors.  However, there are federal and state tax credits (www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm) for those who purchase geothermal systems.

How long does it take for a geothermal system to pay for itself?  It all depends on how you are currently heating your home.  If you are using natural gas, it can take 5-10 years.  If you are using propane, that time is reduced to 2-5 years!

Call us for a quote on replacing your old system with a geothermal system. And be sure to ask us about financing options!

918.610.7300

Why is Planned Maintenance beneficial to you?

At Elite Service Company, we know that unexpected repair bills can be frustrating.  Much like a car, a house requires routine attention and maintenance to its HVAC components to assure long life and provide you with peace of mind.  You can protect your system, extend its life, and save money on your energy bills with a regular maintenance schedule.  With a preventative maintenance checkup from Elite Service Company, we provide not only service for your heating and cooling equipment, but also assurance that your system is functioning properly.  Another perk of planned maintenance is that your energy savings over a year's time will normally outweigh the actual cost of the maintenance, itself!

Routine maintenance will prevent potential problems from becoming major malfunctions with the system and save you money by restoring efficiency, limiting inconvenient breakdowns and extending the life of your system.  You can ge the same maintenance without a service agreement, but it costs more.  With a service agreement, you receive a 10% discount on any repairs.  With a planned maintenance agreement, you also save on emergency and afterhours service. 

You might be wondering why your system needs to be serviced twice a year.  It's simple!  Your system needs to be serviced before the start of each heating and cooling system.  Different maintenance procedures are perfomred for your cooling system than for your heating system.  Because your comfort system works so hard during the year, a number of components need adjustment, calibration, lubrication and cleaning each year.  Your system will still work for a time without maintenance, but not as efficiently.  Some of the checks performed during a planned maintenance visit are to identify and stop small problems that could become larger problems later, while some are to verify safe operation. 

Call us to find out about pricing for our Planned Maintenance Agreements!  918.610.7300

Do you want to lower your energy bills?  Of course you do!  One of the best ways to lower your energy costs is to install Energy Star rated appliances.   

What is Energy Star, you ask?  Energy Star is an EPA sponsored government program that uses an independent third party to validate your home to be at least 15% more eficient than a house builder under "traditional" methods.  Energy Star is a buiding process which tightens up your home's thermal "envelope" which makes for an overall more efficient, quieter, cleaner environment.  Not to mention being far better for your allergies and overall health. 

Did you know that Elite Service Co. is a certified Energy Star rater?  Energy bills are going through the roof, but yours don't have to.  Call us today, and we can send you all the information you need to start building your Energy Star home today!

Call us at 918.610.7300!