Your Guide to Clean Air

When we are in our own homes, we don’t necessarily realize how many allergens and contaminants we’re breathing in. While you may feel like the air indoors is safer than outside, our indoor environments can contain pollutant levels that are greater than the levels outdoors. While it may not be something we think about often, indoor air quality is vital to you and your family’s health. Is it really possible to have more pollutants and allergens indoors than outside? Absolutely! The best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks knows that insufficient ventilation, increased use of synthetic materials and a lack of air filtration all contribute to this problem. Royal Heating and Air is here to help you improve your indoor air quality.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency:

• On average, Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. This is a lot of time spent where the concentrations of some pollutants are sometimes two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.
• People who are usually most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution tend to spend more time indoors.
• Some indoor pollutants have increased in recent decades due to energy-efficient building construction and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides and household cleaners. 

It’s a continuous cycle. Don’t continue to recirculate these contaminants through your HVAC system, or redistribute dust and allergens around your home when you vacuum. If you have proper air ventilation ad filtration, you won’t be circulating all of those contaminants.

Air Filtration Guide

HVAC Air Filters – It’s important that you change your HVAC air filters every 30-60 days, or as recommended by your system’s specific air filter. You should never wait more than 90 days to replace the air filters. A dirty air filter means the air you are breathing is more than likely dirty. A dirty air filter also restricts airflow, which can cause frozen evaporator coils and other problems with your HVAC.

HEPA Filtration – Use a vacuum with High Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filtration. If you vacuum regularly with a vacuum that has HEPA filtration, you will help keep your home and the air in your home clean. You can also outfit your HVAC system with HEPA filtration, but your system will probably need professional modification to accommodate the larger filter.

Exhaust Fans – If you don’t have exhaust fans in your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room, it’s a good idea to get them professionally installed. Exhaust fans remove moisture, odors and stagnant air to help improve indoor air quality. Exhaust fans also help to prevent high humidity and mold growth in your home.

Minimize Smoke – By reducing smoke in your home, you will reduce air irritants. If you have sensitivity to allergens, it’s vital to not have any cigarette smoke in the house. It’s also important to minimize or reduce wood fire smoke. It’s important to inspect your chimneys, fireplaces and vents at least once a year.

Duct Cleaning and Sealing – Getting your air ducts professionally cleaned and sealed helps keep your air clean and it also helps improve the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Houseplants – Why not add some green to your house while supplementing your indoor air filtration system? Houseplants that have natural air cleaning abilities include:

• English Ivy
• Boston Fern
• Peace Lily
• Spider Plant

These are just a few steps you can take to improve your indoor air quality. While we may not want to believe it, a lot of times the indoor air quality in our homes is filled with more allergens and pollutants than outside. Royal Heating and Air is your source for the best indoor air solutions for your family’s health. From preventative maintenance to installations, the best HVAC company in Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you. Call 573-480-4313 to schedule an appointment today!

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com

CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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Do You Have a Leaky Air Conditioner?

During the hot and humid summer months, our air conditioners tend to be our best friends. We use them frequently to keep our homes nice and cool. Because of their extensive use during the summertime, you may experience issues with your unit. One of those issues is an AC system that leaks water. If you do run into any issues with your AC unit, the best HVAC repair company at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you. Royal Heating & Air takes a look at why your HVAC unit may be leaking and how you could fix it.

Why Is There Water in My AC Unit?

Having a little bit of water around your air conditioning unit is normal. Your AC unit doesn’t just provide cold air throughout your home, it also helps to pull humidity out of the air. The AC's inside unit pulls in hot, humid air through the return grille and over the cold evaporator coil to cool the air down. In doing so, condensation forms on the evaporator coil. The water that is formed falls into a drain pan and down a condensate drain line, which exits your home, or goes into your plumbing. 

There are many parts that are involved in taking the water out of the AC. If there are issues with any of these parts, a leak is possible. 

Clogged Condensate Drain

Dirt, rust, algae or other debris could cause your condensate drain to become partially or completely blocked. Any form of blockage can cause build-up, which could then lead to a leak in your AC unit. 

Cracked Condensate Drain

Over a period of time, your condensate pan could rust causing it to crack. If this happens, your drain pan is no longer sealed and could cause water to leak out of your AC unit. 

Disconnected Drain Line

An improperly installed AC system could cause a drain line to loosen over time resulting in a pipe to disconnect from its connection. 

Dirty Air Filters

A dirty air filter could restrict airflow over the evaporator coils. This could result in the coils getting too cold and freezing. When the ice melts, the excess moisture drips into the condensate pan which can cause it to overflow.

Low Refrigerant Levels

If the refrigerant levels are too low, the amount of pressure in the AC gets too low. This results in the evaporator coils freezing. When the ice melts, too much water will fall into the drain pan which will then overflow. When the drain pan overflows it causes a leak. 

Cold Temperatures

Running your AC near the end of the season when it’s too cold could cause a leak. If the AC attempts to cool your home when the outdoor temperature drops below 60 degrees, the cooling coils could form ice, which causes the leak in the AC unit. 

Regardless of the reason, if your AC leaks, it is important to call the best HVAC repair company at the Lake of the Ozarks. Having excess water leaking from your AC could cause issues with the electrical parts of your unit. It is important to have regular maintenance done on your AC unit to prevent costly repairs and breakdowns. If you need to schedule an appointment with a professional HVAC repair company at the Lake of the Ozarks, call Royal Heating & Air at 573-480-4313.

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com

CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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Tips to Make Your Air Conditioner Last Longer

You are making a big investment when you purchase an HVAC unit, so naturally, you will want your unit to last as long as it can. There are many factors that go into how long your system will last. Some of those factors include regular maintenance, quality of the unit, and how often you use your unit. The best HVAC company at Lake of the Ozarks wants to help you to get the most out of your unit. Royal Heating & Air has put together a few tips that will help your HVAC system last longer.

Quality Unit

When it comes to purchasing an HVAC unit for your home, you tend to get what you pay for. While you don’t need the most expensive unit on the market, this is something you definitely want to invest in. When a unit is made with high-quality materials, it will naturally last longer. Many higher quality brands usually come with a manufacturer warranty as well. When investing in a product, having a warranty will help give you peace of mind.

Routine Maintenance

Preventive air conditioner maintenance is one of the most effective solutions to help you get the most out of your AC unit. Getting your unit professionally cleaned, inspected and serviced will help prevent minor issues from turning into major and costly problems. It’s a good idea to have your unit checked out at least twice a year, once in the spring as well as in the fall.

Keep Your Unit Cool and Protected

Avoid placing both indoor and outdoor units in direct sunlight or near any other appliances that produce heat. Use window coverings or heavy blinds indoors (especially on the side of the houses that gets the most sun) and place the outdoor unit under an awning or a shady tree for extra protection. Make sure there is enough of a distance so leaves and debris don't get stuck in the fan. The area around the unit also needs to be free of loose dirt, grass, and weeds.

Change the Air Filters

The air filters in your HVAC are probably one of the most important components when it comes to efficiency and performance. They filter particles during air intake and they help keep those materials from clogging up your HVAC system.  Air filters usually should be changed every 1-2 months depending on how often you use your unit. If you have pets, you may need to change them more often.

Clean Air Vents

Air vents tend to naturally get dusty and dirty. Regular cleaning of your air vents is important for both the functionality of your unit, as well as, the health of your family and pets. Having dirty air vents can also lead to low air quality in your home. Regularly cleaning your air vents helps eliminate airborne allergies.

Clean Air Ducts

Air travels through your home in your home’s air ducts. These passageways can get dusty and dirty which in turn cause your unit to work harder. Keeping these passageways clean can help with the longevity of your HVAC unit. Scheduling regular duct cleaning is a great benefit for your unit.

There are still a few more weeks of warmer weather left. Make sure your home is kept cool and is ready for the fall by scheduling routine maintenance with your Lake of the Ozarks HVAC repair company. From preventative maintenance to installations, Royal Heating & Air is here to help you. Call 573-480-4313 to schedule an appointment today!  

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com

CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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