And here comes a problem faced by every other Toronto homeowners when it comes to the attempts of upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. Homeowners complain that even after them having upgraded their HVAC system to the most efficient units they could possibly afford, the expected efficiency is nowhere seen and energy bills have not significantly dropped. The reasons behind this could be two. One is faulty ductwork while the other is failing attic insulation. As long as these two do not support the new system enough, optimal efficiency should not be expected even if the system is brand new and super-efficient. Below we discuss why attic renewal and ductwork fixes should be combined with upgraded system installation. 

This is 2020 and the debate of whether or not the air duct needs regular cleaning is still as hot as it was. While some suggest that air ducts don't need cleaning and cleaning creates more mess, others opine that the dust and debris from the air ducts impact the homeowner's health and therefore, the ducts need to be cleaned thoroughly after a period of one year. So the question is; should everyone have their ducts cleaned and does cleaning the ducts really make a difference? Let's explore.

What does EPA say?

Environmental Protection Agency of the US has clearly explained that no evidence exists, proving that duct cleaning improved the health of the homeowners and therefore, does not endorse a duration as one year and that too as a must. The reason why there are so many articles over the internet on the importance of duct cleaning is that an entire industry has built around this issue as a result of the demand from the homeowners. Homeowners want to have their ducts cleaned and are willing to pay a heavy amount for that while on the other hand, the cleaners are willing to hunt more and more customers. As a result, a mindset hs created convincing homeowners to have their ducts cleaned and convincing them to the point that they are found attributing all kinds of respiratory or bad indoor air problems to the ducts.

Does Duct Cleaning make all the difference? 

The truth is, cleaning alone cannot help as long as the root of pollutants is not identified and removed. For instance, if the duct builds up mold and mildew which causes odor and allergies in the indoor, the solutions lie not just in cleaning but also in fixing the causes that promote the production of these; for instance high humidity.

A heating and cooling system, whether it’s an LPG, gas, or oil-fired unit can only produce optimal home comfort when it is disciplined by the right Thermostat and ideal settings.
A right thermostat is one that delivers demonstrated energy savings and reliable performance with improved convenience and insight, not to mention, the computability with your HVAC system.

There are many brands offering smart thermostats that are energy-efficient, and control temperature based on your lifestyle. With a plethora of thermostats available in the market, choosing the right one often becomes a sticky-wicket for homeowners. 

You don't see HVAC appliances in sight as you visit someone. And you know the reason. They are kept in places which are out of sight. For instance, garage, attic, closet or most commonly basement. And these are the places where all the other stuff is thrown out which the homeowners wishes to hide. Though common, this is a deadly practice. And while the professional's endorsement of keeping the space around HVAC appliances goes unheard, it could take lives. This blog is dedicated to making your HVAC space safe. Be mindful of all the pieces of advice made here and the consequences of cluttering your HVAC space.

1. Inadequate air flow 

When the surrounding of heating or cooling appliances is teamed with random stuff, the airflow is affected. And while you might already know that these appliances particularly the heating appliances need adequate supply of air in order to work efficiently. So, the immediate effect of a clutter filled surrounding is the affected efficiency of the appliance.

2. Off-gassing and bad IAQ

Items like sprays, paints and other chemicals emit fumes. This emission sometimes speeds up as a result of the heat produced by the HVAC appliances. These fumes spread rapidly all over the home and impact the indoor air quality. Sometimes the IAQ deteriorates so much that the indoor is more polluted than the outdoor. This off-gassing causes allergies, asthma and raises several other health concerns.

3. Danger of flammable items

Chemical fumes is one danger and flammable items yet another. You most often see the Furnace surrounded with card-boards, wooden items, small bottles of sprays etc. And all of these are a big big sign of danger. Once they catch fire, it if difficult to manage it. Also, some particular chemicals can undergo chemical reaction with the Furnace components and damage them.
At least a two feet of area around the Furnace should be kept cleared and specially of such flammable items.

4. No laundry around HVAC!

Strictly avoid washing lines close to Furnace as well as water heater. Even if they are not proper washing lines, people sometimes randomly hang or place clothes near the Furnace or Water Heater to dry. Similar to the wood or paper, cloths can also catch fire and even if they don't, hanging cloths close to these appliances definitely impedes the air flow.

5. Dust is the biggest culprit 

Did you know, the most of the Furnace fire incidents take place as a result of dust? Oh yes, the dust which clogs the system results in poor air flow which leads to short circuiting and fires. So the care of all cares is to clean! And clean regularly. Even during the off peak seasons, consider cleaning the appliance once every month so that it does not get dirty enough to set itself on fire (in anger).

6. Emergencies are difficult to handle with clutter 

Imagine if God forbid, an emergency situation arises, how much of the time would be wasted clearing the clutter? Emergencies become even difficult to manage when the surroundings of an appliance is full of clutter. It is just synonymous with putting yourself at risk.


If you're a concerned homeowner, you definitely do not wish to risk yourself or your home. And they say, prevention is better than cure. So better prevent yourself from such deadly situations instead of trying to cure them later. 

Indoor air pollution is a matter of increased concern and visibility. There are a plethora of companies marketing the products and services intended to improve the indoor air quality. Such companies have approached many homeowners and truth be told, duct cleaning services have made a massive growth in recent years because their role in pristine indoor air quality is imperative.

Wondering if duct cleaning is worth the money spent? Firstly NOT every homeowner needs to have their ducts cleaned. To help you be informed, whether you are the one who needs a thorough inspection, we have made a comprehensive guide, where you’ll learn: - What is air duct cleaning?
- How does air duct cleaning work?
- How often you need to have the air duct cleaned?
- What can air duct cleaning cost you?
- The possible health benefits

Why is My AC not blowing hard?:

The common issues when AC is not blowing hard: 

Replace broken Fans:

Solution: Turn off the ac and find the blower motor and clean if there is any dust. 

Clogged air filters:

Solution: Change the air filters.

Frozen evaporator coil:

Solution: Turn off the AC and let ice to melt, ensure return gates are all open and clean air filters if they are dirty. 

When to call an HVAC professional:

Heard the Buzz that a home could turn to “Smart” with advanced automation technology? A device is smart when you control it with remote, smartphone, tablet, desktop, or voice. Wireless technology has undoubtedly brought advancement and convenience from home appliances to the HVAC system.
Homeowners integrate several smart devices with a microprocessor that coordinate the technology of your choice.

Need help getting started? The following products will turn home smart and save energy bills while they are at it.

Thermostat:

Gone are days, when thermostats were just used to turn the temperature up or down. Now, thermostats have become smart and come with many convenient features that anyone can learn to use.
A programmable or Smart Thermostat can adjust the temperature automatically at set durations. Moreover, it can be used wirelessly with a smartphone or tablet. Meaning, homeowners can adjust the temperature from almost anywhere while on work, school, or vacation.  Some high-tech models of smart thermostat have been introduced that learn your behavior patterns and adjust the temperature accordingly.

Smart Water Sensors:

It is great to catch water leaks early on. Therefore, homeowners use smart waters sensors to avoid pipe burst. Though the old-fashioned leak detectors have been blessing for homeowners to detect the problem immediately if any of home inhabitants is around and all ears to the alarm. What if there is no one at home!!
Fortunately, advances in home technology have patched this flaw and introduced smart water sensors. These are battery powered and come with wireless technology, enabling you to connect with speakers and other devices. If these water sensors detect water, they immediately send alert to your connected device (mobile or laptop).

Smart blinds and shades:

You realize it or not, but windows have a significant impact on indoor temperature. How disgusting it feels when air escapes from the loosely sealed window in winters or sun rays bump up the inside temperature on the scorching summers.
Back then, homeowners found the best way to control the amount of heat was by installing the heavy curtains or blinds that most of the time tend to remain in the same position.
But now, for energy-conscious homeowners, automated smart shades and blinds are up for grab.  Smart shades, when connected with a thermostat, allows you to enjoy bigger and better energy savings.

Air Quality monitors:

Air quality monitors are ultra-smart and give a head up regarding the conditions inside your home. These smart gadgets will keep a close eye to the air quality and level of humidity and alert you immediately if anything unusual happens.

Smart home assistants or smart speakers:

Speakers are not just to play music; instead, they have become a central hub for the different smart devices. They let you connect everything from TV’s to sound of your voice to thermostats, bulbs, and AC. Products like Amazon echo and google smart home allow you to have various assistants to keep close track to your scheduling, shopping, and keeps you abreast about other relevant information.

Each house has an odour which is a combination of people living there, their perfumes, aftershave, the food they're cooking, and so on. But the bad smell is most offensive and actually possesses different toxins which affect your health badly. Moreover, you would not want your respectable guest to feel it. To avoid such unpleasant smells, you must know the possible ways to eradicate them from your place.

Pets have a smell:

Healthy animals do not have an offensive smell, but unhealthy animals often have. Animals smells can be tough to abolish as they are constantly present at the home. This type of smell can even be embedded in clothes and fabrics. Medical care can be used to resolve pet relating odors.

What causes pet odor:

 Malodor is an indication of a health problem.

 Ear, mouth, anal area, vulva, or skin are sources of pet odor

 Footpads contain glands that in some healthy animals produce a "dog odour."

Cigar/cigarette smell:

Even if you ask someone to smoke outside, the smoke can still enter and stay in the house through open doors. To fix the issue, use a hand towel and pour some white vinegar, after which you wring it out and take the towel and walk through the home, swinging it all in the air.

Fishy Smells:

The most obvious cause of the fishy smell is bringing a fish at home. While the other elements can also carry this annoying odour, generally, the burn of plastic or electrical wires causes a fishy or urine like smell. To prevent this, you must check all wires if they are looking like burnt or melted. Make sure any plastic is far away from the heating sources.

Avoid Musty and Moldy Smells:

The abandoned or damp area in your home where water leaks and moisture builds up can cause a musty smell. Vinegar and water solution works best to clean all the mold on the surface. Having a proper ventilation system within the home can also help you to lessen this specific smell.

Rotten Egg Smell:

Do you sense any smell of a rotten egg? Then you must draw all attention to the gas. This odor may act as an indicator of clogged P-trap. A properly working P-trap does not let the gas to come up the drain. To avoid this situation, you must flow some water at least once within a month.

Keep your Kitchen clean:

You must develop some good kitchen habits such as wiping out the sink after washing dishes, cleaning up spills ASAP, having a trash bowl and taking out the garbage regularly. If your garbage stinks and it is not yet full, you should sprinkle some coffee grinds on it. This will help to eliminate the bad odor.

A foul smell from a bathroom:

To prevent your bathroom from stinking; you must make sure the exhaust fan is working properly. In a severe situation, you should prepare a spray. The spray should contain 2 cups of water with 1 tbsp white vinegar, I tsp. baking soda, and 10 drops of essential oil. Use this spray to eliminate the typical bathroom odours.

You are not bothered by the bugs in the outdoors much. Even when you are, you don't really mind it knowing that you are not staying in the outdoors for an entire life. But let's be practical, we all are bothered by the bugs in the outdoor as well as in the indoor. And there are solutions to be at peace in both situations, whether you are enjoying a picnic outside or cherishing with your family in the indoor. This blog, however, is dedicated to some practical, handy and very easy DIY solutions to rid your indoor of bugs. The first is about making a bug fogger while the other about insect repellent. So let's begin.

DIY Carbon Dioxide Bug Fogger  

- As the Summer begins and the windows are more often opened than closed, go to the nearest store and grab some dry ice. Execute the procedure in the day time and preferably when kids are not at home. Fill a bucket of cold water and place it in whatever area you want to be fogged. The measurement for water and dry ice as per area goes like this;
200 sq feet = 6-10 cups water
200 sq feet = 1 lb dry ice
In case the area is larger than that, make the measurements accordingly by adding 3-5 cups of water for every additional 100 sq feet and 0.5-1 lb dry ice for every additional square foot.

- After placing the water tub in the room to be fogged, close the windows and cover your face properly with a mask. Now add dry ice to the water. It will start to fog, producing concentrated Carbon Dioxide. Place a fan in one corner of the room in order to circulate the fog. Once the procedure begins, leave the room. Give the process 10 minutes to 1 hour in order to let the fog penetrate into all corners completely. Return to the room when the fog has evaporated. If the room appears slightly foggy, open the doors and windows.
This procedure will kill all the bugs hiding anywhere in the room and will abstain the bugs from buzzing in your indoor for a sufficient time period.

DIY Salt Insect Repellent 

You might have observed that most insects are seen on the floor. Primarily for the reason that the floor has some fallen pieces of eatables which the insects need to pick and then drop to their homes made in the room corners. In order to make the floor unsuitable for them to crawl on and give your guests the impression, you don't keep enough cleanliness, make use of your mop. As you mop the floor, add a spoonful of salt in the water. This salt-water mopped floor will repel bugs and insects from crawling on the floor and will eventually repel them from coming to your home since they would know you are not welcoming. 

How often do you feel bothered by bugs and insects and what ways do you use to combat them?


 

There is one general rule when it comes to appliances, be they HVAC appliances or any other appliances. And the rule is; never use an appliance after a long period of no usage, without giving it a tune-up. Imagine yourself woken up abruptly by someone from a deep sleep. How does it feel like? The appliances feel even worse. And there are clear reasons why this should not be done. As the appliances remain unused, they accumulate dust and debris in their components. Often times, insects or animals (in the case of big appliances) damage the electrical components of the appliance. In some cases, animals or birds make their homes in some components; this usually happens in the case of outdoor appliances like an outdoor AC unit. Turning the unit up abruptly could result in the killing of those innocent living being. So tune- up is a good idea.

When it comes to summer's most important appliance; the Air Conditioner, you have to be concerned even more about its tune-up and equally concerned about the time the tune-up should be given. We suggest that you should give your Air Conditioner a tune-up in spring, preferably in the middle or end of spring. At this time, not only that the professionals are easily available but also your Air Conditioner receives a tune-up of full concentration.
Here are three reasons why Spring tune-up is a practice that returns well:

Saves you from the emergency breakdown 

As an appliance is turned on without giving a tune-up, it is at constant risk of breakdown. So you could expect a bad afternoon or bad late night hours in which your unit will suddenly cease to work. Giving the unit a tune-up well in time ensures worry-free summers. Also, any repair needs are also sufficed well in time.

Better comfort - Lower bills 

A timely AC tune-up offers another benefit and that is of better comfort with yet low energy bills. The unmaintained units have to push harder to operate because of the accumulated dust and debris. The unit when it overworks results in high energy bills. Getting your Air Conditioner tuned up well in time provides with better airflow and lower energy bills.

Eco-friendly aspect 

The eco-friendliness of well-maintained appliances cannot be overlooked. By getting your Air Conditioner tuned up in Spring, the unit is recovered to its best potential condition. As a result, carbon prints are reduced. So while a well in time tune-up benefits you, it benefits the environment as well.

Should you try DIY tune-up? 

As professionals, we suggest not to do DIY tune-up. The reason is; when homeowners perform DIY with HVAC appliances, there's a lot that is left behind. Tune-up is not just about cleaning the exterior or immediate interior of the unit. It also includes lubrication of parts, testing of pressure, refrigerant lines and refrigerant quantity, air vents and other things that are responsible for proper functioning of the system. So while you should prefer performing regular unit cleaning through the season by yourself, we recommend taking professional help when it comes to annual tune-up.

What was the last time you took a professional tune-up service?

Registers opening and removal of obstructions:

Schedule a tune-up:

Cleaning the Furnace filter:

Check the Thermostat:

Testing the CO detector:        

A classic war begins every season nearly at each indoor facility regarding temperature increase or decrease. At home, when you get a chance to save the utility bills especially in winters, your kids join the opponent army. Parents want no one to touch the Thermostat and kids want a higher temperature. However, if you are battling with utility bills due to heating appliances in winter, you need these 5 “housewarming” (to make your house warmer actually) tips to help save your money without even touching the thermostat!

1. Annual Furnace Maintenance
The first and foremost tip is to inspect your Furnace every year before winters to increase its efficiency and lifespan. Remember, the more responsible you become towards your Furnace, the less it consumes the energy saving your utility bills up to 40%. Furnace maintenance is as necessary every year as buying warmers for winter. So tuck and roll for the furnaces before winter begins!

2. Rugs and Thick Carpets
This tip is a vintage! We all seem to know about it. When winters approach, fill your home with fluffy rugs to make it warmer than ever as the wood flooring or lamination is not cosy at all. Throw a wall carpeting or throwing big rugs all over the space to save the utility fees plus your life.

3. Heavy Curtains
Not recommending any luxury curtains but good quality thick curtains can provide comfort and warmth of your dream. Simply by hanging curtains on windows or giving your blinds a little drape can prevent heat loss and cold exchange through windows. This technique will help you establish your living space by not moving any furniture and will recover a past heat loss.

4. Insulating Windows and Door

When heavy curtains are not your choice and want natural light around your house, plastic insulation is the answer. A house becomes colder even in presence of a furnace when some loopholes provide a way for the cold to enter the house. For all those problems, invisible plastic insulation, foam seal tape or replacing the door sweep will forbid all the chilly wind entering your house.

5. Loft Insulation

Most of the indoor heat is lost through the roof or ceiling. All you can do to save your utility bills during winter is insulating your attic. The loft insulation may shake a little of your budget but it stays there and is effective for more than 35 years and that’s a quite good shot. Once you get loft insulation, it can decrease utility bills up to 20-25%. Voila!

These 5 tips can make your house warmer, comfortable and cosier than ever and the added benefit of cutting down utility bills make these worth trying. By keeping your Thermostat low by employing the above-mentioned tips, you can catch the reward and by maintaining your Furnace on the very first hand will keep you in harmony and peace for the whole year. Now, what are you waiting for?