There’s a lot going on with your HVAC system, and there can be a lot of confusing things surrounding how the system works to keep your home comfortable. Two of the terms often talked about with HVAC systems are forced air and central air, but understanding the difference can be confusing. The terms are often used interchangeably when referring to the same system in your house, but there are differences.

Both central air and forced air systems have their benefits, but speaking with a trusted Denver HVAC company can help you separate the differences to get the right system into your home. It’s important to get the right system in place to improve your home’s overall air quality, and keep everybody comfortable.

What is Central Air?

Central air refers to a system in which air is heated or cooled at a central location and then distributed throughout the building through vents and ductwork. There is commonly a central unit that distributes the air, like your air conditioner or furnace, and those are connected through a network of ducts. The warm or cool air is then pushed though that ductwork to the rooms of your home, ideally providing consistent temperature control throughout the entire area.

Central air systems are highly effective, and generally require little maintenance. They’re also very quiet, and allow your home to remain at a consistent temperature throughout all of the seasons. Central air systems can also easily filter out things like allergens and other airborne particles, allowing for a cleaner overall air quality. However, they can be a bit more expensive, depending on the system and if your home needs proper ductwork.

What is Forced Air?

Forced air systems work almost as a delivery person for your HVAC system. This is a method of distributing air throughout a building by using fans and/or blowers. The air is still circulated through your ductwork and vents, but the fans and blowers deliver heating and cooling to different parts of a building. Because of the fans, forced air systems can be a bit noisier, and there is some upkeep involved with the ductwork, as cleanings are required every few years or so to avoid mold and dirt from building up.

Where things get confusing is that forced air systems can be part of central air systems. The air can be heated or cooled at a central unit, and then forced through the ducts. However, forced air systems can also be standalone, with things like space heaters or window-mounted air conditioners. Those standalone systems work by heating or cooling the air locally inside their own unit before blowing the warm or cool air into the room.

While forced air and central air are related, they are different and can refer to different aspects of your HVAC system. Getting the right system for your home and budget can help you save on energy bills and provide more consistent temperatures throughout your space. For more information about this differences, reach out to the experts at Sparks Heating and Air today.

You’ve probably heard that you should get your air ducts cleaned on a regular basis. However, a lot of people don’t understand the reasons why cleaning the air ducts is important. The air ducts in your home or office perform a pretty important task. They are responsible for circulating airflow from the HVAC equipment throughout the place to keep it well-conditioned consistently. In this article, we will discuss why you should avail of Air duct cleaning services in Denver CO.

Cleaner Environment

The air ducts can accumulate dust that settles in them over time. When your heating and cooling system is powered on, the accumulated dust starts moving. Then it travels out of the ducts and into the rooms, settling on the floors, the furniture, the beds, floors, and even the kitchen. Thus, getting the ductwork thoroughly cleaned from the inside will make your home a cleaner place to live in.

Better Quality of Air

Needless to say, clean air ducts will throw out clean, good-quality air. People with respiratory issues or chronic allergies can have problems breathing in air that is not clean. Moreover, even when dust and other pollutants enter a healthy person’s nose and lungs, it can cause sneezing and coughing, and other serious issues such as bronchial congestion and sinuses. Thus, cleaning your air ducts regularly ensures good quality air in your home and office.

Decreased Allergens and Irritants

Other than dust and particles, air ducts might also accumulate mold, contaminants, and other microorganisms that could be harmful to human health. There are allergens and irritants in the air including bacteria, mildew, pet dander, and pollen. People suffering from chronic allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems can be vulnerable to such particles. Timely air duct cleaning avoids this and gets rid of these irritants.

Eliminates Bad Smells and Odors

Air ducts are susceptible to bad odors from a number of household items such as mold, cleaning agents, pungent food items, paint fumes, pets, humidity, and tobacco smoke. So when your cooling system is running, these smells will circulate in the air throughout the place. Additionally, when dust and dirt accumulate in the ducts after years of operation, it can result in a stale odor. Professional cleaning of the air ducts ensures that you get rid of such bad smells from your home or office.

Improves the Flow of Air

A build-up of dust and mold can restrict airflow from the furnace and AC. This leads to the system working harder in order to cool or heat the place. This lowers the efficiency of your HVAC system. If you keep your ductwork clean, it can run at maximum efficiency and will also be energy efficient.

To better understand the benefits of air duct cleaning and how often you should get it done, contact Sparks Heating and Air. Our experts will be glad to help you with all your HVAC-related needs. We provide a range of HVAC services including Air Duct Cleaning Company in Denver CO. For more Details Contact us right away!

Ventilation is the process of intentionally supplying clean outdoor air to a space while removing the stale indoor air. Ventilation is very important in all kinds of indoor spaces including residential, commercial and industrial spaces in order to control indoor air quality as it dilutes and displaces indoor pollutants. With proper ventilation, you can also control the temperature, airflow and humidity in a room. In this article, we will discuss Ventilation Services in Denver CO.

With poor ventilation, pollutants can accumulate in stale air due to the humidity that emanates from washing, bathing and cooking. When clean air is not circulated through the room, it can cause mould spores and confine harmful chemicals released from various items such as bleach, cleaning products and aerosol cans. This aggravates allergic reactions and is dangerous for the overall health of the people occupying the room. Lack of ventilation can cause you to experience comfort issues and adverse health issues ranging from difficulty sleeping in a stifling bedroom to experiencing Sick Building Syndrome.

The most popular way of ventilating our spaces is through the HVAC systems. HVAC stands for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning. In fact, the term ‘air conditioning is the process of controlling the temperature and humidity of air and then ventilating a building with the conditioned air. It produces air movement that creates a more comfortable living environment for the occupants. However, a rusty old HVAC system might not be ventilating your place as well as it should. Ventilation is necessary for HVAC comfort and it is important to ensure that your HVAC system delivers efficient ventilation in your spaces. There are several benefits of that including:

• Removes Impurities

People usually think that the air quality in big cities is terrible, but they ignore the indoor air quality of their homes and workplaces. Due to the pollutants from everyday items, the air inside can be of worse quality than the air outside. A well-functioning ventilation system will eliminate pollutants, moisture, germs and odours.

• Controls Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is released into the air when we perform a number of activities such as breathing, cooking and using the fireplace, among others. High concentrations of carbon dioxide in a room can result in headaches, nausea, dizziness and vomiting to name a few. A good ventilation system reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the room and maintains the right balance of gases in the air.

• Reduce Condensation

Condensation in an indoor space can result in rotting surfaces and mould build-up. Additionally, condensation and excess humidity can also lead to health problems, including difficulty breathing and allergic reactions. Nevertheless, by making sure that your HVAC system provides proper ventilation, you can avoid condensation in your space.

You can ensure that your home or workspace is ventilated properly in two ways:

1. Schedule a check-up with an HVAC company that provides ventilation services in Denver CO. You can get your system inspected and repaired if a problem is detected with the ventilation.
2. Replace your old, outdated HVAC system with a new one that delivers high ventilation performance.

For the best Ventilation Services in Denver CO, contact our ventilation experts at Sparks Heating and Air.

The air filter in your HVAC unit might be an understated component, but it is a highly important part of your home. It affects the quality of the air your family breathes every day. According to the Environment Protection Agency, Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, where the air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoors. Thus, it’s important to possess the necessary knowledge about home air filtration so you can get the cleanest air in your home. In this article, we will discuss home Air Filtration in Denver CO.

What Does Your Air Filter Do?

Air filters come in various types made of different materials. Their main objective is to purify the air circulating through your heating and cooling system. Filters hold and trap several types of contaminants and particulates that negatively impact the quality of air. These include:

• Dirt
• Dust and dust mites
• Lint and fibers
• Mold and mold spores
• Volatile organic compounds
• Pollen
• Metal, plaster, or wood particles
• Hair
• Pet dander
• Bacteria, viruses, and other microbes
• Types of Air Filters

Flat-Panel/Fiberglass: These are the most inexpensive type of air filter consisting of fibers stretched over a framework. These are disposable but they don’t provide a high level of filtration, leaving you prone to respiratory problems.

Pleated: These are made of thick screens of polyester fabrics or cotton folds with pleats. They are more effective at cleaning your air of contaminants and are slightly more expensive than their flat-panel counterparts.

Washable: These filters are reusable, as they can be removed and washed, thus eliminating the need to replace them. They cost more than disposable filters but are more environmentally friendly.

Electrostatic: These filters are made of cotton and paper fibers with electrostatic fields that act as a magnet to capture dust and microscopic particles. These are great for removing allergens from the air. Electrostatic filters come in disposable as well as reusable variants.

HEPA: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters use a heavy-duty filter capable of removing at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles and pollutants of size 0.3 microns and bigger in the air. These are recommended by the US Department of Energy due to their highly efficient performance.

UV: UV filters use short-wave ultraviolet light to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in your home. However, they don’t filter out dust and other pollutants from the air.

How to Choose Your Air Filter?

Air filters have a standard rating system to denote their ability to clean the air. It is a scale from 1 to 16 known as Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). You should go for an air filter with a higher MERV rating. However, make sure that you don’t choose a filter with a MERV rating that is too high for your HVAC system. Your system might not be powerful enough to force air through a highly restrictive filter. This can lead to decreased airflow and insufficient cooling or heating of your home. It is advisable to check with your HVAC provider to find out which air filter would be the most suitable for your particular HVAC unit. We, at Sparks Heating & Air, specialize in-home Air Filtration System in Denver CO. We can provide you with the right guidance for choosing the best air filter for your home. We can also install or replace your HVAC air filter with the highest standard of quality. To know more, contact us.

It may feel that there is no cozy, safe and better place than home, but you will be shocked to know that as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the quality of the air within a home or office can be more polluted than the air outside. The carpets, pet dander, mold spores, fiberboard furnishings, synthetic floor coverings, and many household cleaning products often pollute the air you breathe daily. Everyone is at risk of indoor air pollution, but people who are sensitive to indoor allergens need to ensure that the quality of the air is good to avoid flaring of allergy symptoms and keep you breathing healthy and clean air.

Here are some simple strategies that you can use to improve indoor air quality at your home:

Keep it clean: A clean house is a healthy house, therefore the focus should be on vacuuming the rugs, carpets, and sofa at least once a week. Regularly cleaning drapes, pillows, and bedding also helps in improving indoor air quality.

Change the air filter regularly: It is suggested to change the filters regularly of your air conditioning and furnace units based on the usage. This is an important tool when it comes to cleaning the air in a building. People with a high allergy should even consider cleaning the ducts to remove the trapped dust. There are expert companies that provide a Germicidal UV lights System to get rid of allergens.

Buy an air purifier: A good air purifier can filter out toxic particles, dust, pollen, pollutants, odors, and bacteria. The choice of air purifiers depends largely on your air quality needs. If you want a safe haven from allergies caused by dust and pollen, UV air filters are an ideal pick.

Ventilation: Fresh air is an important component of good indoor air quality. Opening the windows and doors even for five or ten minutes is important as it refreshes the stagnant air in your home with outside air.

Make home a no-smoking zone: Smoking is the worst thing for the quality of indoor air. The smoke is not just in the air, it is even absorbed in the carpet, bedding, drapes, and furniture which makes it even worse. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals that can lead to heart ailments, breathing issues, and cancer. Even secondhand smoke is bad for children and let’s not forget the overpowering odors.

Switch to natural cleaning products: Many household cleaners are dangerous for the skin and respiratory health as they contain harmful chlorine and ammonia. It is recommended to switch to natural cleaning products like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda to keep your house clean.

Humidity control: Humidity often triggers allergies as it can spawn mildew and mold. It is ideal to keep the humidity level between 30%-50%. Invest in a good dehumidifier in damp areas to reduce the moisture in the indoor air and prevent the growth of molds.

Add clean air plants: Adding plants to the home interior not only adds to the look but also doubles as a natural air purifier. Some of the house plants even absorb toxins and help in improving the air quality. Some of the air-purifying plants are English ivy, weeping fog, and Gerber daisies.

Avoid shoes in the house: shoes carry dirt, dust, pollen, and mold into our house if they are worn indoors. Reducing the amount of dust and air pollutants coming inside the home with shoes helps a lot to improve indoor air quality.

Switch to the beeswax candles: Normal wax candles can spread chemicals throughout the home and affect the air quality. Thus, switch to beeswax candles which hardly emit smoke and even possess air-purifying qualities. The beeswax candles emit ions that can draw particles like dust and pollen into the candle.

Bonus, avoid the use of air fresheners as they may mask bad odors but squirt chemicals in the home. Instead of ascent, try to go for natural fragrances or essential oils. With these ten tips, you will surely be able to improve indoor air quality considerably and help you and your family live a healthy and happy life.

To learn more about Denver HAVC Services, stay connected with us! contact us for scheduling maintenance.