Does Burning Candles Reduce Air Quality?

The ambiance of a burning a candle can be so relaxing after a long day or to set the right mood. But do they negatively affect the indoor air quality? We get this question from many customers so we thought we’d set the record straight.

When customers tell us they see black marks on their heating or air conditioning grilles or on walls and ceilings nearby, our first question is, “do you burn a lot of candles?” Believe it or not, even the small candle flame can produce a significant amount of soot that gets sucked into your home’s ventilation system. The standard duct filter doesn’t filter out particles this small.

Besides the visual effects, there’s the health concern. Candles containing paraffin are the most popular type on the market. When they burn, they release carcinogens into the air that can be breathed in. These are many of the same toxins that are a byproduct of burning fossil fuels. Some of these toxins can aggravate asthma or cause symptoms that feel like allergies.

One the other hand, studies have shown that a safe wax and a candle containing some essential oils can actually kill surface bacteria like Staph and E. coli.

Is there a safer option?

• Flameless candles can provide much of the ambiance without the harmful effects of burning paraffin wax. They also last longer, saving you money.

• If you like the fragrance of a candle consider using an essential oil diffuser instead. The artificial fragrances in our personal care items, laundry detergents and scented candles can be very harmful to our bodies. Essential oil diffusers release tiny droplets of essential oil into the air which creates an aromatherapy atmosphere. When used properly, essential oils can have many great health benefits and some diffusers even have lights built in to set a relaxing mood in the room.

• Candles made of beeswax or soy are an alternative to paraffin based

Keep Your Home Safe With Your Heat and AC System

The 2020 Novel Coronavirus Pandemic has many people asking what they can do to keep their families safe. It has made us think about the one place we should feel safest safe, our homes. Industries all over are coming up with solutions and suggestions. But what’s the best way to keep health related threats out or reduce their impact if they do make it in?

A recent housing study showed that the leading concern for a home safety was indoor air quality. Another survey showed that 83% of builders believe buyers are willing to pay more for a healthy home and that they sell more quickly.

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 Air Purification

Contaminants from work, daycare, school and the outdoors enter our homes on our clothes, shoes and hands. They end up on our countertops, door knobs and other surfaces that we commonly touch. We can’t possibly disinfect these surfaces every single day and some of the chemicals we use can damage those surfaces, cause skin irritations or are harmful to breathe in regularly. This calls for a safe, constant solution like an air purification system that can cleanse the entire house. If you’re in the market for an air purification system make sure you find one that is designed to support the whole house. Another key feature is that it can target multiple types of contaminants. 

1.     surface contaminants

We all know that pollutants can be airborne, but what about when they land on our surfaces? Stationary surfaces like light switches and tables are touched frequently. Soft surfaces like clothes and pillows can release microbes into the air when moved or disturbed. The right air purifier can reduce surface contaminants by up to 99%. That’s like having a cleaning crew working around the clock, but without the harmful chemicals.

 2.     Airborne contaminants

You have an existing heating or cooling system that’s circulating air. It has a filter to keep dust and debris out of the units coil and blower but it’s not designed to capture pollutants down to the microscopic level. And it’s not designed to kill microbes that make it through the filter.

If you’re pregnant, your doctor probably recommended you avoid ingesting listeria and other microbes from things like cold cuts, undercooked meats, and unpasteurized dairy products to minimize the risk of complications. But what about those same microbes living in your home like uninvited guests? An air purifier should both filter and disinfect.

3.     Household Odors

Most people I know love the taste of bacon, but I don’t know anyone who likes to smell it long after the meal is over. Other smells like paint fumes, pet odor, and cigarette smoke can linger for days causing allergies or discomfort. Reducing or eliminating these common odors is a side benefit of a well-designed purification system.

4.     Allergies

From the itchy and watering eyes to the sneezing and runny nose, allergy season plagues many people. It can also increase the risk of getting sick during the peak seasons. Pollutants like dust, mold and pollen can be easily removed from the air or neutralized so they don’t irritate the lungs and airways. This can reduce the use of acute medical treatments, general daily discomfort, and lost sleep due to symptoms.

 5.     ROI

The filters in your existing heating and cooling systems are designed to protect the system’s coil and blower and remove large particles from the breathing air. When these filters are full they restrict the airflow to the system, causing it to work harder and less efficiently. By using a better filtration system before the air gets to your system’s filter, you can increase your heating and cooling system’s life span and it’s average efficiency, leading to monthly savings in your utility bills. 

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Humidification

It’s important to make sure there isn’t too much moisture in the air in the summer but what about not having enough? We’ve all experienced itchy, dry skin in the winter and if you have hardwood floors you see the shrinking and expanding from season to season. But did you know low humidity levels can lead to other issues like chronic bloody noses, damage to pricey electronics from static electricity and even facilitating in the spread of viruses. Many common viruses prefer dryer conditions. Our noses are a natural defense and filtration system. Dry air lowers the ability for your nose to properly filter air. People with nose constrictions like deviated septum or other similar issues can often find that dry air can increase their breathing problems causing the sinuses not to drain properly resulting in chronic sinus infections.

One of the reasons air from an air conditioner feels cool is because it’s dry. The same is true for a room. If the air is dry it’s perceived to feel cooler. If you increase the room’s humidity it will feel warmer. This could allow you to keep your home at a cooler temperature in the winter but remain comfortable.

Did you know that you can reduce your utility bills by 3-4% for each degree you decrease your thermostat set point? 

Just like an air purifier, it’s important that the humidification system be designed for the whole house. Some thermostats measures and control humidity as well as temperature. A stand-alone humidity sensor can help you determine if your home has lower than recommended humidity levels.

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Dehumidification

Humidity levels in excess of 60% can increase a home’s risk of having mold and mildew. People with asthma and seasonal allergies are the most sensitive to these spores and other pollutants caused from high humidity levels. But it can be dangerous for even those who don’t feel it’s effects. Too much humidity can aid in the spread of diseases around the home and have visual effects in drywall, wallpaper, trim and furniture.

If you don’t have or aren’t running an air conditioning system, or if your system isn’t designed or sized properly, your humidity levels can rise above the recommended point of 45% relative humidity at 78°F. New homes are being built to comply with more strict efficiency standards. The tighter a home is, the less time the air conditioning needs to run to maintain a set temperature. This means the air conditioning system may not be removing enough humidity while still keeping the room cool enough. Tight homes require less air conditioning but more dehumidification. Some new high efficiency heat pumps have a dry mode to handle humidity without cooling the space further. A dry home also feels cooler so you may not require as much air conditioning, lowing your utility bills.

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Installation and Maintenance

One of the most significant factors in making sure your heating and cooling systems are designed properly, installed properly, and safe depends on who does the work. If they’re over or under sized it can cause shorter than expected life span, poor efficiency, humidification issues and poor comfort.

You wouldn’t buy a car and never change the oil would you? Without regular maintenance and filter changes, your heating and air conditioning systems, humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air purifiers aren’t operating at their peak performance, efficiency or may possibly be unsafe. Most manufacturers recommend annual planned maintenance by a trained technician but some systems vary.

The Magic of Heat Pumps

Did you know that 70% of your home’s energy usage is used for heating and cooling? According to NYSERDA, that means that well over half our utility costs are spent to make your home comfortable.

So those LED light bulbs are a great idea but if you want to make the most significant impact in your home you should look in the basement. Watch this video to learn more about what a heat pump is and how you can start saving money on your heating and coolings costs, lower your carbon emissions and make your home safer.

HeatSmart Orange Selected Contractor

About a year ago we were selected as a contractor for HeatSmart Warwick. This year, we are equally as proud to be selected as a contractor for the broadened HeatSmart Orange Campaign.

HeatSmart Orange is a grassroots community initiative smoothing the path to an affordable, more energy-efficient building. HeatSmart offers nonprofit education, guidance and a list of vetted, local heating and cooling experts who install the latest clean technologies and help you maximize program rebates.

HeatSmart will connect building and home owners with local heating and cooling experts who install the latest in clean technologies, offer campaign discounts, and help maximize program rebates.

HeatSmart Orange is made possible by a partnership of Orange County, Energize NY and the New York State Research and Development Authority. The campaign is directed by community leaders who are volunteering their time to support this effort. If you’re considering a new heating or cooling system, or you're interested in finding out how to save energy in your home, sign up for the HeatSmart newsletter!

HeatSmart has several programs throughout the state and Orange County was chosen to be the next community to focus on. The team of partners put together an extensive Request For Proposal including general company information, financial health, sample proposals, marketing strategies, offers and more to evaluate the companies that applied to participate. It’s a true honor that we were chosen to be one of their trusted Ductless (Air Source Heat Pump) and Geothermal (Ground Source Heat Pump) contractors.

We’ll be using the upcoming months to train our volunteers and plan events. In the meantime, please consider helping us build awareness for our online resources and future events. Please consider any or all of the following:

• Like Alpine Air on Facebook

• If we’ve done work for you before, we’d really appreciate a positive review

• Like HeatSmart Orange on facebook

• Follow us on Instagram

Heat Pumps 101

In our partnership with HeatSmart Warwick, we’ve put together a training series on the basics of heat pumps, what they are and their benefits. We’ll be releasing these videos in a series called Heat Pumps 101. The first video is about heat pumps in general and the different types. Take a look!

Geothermal Certified

IGSHPA is one of the leading organizations advancing Ground Source Heat Pump (geothermal) technologies. Among their main initiatives are advancing the technologies used in geothermal designs, educating consumers on the benefits of ground source heat pumps and educating contractors through training and certification programs. It’s important contractors have the knowledge and experience to design and install these complex systems properly.

The next step after getting IGSHPA certified is to participate in other programs like NYSERDA’s GSHP Program. Further educating consumers and offering additional rebates to promote the growth of these energy efficient technologies is the main goal of their work. With the current 30% federal tax credit and the rebates and incentives available from the utility companies and NYSERDA, it doesn’t cost that much more to have an extremely energy efficient system over a traditional heating system. And it does your cooling too.

Geothermal systems use the constant ground temperature to exchange heat with the refrigerant that runs through your building’s heating and coolings system. Since the temperature underground is a more consistent temperature we can utilize it in the summer and winter to make the most energy efficient heating and cooling system readily available in the market today. Your energy usage is significantly reduced saving you money on your utilities, reducing your greenhouse gas emissions and your reliance on fossil fuels. It’s good for your wallet and the environment.