Frisco HVAC Contractor warns of homes that are too air tight.

Frisco HVAC Contractor Steve Lauten, President of Total Air and Heat Co., warns of homes that are too air tight. Proper ventilation is essential to good quality indoor air.

We are all too familiar with the pressure to conserve energy, lower our costs, and protect the environment. But often our efforts have the exact opposite effect of what we intend. This is particularly true with the trend of making new homes air tight.

The recent wave of air-tight construction has accomplished its goal. We now can effectively keep outside air outside and the air we have heated or cooled inside of the home where it belongs. But wait, as with any good prescription there are side effects that must be considered.

Air that had previously been coming and going into and out of the home through leaky ductwork, windows, doors and even walls, is no longer coming and going. Air that is full of pollutants from the kitchen and garage is now being trapped within the confines of the home. Cooking odors, hobby fumes, pet dander, smoking odors and residues, and dust are now less likely to escape the home and must be dealt with from within the confines of the air cleaning system.

You may even be seeing some of the tell tale signs of problems yourself:

• Stuffy, stale air inside of your home.
• Excessive condensation on windows.
• Gas appliance pilot lights frequently go out.
• Odor of exhaust gases present.

Now, no one is suggesting that you run out to the local 'gas-mask' store, however, there are some things that you can do to improve indoor air quality:

1. Install a CO detector. One CO alarm should be installed outside of the bedrooms in the hallway.
2. Consider installing a whole house ventilation system. Ventilation systems bring outside air into closed rooms in a way that is controlled and filtered.
3. Have your gas furnace inspected annually. The vents, heat exchangers and motors have a serious impact on your homes air quality and should be inspected routinely for signs of wear.

The air that you breath directly affects both your health and your family's health. So, how is the quality of air in your home?

As an AirAdvice Contractors we can find out by conducting an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test for you. It is simple, fast, and easy. Call us to learn more.

Frisco HVAC Contractor, Total Air and Heat, is owned by Steve Lauten, the second generation owner.  Founded in 1957 by Steve’s dad, Fred Lauten, Total Air and Heat is proud to have received some of the highest awards for quality and service that are offered in the Industry. Among those awards are the Readers Choice Awards from the Collin County Newspaper, the Trane Pacesetter Award in 2002, and designation as a Trane Comfort Specialist.