When you want to take control of indoor air quality (IAQ) to improve health conditions and comfort in your home, learning about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and how you can lower their concentrations will move you toward a healthier household. Reducing VOCs in your Twin Cities home can be accomplished with simple changes requiring low or no financial investments.

After your furnace has been sitting idle for several months, when you first turn on the heat, the heating system in your home likely will emit a strange burning odor. In most cases, the odors are nothing to worry about, but in some cases, a strange smell may indicate a system problem. The following guide will help you determine the source of the odor, and help you to decide if you should have the system inspected by a professional:

A well-functioning heating system is critical for comfort and safety during the winter months. If the furnace heat exchanger is cracked, corroded or the metal has separated, deadly combustion exhaust fumes can seriously impact indoor air quality. These troubleshooting tips can help you identify a faulty heat exchanger and safeguard your home and family:

Soon cold weather will start keeping you inside more often. Please remember that many of the worst allergens are found inside your home. If you have allergies or asthma, your first step is to keep your home as free of allergens as possible. You might also want to consider a whole-house air filter and a better quality furnace filter. Here are a few of the allergy triggers to minimize in your home.

Mercury thermostats, used in heating and cooling equipment, are in millions of homes across the country. Mercury, a well-known toxin, poses health hazards to humans and pollutes the environment. If you still have an older, mercury-filled thermostat in your home, consider upgrading to a safe, mercury-free thermostat that also aids in improving home energy efficiency.

As the warm days of the Twin Cities summer fade away, it’s past time to think about heating your home during the colder months ahead. Winterizing your home not only keeps your house warmer, but also reduces the amount of energy you need to heat your home. These winterization tips will help you and your family stay warm and cozy, and allow you to save a few bucks along the way.

Fall is here and the air is getting cooler, so we know another harsh Minnesota winter is on its way. Many homeowners begin to get concerned about their energy costs as the weather worsens, and utility bills begin to rise. Luckily, there are many ways to avoid wasting energy and save money. Here are a few of the easiest ways to get started:

Early fall still brings sunny days and warm temperatures to the Twin Cities. But only too soon brisk fall temperatures will remind us that winter is approaching. It can be hard to keep a stable temperature inside when the weather outside is fluctuating the way it does in a Minnesota fall but a programmable thermostat not only can help you stay at the best temperature setting for the time of day, it’s a proven money saver year round. Here are the ways that a programmable thermostat can save you money on your heating and cooling bills and ensure that you’re not wasting energy heating space unnecessarily.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Minnesota typically has four or five [air quality alerts] per winter, and more are possible as the weather warms.” That dirty air can get inside your home, and added to sources of contaminants within your home, can result in awfully dirty indoor air. Using the best air filter for your home and circumstances can moderate that impact, but simply buying the most expensive isn’t necessarily the same as buying the best.