Modern insulating techniques have today’s homes sealed up more tightly than ever. While this is certainly good news for energy efficiency, it can be bad news for indoor air quality. Without adequate ventilation, stale, polluted air can be trapped inside your home with no way to escape, causing allergies to flare and making your living space feel stagnant and uninviting. Additionally, excess humidity can build up inside your home, potentially leading to mold growth and structural damage.

With the winter months right around the corner, there are some precautions you’ll want to take to make sure your air conditioner has a safe winter layover. The most important thing is that your cooling system is in good running condition when the summer rolls around again, and that’s why it’s wise to just shut it down for the cold months.

When selecting a new furnace, cost is perhaps the biggest factor that most people look at. However, many people incorrectly think of the cost as only being the purchase and installation price of a new furnace. In an attempt to save money, they often opt for the model with the lowest price tag.

When searching for a new furnace, you not only want to make sure it will be able to keep you and your family warm all winter; you also want it to be energy-efficient. This will keep your costs down and savings up. To maximize both savings and comfort, you should look into condensing furnaces. 

During the frigid winters in Minnesota, we depend on our heating systems to keep our indoor air comfortable and warm. But all that heating can cause extreme dry air inside your home. You can reduce dry air and its negative effects on you and your family by installing a whole-house humidification system in your home.

Home-related tax credits were all the rage in 2010.  When these expired on December 31, 2010, new tax credits were passed that you can take advantage of now until the end of the year. There’s no guarantee that these financial incentives will extend into next year, so now is the time to act.  Here are some categories that are included in the tax credit this year.

If you have been experiencing problems with your indoor air quality or just don’t know what kind of air filter is best for your home, understanding what MERV is and how it impacts your home will help you solve these problems.

Your furnace is the most important determining factor in how warm you and your family will be able to stay in your house throughout this upcoming winter. That’s why it’s crucial that you are able to recognize when it’s time to repair or replace your heating system. You don’t want to waste money on repairs that will only buy you a short window of comfort, and you don’t want to jump the gun on a major purchase. Ask yourself the following questions to determine whether you should repair or replace your heating equipment.

If you own a home in the Twin Cities area and you’re considering an upgrade of your home’s HVAC system, you can receive thousands of dollars in savings with the Federal tax credits for energy efficiency.  But don’t delay because these tax credits expire on Dec. 31, 2011.

Indoor air quality can negatively affect a person’s health and well-being. Breathing in too many particles such as dust, dander, mold and chemicals can cause a flare-up of allergies and asthma. These irritants cause inflammation of airways and can bring upon fatigue or respiratory illness. These are the best and easiest ways to improve your indoor air quality: