Design Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Cottonwood Heights’

Get Through the Rest of Summer Comfortably with These Tips

Monday, August 7th, 2017

family of 3 sitting in living room in front of fans to cool offAs the official end of summer draws near, we begin to look forward to cooler weather. However, there is still a ways to go. With temperatures still hovering in the high 80’s to low 90’s, we understand that you want to do everything in your power to keep cool. Here are some tips on how to do so!

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Watch for These Signs You Need a Water Softener

Monday, May 29th, 2017

signs-need-water-softenerMost municipal water supplies today, including ours, have a hefty level of filtration and conditioning before the water reaches your faucets. And if you’re using a private well to access ground water, you very likely have your own water treatment system on site. But something that can be missing in either of these scenarios is anything to protect against hard water.

Hard water is the name given to water with a high concentration of minerals in it—namely calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless for humans and pets to ingest, however they could be having a negative impact on your quality of life, plus hard water can damage your plumbing system.

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How UV Rays Can Actually Be Good for You

Monday, March 20th, 2017

UV-rays-good-for-youIn 1903, Professor Niels Finsen won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his work on the treatment of diseases by means of concentrated UV light rays. But when we say UV rays can actually be good for you, that’s not exactly what we’re talking about.

You may be surprised to find that an excellent benefit of UV light rays is actually what it can do for your Cottonwood Heights, UT indoor air quality, and subsequently your health and the health of your family.

Mold and Bacteria Exposure

The ductwork connected to your HVAC system provides the perfect environment for the development of mold, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms. This is because they are dark, cool, and moist thanks to the use of your AC system.

When these contaminants enter your indoor air, they can create a number of health-related issues for you and your family. Infectious diseases are a threat, as is allergic rhinitis, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. If that sounds unpleasant to you—it’s because it is! Fortunately, however, professionally installed UV germicidal lights—also referred to simply as UV lights or UV air purifiers—help you fight against this.

UV Light and Your Indoor Air Quality

UV light has an anti-microbial effect on the biological contaminants that develop within your ductwork. When a UV air purifier is installed (typically within your ductwork/over the evaporator coil), it effectively stops the development of mold and mildew before it begins, therefore never giving it the chance to break off and make its way into your home.

Without the right type of air purifying products and services, your indoor air quality can be more polluted than you realize. It can even be worse than the quality of the air outdoors. For this reason, people with allergies, asthma, and any other respiratory issues can find themselves with aggravated symptoms if the problem is not remedied.

Is This Type of UV Radiation Safe?

It’s only natural that you would ask this—it’s understandable to be concerned about the UV radiation emitted from these devices. This type of UV lighting, however, is completely harmless. In fact, you’ve probably seen it utilized at concerts or theme parks as black lights to make your clothes glow! This type of UV radiation is completely harmless to people and to pets—but deadly to bacteria!

Additional UV Light Benefits

In addition to eliminating mold and mildew from your ductwork—and subsequently your indoor air—UV lights help eliminate the foul odor that typically comes along for the ride. Plus, UV lights are pretty versatile.

You do not have to make any room for them as they conveniently fit right into your HVAC system, positioned where they’re needed the most. If you have a central HVAC system, then this is definitely a highly recommended device for you and your home!

We offer a wide range of reliable indoor air quality products and services, including UV lights and other types of air cleaners. Contact us today to learn more, including why our customers keep saying, “I Love My Design Comfort!”

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Is Winter Too Late for a Heater Tune-Up?

Monday, January 16th, 2017

Winter is certainly here, and with it are the chilly temperatures. You may think that this means it is too late to invest in maintenance for your heating system. But it’s not! Even though we’re officially in the winter season, there is still plenty of cold weather to last us, and there’s no reason to risk getting through next few months without a completely reliable heater. If you haven’t had your heater checked in the last year, there’s no better time than now to schedule it.

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Plumbing Problems: When It’s Time to Call a Professional

Saturday, December 10th, 2016

There are few plumbing problems that the average homeowner can resolve on their own—a small clog, a loose connection, maybe. Some plumbing problems simply require the touch of a professionally trained plumber, such as the members of our staff. Trying to resolve a plumbing issue on your own can actually end up causing more harm than good to your plumbing system. Keep reading for some scenarios that definitely call for professional help.

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Should it Smell When I Start up My Heater?

Monday, November 7th, 2016

We’re at that time of year that while it’s not necessarily time to run our heaters all day, every day, our nighttime temperatures are certainly cooling off to the point that you’re likely going to start your heater up soon if you haven’t already.

If you have turned it on to test it out or take the chill out of the nighttime air, did you notice anything strange? Did you detect an odd odor coming from your furnace? If so, there are a number of reasons this might have occurred. Answering the question of whether or not it should smell when you start it up depends on a few different factors.

Dust Buildup

The most common, and the least concerning, explanation for a smelly furnace upon startup is that you have a buildup of dust on your electric heating coils or on the burners in your furnace. Over the course of the summer season, there’s plenty of time for dust and dirt to accumulate on these components, as your furnace is not in use. The smell is usually caused by this dust burning off and should dissipate after a couple hours of use.

When the Problem is More Serious

If the smell seems to resemble melting plastic, then you may have a more serious problem on your hands. This could very likely be the sign of an electrical issue that is causing the wiring within your system to get too hot. If this is the case, the integrity and condition of your furnace is at risk, and it’s a fire hazard. Be sure you have this addressed right away.

Foreign Object in Your Heater

One last possibility is that a child’s or pet’s toy made its way into your ducts. If something like this makes its way through the vent grills, then you might be able to pull it out on your own. However, if no object is immediately visible, then it’s time to call a professional to complete an extraction without risking damage to your system.

To schedule Cottonwood Heights, UT heating repair and to learn why our customers say
“I love my Design Comfort,” just reach out to us today!

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Watch for These Signs You Need Furnace Repairs

Monday, October 3rd, 2016

It likely goes without saying that winter is the time of year that is most stressful for your furnace. Wear and tear is increases, and the possibility of a serious problem occurring goes up dramatically. Even if you’ve had your furnace professionally maintained already—and hopefully you have—you should still remain aware of what problems can crop up, particularly if you have an aging system. Keep reading for some of the common furnace problems that you’ll want to keep an eye out for this winter.

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Is it Time to Invest in a New Water Heater?

Monday, August 29th, 2016

No matter what model you have, water heaters are known to be very reliable and durable appliances. This is particularly true if you schedule routine preventive maintenance for the system. However, no matter how well taken care of your water heater is, it cannot last forever. There will come a time that you will need to replace the system.

In order to minimize your inconvenience, it’s important that you know how to recognize the signs that this time is approaching. Otherwise, you can suddenly find yourself without hot water, which is of course not ideal. Keep reading to learn more about the signs that it’s time to invest in a new water heater.

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Is It Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner?

Monday, July 18th, 2016

Is your air conditioner showing troubling symptoms? If so, you may be wondering if you need to repair it, or if it’s time to consider an AC replacement. There are a variety of reasons to upgrade to a new air conditioner, however if there’s some life left in your current air conditioner, this choice may not make the most sense.

On the other hand, you don’t want to keep paying for repair after repair if your AC isn’t working as efficiently as it should. If you are unsure of whether or not you should replace your current air condition, then call our professional HVAC technicians to come take a look and give you our educated opinion.

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Common Problems That Plague Air Conditioners

Monday, June 13th, 2016

As the summer heat quickly approaches, you will soon be relying on your air conditioning system to effectively and efficiently cool down your home. This means that the strain on your AC system is going to increase, creating more of a likelihood that problems might occur.

In order to keep you air conditioner in the best shape possible, you’ll want to not only invest in regular maintenance but also keep an eye out for symptoms of a system in disrepair. Keep reading to learn about a couple common air conditioning problems you might run into this summer.

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