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If you’re like the majority of Americans, you’ll find yourself spending the vast majority of your time indoors, either at home or at work. It’s only natural to be concerned about the air quality in your home. Can air filters protect you from viruses? What can you do to protect the health of yourself and your family?

Viruses are very small, so not all air filters will catch them. However, there are some specialized air filters that can help improve the air quality in your home.

Common Types Of Air Filter

Mechanical Filters

Mechanical filters are disposable filters, commonly made of fiberglass, that are used to remove dust, pollen, and other particles from the air. These filters prolong the lifespan of the HVAC system and may be of benefit to people with allergies, but are unlikely to remove viruses from the air.

HEPA Filters

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. HEPA filters are designed to remove more than 99.9% of airborne particles. They’re not usually fitted as standard in home HVAC systems but are far superior to standard mechanical filters.

Electronic Filters

Electronic filters use electrically charged wires to attract and trap small particles. These systems are very efficient but must be cleaned regularly otherwise they stop working.

Electrostatic Filters

Electrostatic filters rely on static electricity generated as the air moves through the filter. They can trap small particles and tend to last longer than disposable mechanical filters.

Efficient In-Home Air Purification

For maximum benefit, it’s better to use multiple air purification systems. As leading indoor air quality specialists in Salt Lake City, we provide a variety of systems, including efficient HEPA filters, humidity controls, and whole-home air purifiers.

By combining the temperature and humidity benefits of a humidity control system the efficiency of HEPA filtration and the use of whole-home air purifier systems we can help you improve your home’s air quality, removing pet dander, pollen, and other allergens, filtering out air pollutants, including some viruses.

If you have an older air conditioning system, we recommend you have it fully cleaned and replace the filters. You may be amazed at how much difference fresh air makes to your home.

Many homeowners don’t realize that they have poor indoor air quality simply because it’s hard to sense something you can’t see! However, many of the contaminants linked to indoor air pollution can actually have a serious effect on your health and that of your family and pets.

At Scott Hale, we can diagnose the root cause of poor residential indoor air quality and provide you with budget-friendly solutions.

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) can deteriorate for several reasons. It tends to be worse when the outside temperatures are very hot or very cold, as people choose to spend more time indoors where it’s comfortable. That recycled air, even though it’s filtered through the HVAC system, isn’t as fresh as you’d like.

Beyond that, problems with the HVAC unit can lead to inadequate temperature or humidity levels that are too high or too low. Poor air circulation and issues with the ventilation system can compound and result in the formation of mold or mildew, both of which can damage your home and your health.

Foreign contaminants such as mold and mildew spores, excess dust mites, bacteria, chemicals, and different “funky smells” from poor housekeeping can add to poor indoor air quality.

The Effects Of Poor Air On Your Health

Although different causes of bad indoor air have different effects on your loves’ health, here is a list of general concerns to be on the lookout for:

Long-term effects include respiratory disease, heart disease, cancer, and, in some cases, even death.

Improve Your Air Quality

Improving your IAQ starts with a thorough inspection of your home’s air conducted by a trained professional. This includes checking ductwork for excessive dust and debris. Once the source of your poor indoor air quality is determined, you will be provided with a list of recommended solutions to choose from. Scott Hale offers whole-home air purifier systems, humidity control, and HEPA filter systems.

Let’s Get Started!

Scott Hale offers expert solutions for IAQ in Salt Lake City homes! We can help you breathe easy again once you give our customer care team a call to schedule a custom assessment today!

Keeping your HVAC system well-maintained requires a lot of work and planning ahead. But as an active homeowner, your plate is already full. So, what can you do to make sure your system gets the TLC it needs to maintain its efficiency? 

Sign up for a heating maintenance contract!

A heating maintenance contract is an agreement between you and your preferred HVAC company where you pay a fixed monthly or annual fee to secure the company’s ongoing maintenance services for your HVAC system.

If you’re like most homeowners, you’re probably on the fence about whether or not a heating maintenance contract will be beneficial to you. Scott Hale is here to ease your worries!

More Free Time

You have a “to-do” list all year long that keeps your property looking and functioning great. Having to inspect your HVAC system periodically and fix any issues you find just increases the likelihood that something falls through the cracks.

A heating maintenance agreement means there is one less thing to add to your home improvement checklist.

Peace Of Mind

Things break — that is a part of life. Regular AC and heating maintenance from a leading HVAC company in Salt Lake City is one way of making sure that your HVAC system doesn’t fail you when you need it most. When everything is inspected properly and minor wear and tear issues are addressed quickly and in a timely manner, you can have confidence that your system is not an accident waiting to happen.

Money Savings

Ask yourself this question: Do you pay more for annual HVAC inspections or when your unit breaks down during the hottest or coldest month of the year?

The answer is, of course, the latter.

When you have a maintenance contract, the little things you may ignore or not even know to look out for do not fall through the cracks, and minor problems are addressed before they become a crisis.

That saves you in emergency repair costs.

Reliability

A neglected system is an HVAC disaster waiting to happen. With a maintenance agreement, you are making sure your system will function properly and take care of your family’s comfort needs.

Relinquish your furnace or boiler maintenance today! With a heating maintenance contract from Scott Hale, you get more than just an annual inspection. You get a guarantee of expert service that can help you avoid common HVAC problems year-round. Click here to learn more!

A heater plays a key role in keeping your home comfortable throughout the winter months. However, your heater can eventually break down over time due to various reasons.

Reaching out to a local heating repair company in Salt Lake City is a smart option to take care of these repairs and ensure the job is always done right.

Here are a few things to consider if you believe that your heater may need repair work.

Higher Utility Bills

Consistently paying higher than normal utility bills each month is a possible sign that you need to reach out to an HVAC technician. While a heater will eventually become less efficient over time, it shouldn’t result in a significant spike in your energy bill. Getting your heater checked out as soon as possible is essential in saving yourself a lot of money.

Strange Noises

Another reason to consider heating repair services is if you hear unusual sounds coming from your furnace. A squealing sound may occur due to problems with your motor bearings, or rattling noises can happen each time your fan turns on. Getting these sounds checked can help you determine the source of the problem before it gets even worse.

Unevenly Distributed Heat

Constantly adjusting your thermostat is another sign that your heater isn’t working properly. One room may feel warmer than normal while another room feels much cooler. Oftentimes this is a result of problems with your furnace, so getting it checked out with a professional technician is important in helping you stay comfortable throughout your entire home.

Age Of Your Heating System

The average lifespan of a heater ranges between 15 to 25 years before you need to consider a replacement. An older system is much more likely to break down while also operating less efficiently compared to newer models. Instead of spending money on repair work, it may be a better investment to make a full replacement.

Scott Hale is a family-operated business offering HVAC and plumbing services for over three decades. Our main mission is to treat each customer like family, and satisfaction is always guaranteed with our business. Feel free to give us a call to learn more about our boiler repair services in Salt Lake City!

Plumbing problems can happen at any time of the year, but winter brings its own particular challenge: frozen pipes. Whether your household pipes are plastic, metal, or a mix, the water inside expands when it freezes. That puts a tremendous amount of pressure on your pipes and may even cause them to burst and flood your home.

According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, burst pipes are one of the most common causes of residential property damage during the frigid winter months. Between November and March, we see a lot of frozen pipe repairs in Salt Lake City, especially in older homes with insufficient insulation or pipes located in exterior walls. The good news is that there are a few preventative steps you can take to winterize your home and avoid a potential freeze.

1. Disconnect Outdoor Water Supplies

At the onset of cold weather, drain water from the swimming pool and sprinkler supply lines and store garden hoses until spring. Locate shutoff valves that lead to your exterior faucets and turn off the water.

2. Open Up Cabinets

Inside your home, keep your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to let warmer air circulate around your plumbing.

3. Let Your Faucets Drip

On the coldest of days, let the water trickle from faucets, especially those connected by exposed pipes. Running just a small amount of water through your pipes can help prevent them from freezing.

4. Keep Temperatures Steady

Set your thermostat to the same temperature for day and night. If you plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time, keep your heat on and set to at least 55 degrees. The cost of using utilities will be far less than repairing the damage of a frozen pipe.

5. Consider Longer-Term Solutions

Look around your home for pipes in unheated areas such as garages, attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Adding insulation can help maintain higher temperatures in those areas. If freezing pipes continue to be a concern, consider relocating exposed or exterior pipes for more protection.

The experts at Scott Hale are happy to consult on how to upgrade your home’s plumbing to better weather the winter and provide emergency service for frozen or burst pipes when they happen. We are the plumbing and heating repair company in Salt Lake City that’s here to keep you dry and cozy all season long!

It’s essential to protect your home’s plumbing system against the dangers of frozen pipes in the winter to avoid plumbing issues. It’s common for freezing temperatures and strong storms to cause costly damage to your home’s pipes during the cold season.

Damaged and burst pipes often result in leaks that cause irreparable damage to parts of your home, including the ceiling.

When Are Pipes at Risk of Freezing?

Typically, once temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the water inside your pipes is at risk of freezing. This is dangerous due to the physics of what happens when a pipe freezes.

The frozen water will start to expand. As it expands, the pressure causes your pipes to crack, eventually resulting in leaks or even a burst pipe.

5 Hazards Of Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipelines in the home pose several dangers, and if not addressed promptly, can lead to significant damage and inconvenience. Here are five potential dangers associated with frozen pipes:

1. Risk of Property Damage

When a pipe bursts due to freezing, it can release a large volume of water into your home. Water damage can affect walls, ceilings, floors, and personal belongings. Mold growth is also a concern if the affected areas are not properly dried.

2. Risk of Injury

Iced pipes can lead to home flooding, increasing the risk of drowning, especially where young children and seniors are involved. It also triggers problems with your home’s wiring. This may eventually result in electrocution, house fires, electric shocks, and even death.

3. Added Costs of Repair

Emergency plumbing services can cost a lot, as you have to meet the pipe repair cost, flood control, and the cost of cleaning up the mess left by the flooding. Remember, this is money that you never budgeted for. Therefore, there is a need to prevent pipes from freezing to avoid these additional expenses.

4. Disruption of Water Supply

Frozen water pipes mean you won’t have a water supply for days. If you are coping with burst pipes in your home, you will need to shut off the supply entirely to allow for repair.

Scheduling water and frozen pipe damage repair can take days, and as you wait for the repair company to fix the plumbing system, you will be without water. This can be inconvenient for daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing.

5. Health Risks

Water damage and mold growth resulting from burst pipes can create an unhealthy living environment. Mold can cause respiratory issues and other health problems, particularly for individuals with allergies or asthma.
what happens when a pipe freezes

How To Prevent Frozen Pipes

Now, knowing the dangers of frozen pipes in your home, it’s crucial to take steps to prevent this occurrence and save you money and the hassle of frozen pipe repair.

Here are some tips to help you avoid the freezing and potential bursting of pipes in your home:

Your water pipes are at risk of freezing whenever the temperatures drop below the freezing point. It’s ideal to schedule a regular inspection of your pipes before the cold starts to affect crucial plumbing components in the home.

If you need a frozen pipe repair or emergency plumbing repair in Salt Lake City, contact Scott Hale. We are a leading HVAC and plumbing service and installation company servicing homes and businesses in Salt Lake City and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Call us today to learn more about what we can do for you.

Your furnace is an essential part of maintaining a comfortable home environment, but unfortunately, it won’t last forever. Even the highest-quality furnace needs occasional repairs or eventual replacement. If you’re wondering if you need furnace repair in Salt Lake City or may need to replace your furnace entirely, keep an eye out for these warning signs.

Know Your Furnace’s Age

Every furnace has a limited lifespan to some degree. A well-maintained system lasts 15 to 20 years on average, although some particularly hardy furnaces may last 30 years or more. If your furnace is 15 years old or older, it’s a good idea to have a plan for replacement in mind, just in case. Doing your research ahead of time can minimize stress when your furnace does break down.

If you’re not sure how old your furnace is, try looking around on its surface. Most furnaces have a small plaque or label that states the make, model, and year of manufacture, among other information.

Pay Attention To Changes

If your furnace suddenly starts making odd noises or you start noticing strange smells, it may be a sign something is wrong. Most of the time, these things can be fixed with just minor repairs and maintenance. However, it can be a sign that your furnace is nearing the end of its lifespan, especially if these small repairs are becoming more frequent.

Keep An Eye On Your Utility Bill

Another good sign that your furnace may need repairs or replacement is your utility bill. If you see unusually high costs every month, your furnace may be struggling to keep your house warm. This may be fixable, but it could also mean it’s time to upgrade. Even if your furnace is keeping up, investing in a more energy-efficient system may pay off in the long run.

Breathe Deeply

Decreased indoor air quality can be another sign of a failing furnace. If you and your family notice that you seem to have allergy symptoms even during the winter, it may mean that your heating system is pumping dust and allergens into your home. Some failing systems may even cause visible dust in the air.

Stay Cozy

Of course, one of the most obvious signs of a failing heating system is cold spots and inadequate heating. Your furnace should be able to heat your home evenly and efficiently, so if you find yourself constantly feeling cold even when your thermostat is turned up high or notice that some rooms just won’t get warm, you may need a new furnace.

If you’re looking for a trustworthy and reliable heating repair company in Salt Lake City, the professionals at Scott Hale can help. We can assist you with routine maintenance, emergency repairs, or complete installations of new systems.

Our homes are supposed to be a sanctuary from the cold, the place where we should feel cozy and comfortable during the long winter. If you’ve set your thermostat to the temperature you’re normally comfortable with, but you’re cold indoors, there may be a number of things that you’ll want to check out. There may be a simple fix for your problem, or you may need to contact your local Salt Lake City heating repair company for an inspection.

Drop In Outdoor Temperature

A significant drop in temperature may be the simple explanation for why your house feels cold even though your thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature. Your heater could be struggling to maintain that temperature because it’s getting colder outside. You may also need to adjust your thermostat to a higher temperature, but that could lead to a bump in your energy bills. By considering some of the things listed below, you might be able to keep your home cozy without adjusting your thermostat when the temperature drops outside.

Leaky Windows

Your windows could be allowing cold air into your interior. That’s going to affect your temperature control and will actually cause more wear and tear on your system as it tries to maintain your thermostat setting. Old windows are notorious for letting in draughts, but new windows are expensive. Consider insulating your windows with clear plastic film sold for this purpose. The film helps block cold air from entering your interior space.

You Need More Insulation

Another reason your house might be extra chilly is because you need additional insulation. You may not have enough insulation in your attic or crawl space. In such cases, cold and damp air can be penetrating the scant insulation and into your living space. Consider adding additional insulation to block that cold air from getting into your interior.

Furnace Inspection

Of course, you might certainly suspect a furnace issue if you suddenly notice that your home is chillier than usual. It’s possible you need Salt Lake City furnace repair or just a simple tune-up and filter change. You don’t want to risk a breakdown, especially during a cold snap, so as soon as you suspect there may be a problem, it’s a good idea to contact your HVAC service provider to check things out.

Scott Hale offers affordable and reliable HVAC service to customers in and around Salt Lake City. Our company’s certified furnace pros can evaluate your furnace and also help you troubleshoot exactly why your home is colder than usual. Call us to learn more or schedule a service appointment today!

The cooler months of the year are upon us, so people are going to start spending more time indoors.

Unfortunately, this means that there’s a higher risk of transmission of communicable diseases, such as influenza and even COVID-19. Because you and your family members are likely going to be spending more time in your home, you must ensure that the air quality is as good as possible.

What Dangers Are In The Home?

Besides the risk of the transmission of viruses, there are many other sources of danger in the air of most homes. Indoor air pollution is a serious matter. It includes pollutants, such as:

It surprises some people to know that the sources of indoor pollution include some of the things that are considered normal.

Things like household cleaners, space heaters, chimneys, and even attached garages can have a negative impact on the air quality of the house.

whole-home air purifier system can help to reduce these indoor air pollutants.

Clean Comfort Indoor Air Essentials

How Might Indoor Air Pollution Make Influenza And The Coronavirus Worse?

You might not think too much about how the quality of air in your home can impact your potential to contract an illness or the way in which you heal from it. There are some profound impacts that it can have when the illness is related to the respiratory system.

Influenza and COVID-19 both impact the respiratory system. Because you inhale air pollution, there’s a chance that it can irritate the lungs and windpipe. This might make the symptoms of the respiratory illnesses more pronounced.

What Can You Do To Help Improve Air Quality In The Home?

There are three components to improving the air quality in your home – relative humidity, air purity, and air freshness. A whole-house humidifier can help to keep the relative humidity from dipping too low.

When the air is too dry, there’s a higher risk of respiratory illness transmission because the lungs depend on some moisture in the air to prevent them from drying out.

Residential indoor air quality in Salt Lake City is a big concern, but it can be addressed with a whole-home air purifier. High-efficiency models, which are available from Scott Hale, can help reduce the virus-sized particles by up to 80 percent, which can also help to reduce the chance of transmission of the flu.

Air freshness, which has to do with the ventilation of the home, is the final component in trying to stay healthy this winter. A full home system allows fresh air into the home and helps to force out the stale, used air.

Contact Scott Hale today to find out what options can help you to improve the air quality in your home this winter.

Whether there is too much hair or grease trapped in your drains, your sink or toilet can unexpectedly clog at any time. While this inconvenience can be a headache, there are ways that you can fix your clogged drains on your own.

Before you call a drain cleaning service, try out these tips for the best ways on how to unclog a sink drain. If you think your issue is more significant than you can handle, Scott Hale’s experienced drain plumbers in Salt Lake City will be happy to help you!

Start With Hot Water

With everything that can get stuck in your drain, one of the easiest ways to get your drains clean is by pouring boiling hot water down the drain. This should be the first thing you do to try to clear any blockage. 

For the best results, you should boil a half-gallon of water and pour it right into the drain opening. After doing this, turn the water on and see if the water drains the right way. If not, repeat the process, and if it still doesn’t work, it means you have a stubborn clog that will require an alternative solution. 

Use Baking Soda And Vinegar

Before starting this technique, make sure you remove any standing water that is in your sink. As one of the best ways to unclog a sink, this mixture is easy to use, and you don’t have to buy chemical drain cleaners. 

Start by pouring a cup of baking soda into the sink drain and then add in the same amount of white vinegar. The mixture should begin to bubble.

Then, after 15 minutes, run your hot water. If it is draining properly, some of the blockage has been eliminated.

plumber unclogging toilet

Plunge Away

One of the most common and best ways to unclog a sink, using a plunger usually always does the trick. Plungers can be efficiently used for sink and toilet clogs and are recommended by drain cleaning companies. 

For a sink clog, try to use a sink plunger which is smoother on the surface. Make sure you have around three inches of water in your sink and plunge it up and down over the drain.

For your toilet, repeat this process with a toilet plunger.

Plumber’s Snake 

This tool is often used by professionals during a drain cleaning service and is regarded as one of the best ways to unclog any drain. 

You start by disassembling the drainpipe and P-trap to find any blockage behind the wall. Then, insert the snake until you feel resistance, which is a signal of blockage.

If you don’t have a plumber’s snake, try to use a metal wire coat hanger by straightening it out.  

When Should I Call A Plumber?

It’s normal to want to avoid calling for a drain cleaning service, but sometimes it is necessary to protect your home. If you aren’t sure of the severity of the clog or have no prior experience of draining, then calling a plumber would be better than trying to tackle the issue yourself. 

Do you have a stubborn clog in one or multiple home drains? Call us for reliable and professional drain cleaning services in Salt Lake City!

Scott Hale Plumbing, Drains, Heating & Air
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