It’s rainy, windy and downright chilly out—sounds like a typical winter in the Pacific Northwest! And it’s about to get colder, which means you’ll be cooped up inside for what feels like the foreseeable future. What a drag!

Since you’re spending so much time inside these days, it’s extra important that the air quality in your indoor spaces is high. And one of the best ways to tackle it is with a clean home. You may be tempted to spend your weekend curled up with a blanket and a hot cup of coffee, but taking some time to clean will be well worth it.

Here are five household chores that can raise the quality of your indoor air this season:

1. Vacuum and rotate your mattress

Your mattress can harbor all sorts of unpleasant odors and bacteria. Freshen it up to help remove particles and breathe easier.

2. Clean fan blades

The blades of your ceiling fan can be dust traps, especially if they aren’t in use. And if you proactively keep your fan dust-free, you won’t wind up with a snowstorm once you decide to turn it on. Yikes!

3. Dust

While it’s nobody’s favorite chore, keeping dust off indoor surfaces helps prevent harmful particles from unnecessarily filling the air you breathe. If you are noticing more dust than usual, it could be an issue with your furnace filter. Filters are a key line of defense against poor indoor air quality, so change yours monthly during the winter to keep your home fresh.

4. Take off your shoes

Leave your dirty street shoes at the door and stick with slippers or socks inside. You could be tracking all sorts of dirt, germs and unpleasantries from the outdoors into your home if you leave your tennies on—not only making it necessary to clean your floor more often, but lowering the quality of your indoor air.

5. Deep clean carpets

Carpets, like ceiling fans and mattresses, can be traps for dust and bacteria. Deep cleaning your carpets and rugs at least once a year will help you get all those deeply embedded particles out of your home.

Keeping your home clean is an important step in bettering the quality of your indoor air. For those areas that are harder to reach, like your ductwork and furnace, contact Barron’s Air Solutions Team: www.barronheating.com/airsolutions/.

Happy cleaning!

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It’s cold season—and the flu will be here next.

We all know to get our flu shots, wash our hands frequently and wipe off common surfaces to help avoid the dreaded bugs. But did you know your HVAC system can help you fight the flu?

FILTRATION

Air filters are a front-line defense for your home. They come in a variety of styles and levels, so be sure to always use a good quality pleated version. Look for one with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 9 or higher—this will trap at least 85% of air particles that cause irritations like allergies and asthma, especially if it’s changed often.

Our Air Solutions Team recommends that you step up your level of filtration even more with three additional barrier levels to help keep smaller particles and germs out:

• Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC): This positively charges air particles as they move through the unit and then captures them with negatively charged collector plates. EACs are very effective and can be cleaned instead of replaced.
• HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter: This filter has the highest level of particle capture of any filter system. HEPA filters trap smaller viruses and pathogens and prevent them from entering your home.
• Air scrubber: This uses ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology to actually kill viruses before they enter your home. The ultraviolet bulbs are long lasting—they just need to be changed when they grow dim to be most effective.

HUMIDITY

An appropriate level of humidity in your home’s air can actually help minimize the flu virus’ ability to transfer from host to host. The moisture forms droplets that the virus adheres to as it is coughed into the air. The droplets then sink, minimizing chances that the germs will reach and infect others. Boiling water, adding indoor plants or taking long showers are all simple ways to increase humidity in your home, but the most effective way is to maintain a relative humidity level between 40-50%.

DUCT CLEANING & SEALING

The air that is circulating your home is vented through your duct system, so dirty ducts or leaks in that system can lead to you ingesting contaminated air. Air drawn into your home as a result of leaks is most often pulled from crawl spaces, attics and walls, carrying dust, fiberglass shards, rodent urine, molds and germs—all of which can wreak havoc on your health and immune system.

Our Air Solutions Team can clean and seal your ducts with the patented Aeroseal® process, creating a barrier to help keep that unhealthy air out—and that can help you breathe easy.

Filtration, humidity and cleaning and sealing ducts are all big steps towards bettering the quality of the air in your home. And clean air means a healthier you. To learn more about using your HVAC system to fight off viruses this cold and flu season, contact Barron’s Air Solutions Team and ask about our Ultimate Indoor Air Quality Upgrade: https://www.barronheating.com/airsolutions/.

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Upgrading your heating and cooling system is the best way to increase both comfort and energy savings. And as we come into chillier weather, your furnace’s performance is going to be tested once again. Here are some points when considering a new system:

Efficiency

Furnace efficiency is measured with “AFUE” or “Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.” The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the equipment. Furnaces over 90% AFUE are considered “condensing” models and convert the highest percentage of fuel into heating your home.

Sizing

Your home is unique, with requirements that may not fit into a predetermined package. Different sized homes need different sized equipment, but a Barron Tech will also take into account your home’s insulation, number of rooms, windows and more.

Rebates and Financing

Are you feeling limited by pricing? Ask about current promotions and financing options. A manufacturer rebate, for example, could bring the price of your dream high-efficiency furnace down to a point that is within your budget.

Indoor Air Quality

Heating and air conditioning equipment is a key line of defense against poor indoor air quality. Add-ons to your new furnace installation can really step up your healthy-home game, so be sure to ask. Our Air Solutions Team are experts in air purification, duct cleaning and duct sealing, for example, which could be just what you need to reach ultimate home comfort.

Maintenance Agreements

Annual maintenance is an important way to keep your new equipment running smoothly year after year. Barron makes it easy with a Silver Shield maintenance agreement – never forget your preventative maintenance again!

Warranties

Most manufacturers have an “out-of-the-box” warranty and one that goes into effect after a piece of equipment is registered. Ask what is offered with your new unit for your peace of mind for years to come.

We hear you – HVAC shopping is overwhelming! Just remember, the most important thing you can do is choose the right contractor for the job. You can breathe easy with Barron Heating – our knowledgeable team is here to help find the best fit for your comfort and pocket.

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Barron Heating & Air Conditioning, seeking qualified candidates in a tight job market to fill positions at its three Northwest Washington locations, recently launched Barron Technician School at its Ferndale campus.

“Our team is seeking exceptional apprentice and journey-level HVAC, electrical, and plumbing candidates that are career-oriented, exhibit a positive attitude and have a strong desire to help others,” said John Barron, owner of Barron Heating. “Our campus is now equipped with fully functioning service and installation labs, with classes taught by industry leaders.”

Job candidates accepted by Barron Technician School are paid for their classroom, lab, and on-the-job training and don’t pay tuition. Employees are reimbursed for continuing education units and fees for trade-specific licensure. Entry-level apprentice HVAC wages begin around $16 per hour. Journey-level technician, electrician and plumbing wages can reach the $35-$45 per hour range for full-time, year-round positions.

“Our goal with Barron Technician School is to attract the best apprentice and journey-level job seekers,” said Brad Barron, who led the development of the school for Barron Heating. “We know that our on-the-job and BTS training approach results in the best-trained technicians, electricians, and plumbers. Our field managerial staff and BTS trainers have hundreds of years of combined experience.”

Barron Heating has become one of Northwest Washington’s largest and most respected home performance experts with locations in Ferndale, Burlington and Marysville. Approximately 130 employees serve customers in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties. Technicians, electricians and plumbers are busy all year because heating (winter) and cooling (summer) seasons are bridged by Barron Heating’s Air Solutions and energy systems services in the spring and fall.

Barron Heating’s Ferndale location is in the Pacific Industrial Park at 5100 Pacific Highway, along the east side of Interstate 5 between West Smith and Slater roads. For more information about Barron Technician School, call (360) 676-1131 or visit https://www.barronheating.com/barron-technician-school/.

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Knowing when to switch your thermostat from heating to cooling mode isn’t always easy. Keeping air circulating is important in the spring and fall, but the weather is often so mild that you may not need the power of your furnace or air conditioner to stay comfortable. As summer winds down, here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to your heating and cooling equipment:

Don’t turn off your equipment

It’s important to keep air circulating during the spring and fall, especially if you suffer from allergies. If your equipment doesn’t seem to be coming on as often or the air is getting stale, try setting the fan on your thermostat to “ON.”

Commit to your thermostat settings

While it can be hard to know when to change your thermostat from one mode to the other, it’s important to not keep switching back and forth. On and off cycles are the biggest energy hog for a heating and cooling system, so keeping them to a minimum is key.

Don’t rely on open windows

Again, keeping your air clean during the fall and spring is very important to stave off allergies and pollutants in the air, so open windows sparingly.

Consider investing in a heat pump

A heat pump and gas furnace can be an ideal duo for year-round heating and cooling in your home, allowing you to always use the most efficient heat source for the season. Heat transfer (the heating method used by a heat pump) is more energy efficient than heat creation (the method used by space heaters). As we come into these milder September nights, when you don’t yet need the power of your furnace, your heat pump can step in to keep you cozy.

Want to learn more about operating your heating and cooling equipment during the mild seasons, or stepping up your system? Contact the Barron Heating Team today!

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Are you guilty of bad homeowner HVAC habits? Here are seven deadly sins that could affect the lifespan and efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment.

1. Constantly adjusting the thermostat

Start-up and shut-down is the most wearing part of your air conditioner or gas furnace’s job. When you are constantly adjusting the thermostat, on and off cycles can be much more frequent.

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Is your heating and cooling system getting NOISY? There are some hums, squeaks and pops that can alert you to issues, while others are just a result of normal operation. If your equipment is not new, but you are noticing new noises, give Barron a call! 1-800-328-7774

BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

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Barron Heating & Air Conditioning’s Christmas in July giving event is a way to emphasize giving and compassion for others.

Barron Heating is seeking recommendations through July 31 for families in need in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties. Three families will be selected to receive a Daikin Ductless Heat Pump installed at their home.

Also, $100 will be donated to a “furnace fund” from the sale of each Daikin comfort system purchased between now and Aug. 31, making it possible for another three families to be given a new furnace later this year.

The value of the heat pumps and furnaces with installation is estimated at more than $25,000.

“We know there are good families in our communities who are facing difficult challenges,” said John Barron, owner of Barron Heating. “A ductless heat pump delivers energy efficient heating and cooling, providing year-round comfort to a family that otherwise may not have heat this winter.”

The ductless heat pumps will dramatically cut energy costs for the families receiving them. The average monthly cost of using a ductless heat pump in an average-sized home is about one-fourth the cost of using an electric or oil furnace and about one-fifth the cost of electric baseboard heating.

Family recommendations may be made at www.barronheating.com/christmasinjuly/ or any of the three Barron Heating locations.

Barron Heating has become one of Northwest Washington’s largest and most respected home performance experts with locations in Ferndale, Burlington, and Marysville. Approximately 130 employees serve customers in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties.

Committed to improving lives through its Air Solutions team and Certified Home Performance Experts, Barron Heating provides a wide range of heating, cooling, and indoor air-quality products and services, as well as a large selection of stoves and fireplaces.

Barron Heating’s Ferndale location is in the Pacific Industrial Park at 5100 Pacific Highway, along the east side of Interstate 5 between West Smith and Slater roads. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call (360) 676-1131 or visit www.barronheating.com.

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