Breathe Cleaner, Healthier Indoor Air with Roland J. Down Service Experts
If you’re fed up with low air quality disrupting your sense of comfort, let Roland J. Down Service Experts identify what products and services will provide the most cost-effective solution. We can generate a complete Home Health® Report. You can reduce the risk of illness, respiratory symptoms and even the growth of mold or mildew!
Request your free Home Health Report today, or contact us at 518-417-2938 for more information.
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Financing Options to Meet Your Needs
High-efficiency indoor air quality products are an equally important solution to a comprehensive sense of comfort, so why should installation be a budget buster?
Roland J. Down Service Experts offers indoor air quality installation with EasyPay financing plans, so you will not have to worry about down payments or annual fees.
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Our HVAC financing is quick, trustworthy and confidential. Prequalify today by submitting an online application.
Questions About Financing?
Give us a call at 518-417-2938 and we’ll be happy to provide more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s often a simpler solution to your comfort problem. Maybe you can find the answer you’re looking for in our FAQ below!
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What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
Indoor air quality refers to pollution in your Albany home or business. The concentration of airborne pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than outside. Since most people spend 90% of their time inside and breathe an estimated 3,000 gallons of air daily (according to the American Lung Association), this can eventually lead to problems.
Depending on your specific air quality issues, solutions include:
- Air filtration systems capable of trapping 99.97% of particles
- Germicidal UV lights to sterilize microbes like bacteria and mold
- Whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers that balance moisture levels
- Ventilation systems to keep air refreshed and flowing smoothly
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What triggers indoor air pollution?
Some of the most common sources of pollutants include Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) such as cleaning or personal care products, fuel-burning utilities and kitchen appliances, and particulate matter like dust, pollen and smoke.
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Can indoor air be hazardous to your health?
Absolutely. Pollutants and particulate matter can bring about illnesses and worsen respiratory conditions, particularly for children and the elderly. For certain contaminants like carbon monoxide gas, the effects may even be lethal.
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What are the health benefits of clean air?
Dealing with indoor air quality concerns can result in a host of benefits to your health and well-being, such as:
- Lower risk of illness
- Fewer or less-extreme asthma/allergy symptoms
- Relieve sinus irritation or sore throats
- Healthier, moisturized skin
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How healthy is my indoor air?
If you find yourself cleaning every day or coughing constantly, your indoor air may be to blame. Based on EPA studies, indoor pollutants can reach concentrations as much as 100 times higher than the air outdoors. You can determine your indoor air quality by scheduling a Home Health® Report consultation with Roland J. Down Service Experts.
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How do I know which indoor air quality product is right for me?
Each home has differing comfort needs, especially if someone in your Albany home has allergies, asthma or a weak immune system. You may require a single product like an energy-efficient air filtration system, or multiple. Roland J. Down Service Experts can help you find the right combination of equipment.
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Are all HVAC filters the same?
No. HVAC air filters vary in quality and design, and some have exclusive features. We generally support using the filter your HVAC manufacturer recommends pairing with your system. All filters are assigned MERV ratings on a scale from 1–20. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and can help you identify high-efficiency filters. In most cases, a MERV rating of 11 or lower will be sufficient.
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How often should I replace my air filter at home?
The right schedule for cleaning or replacing your air filter depends on multiple factors, like the filter design and MERV rating as well as the current indoor air quality. For conventional 1”-3” filters, most brands recommend replacement every 30-90 days. Pets, health conditions and even nearby pollution sources can necessitate replacing the filter more often.
- A 1″ pleated air filter must be replaced every 30-60 days.
- A 2″ pleated air filter should be swapped out every 3 months.
- A 3” pleated air filter should be changed every 120 days.
- A 4″ pleated air filter should be exchanged every 6 months.
- A 5” or 6″ pleated air filter ought to be replaced every 9-12 months.
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Why is my throat dry when I’m home?
Assuming the problem is not your body’s hydration, excessively dry air can irritate your throat and sinuses. Look at putting in a whole-home humidifier if you continuously struggle with a dry, itchy throat.
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What are the benefits of a central, whole-home humidifier?
Your HVAC system pulls out moisture as it runs, leading to situations where humidity levels fall out of balance. Portable humidifiers can resolve humidity concerns in a single room or small area, but a central humidifier ensures balanced humidity throughout the entire structure— home or business.
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What is the proper amount of indoor humidity?
Usually, comfortable humidity levels are between 30-60%. These levels are particularly hard to maintain in the winter, as cold air does not hold onto moisture as well as warm air. What’s more, your furnace displaces moisture by generating hot, dry heat.
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How do I choose the right humidifier?
The best way to find an appropriate whole-house humidifier is multiplying the total square footage by the height of the ceiling. This will help determine how many gallons of water each hour is needed to balance humidity.
You should also consider your available budget, as a humidifier needs maintenance just like any other mechanical equipment.
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How much water does a humidifier use?
While specific amounts depend on the model, whole-house humidifiers average between 1.5 to 12 gallons per day. Needless to say, dry environments will use more water to keep humidity stable.
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What are important tasks for whole-home humidifier maintenance?
Scheduled preventive maintenance is often vital for long-term equipment efficiency, and your humidifier is no different. The humidifier’s reservoir should be frequently drained and cleaned to prevent mold.
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What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas created by partial fuel combustionwhich, in turn is frequently caused by insufficient access to oxygen. Appliances relying on natural gas, charcoal, wood or kerosene are common sources of CO gas, especially if they are not running correctly or have been installed incorrectly. CO is poisonous to the body and is lethal at high levels or prolonged exposure.
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What are the effects/symptoms of carbon monoxide?
Initial symptoms such as nausea and tiredness are often incorrectly recognized as a result of the flu. But CO gas exposure can advance, oftentimes leading to confusion, organ damage or even death. Other symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Vomiting
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Should I be concerned about carbon monoxide in my home?
Yes. Eliminating carbon monoxide should be a top priority because of the danger it poses to your health and well-being. CO gas can be discovered in any Albany home or commercial property, making proper ventilation and prevention practices universally beneficial.
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What can be done to protect my home from carbon monoxide?
Prevention is the first place to start. A few safety precautions to take include:
- Don’t let your car idle in the garage. Cars are a significant source of carbon monoxide poisoning, so do not leave yours going in the restricted space of a closed garage. The same is true for gas equipment such as lawn mowers or snowmobiles.
- Don’t use ovens or grills as sources of heat. These appliances are safe when used correctly but can make carbon monoxide when used for an extended period in small spaces.
- Never operate a gas generator indoors. The fumes will have a much harder time dissipating.
- Have your chimney checked by a specialist. This ensures chimneys and vents aren’t blocked and are connected appropriately.
- Verify gas appliances are operating correctly, especially your heater. You can ensure efficient, safe performance by booking routine furnace maintenance with Roland J. Down Service Experts.
If carbon monoxide has been detected, you should immediately vacate the building and alert the fire department and utility provider. If a leak is spotted, you should then contact a trusted HVAC company for repairs.
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How can I eliminate indoor odors?
If an air freshener isn’t doing the trick, there may be microbes or contaminants nearby producing the unpleasant odor. Bacteria and mold are common sources, but they can be treated with the sanitation properties of a germicidal UV light. They are especially effective against odor-producing microorganisms.