Articles by Ray Toofan on ArticleSnatch.com

The Benefits Of HEPA Air Filtration Systems

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Today more and more people suffer from allergies such as hay fever, sinus problems, running eyes and noses, congestion and headaches to mention a few, and this is on the increase. Experts believe that the number of people who are effected in this way is rising by almost 5% per year, which is an incredible amount. There are various causes to this increase in airborne illness but one of the main causes is poor ventilation and air conditioners in buildings. Years ago people spent more time outside and as a result breathed cleaner air and did not suffer from the problems associated with long periods indoors. Now with the hours spent at work in offices and other enclosed areas increasing each year more and more people are feeling the effects of breathing poorly filtered air. Luckily there are things that you can do to rid the air you are breathing from contaminants. One of the easiest ways to do this is by simply opening the windows and doors in your home of office to increase the air flow through the building, letting in fresh air as you do so. **End Summary** Topics: home]]> office]]> health]]> HEPA]]> air]]> filter]]> allergies]]> dust]]> hvac]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

What Are HEPA Air Filtration Systems?

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air and HEPA air filters are used in a wide range of different appliances and devices in and around the home and office to reduce the number of pollutants in the air. Experts say that a HEPA filter will eliminate up to 99.97% of particles that are airborne and are 0.3 micrometers in diameter. This size of particle is thought to be the most difficult to filter and are known as the most penetrating particle size or MPPS. Any particles that are either bigger or smaller than this size are filtered with a better efficiency. A HEPA filter is made up of a mat of fibers that are randomly distributed across each other forming a mesh of different sized fibers all placed on top of each other many times to form a filter. Air that passes though the mat is filtered as particles are trapped within it and the filter, after a certain period of time can be changed and all trapped particles are disposed of. **End Summary** Topics: HEPA]]> filter]]> ventilation]]> home]]> office]]> particle]]> air]]> clean]]> pollutants]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

Switch To HEPA Filters And Breathe Easier

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Having a respiratory illness can, at times be debilitating and leave the sufferer feeling uncomfortable and unable to breath properly without difficultly. If you have breathing problems then you will understand just how problematic it can be to be in an environment that is stuffy and stale with dust particles and other debris floating around. Just a few minutes spent in a room that is poorly ventilated can be agony and leave the sufferer feeling ill for some time. One of the best ways in which to avoid situations like this is to use a good filtration system. Today the best filter that is around and can be a massive a help for anyone with breathing problems and allergies is a HEPA filter. HEPA or high efficiency particulate air filters are the only filter that can eliminate 99.995% of all airborne particles, leaving the air fresh and clean without any pollutants. This makes them the ideal choice for anyone who has trouble breathing, suffers from allergies or begins to feel unwell when in an atmosphere that is stale with little ventilation. **End Summary** Topics: HEPA]]> filter]]> breathing]]> health]]> home]]> office]]> allergies]]> clean]]> air]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

Should I Be Worried About Radon In My Home?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Every year almost 21,000 Americans are killed from lung cancer that is thought to be related to breathing in Radon. Many people have never even heard of Radon, let alone know that it is the 6th most common cancer causing chemical element around. So how do you know if there is Radon in your environment, and where does it come from? Here are some of the facts that you should know about Radon: -Radon is colorless and is a type of radioactive noble gas that occurs naturally. -Radon is produced when radium decays, radium is found in soils and is an alkaline earth metal. This is very radioactive and can be found all over the world, although some places have higher levels of radium than others. -Radon levels can vary from house to house and no two houses are the same, you can buy testing kits to measure how much radon is in your home, or you can get a professional to do this for you. -Increased negative pressure inside a house can suck radon into the house which means that the levels of radon will increase. **End Summary** Topics: radon]]> danger]]> radioactive]]> home]]> health]]> cancer]]> hvac]]> ventilation]]> soil]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

Safe Refrigeration And Freezing

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Refrigerators and freezers are two of the most common residential and commercial appliances and work hard as they are constantly running 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days per year. Due to this it can be quite easier for a refrigerator or freezer not to be performing as efficiently as it could be, either through old age or by not being correctly maintained. This loss of efficiency can lead to the temperature inside the appliance raising above its optimum. Refrigerators should be kept at between 34-40 degrees F although the best temperature is 37 degrees F. Freezers should be kept at around 0 degrees F, anything much higher and food will not be fully frozen, too much lower and food can get freezer burn which ruins stored food. Here are some tips on keeping your refrigerators and freezers working well and maintaining their optimum temperatures: -Make sure that any food that is to be either put in the refrigerator or freezer is cooled down properly before doing so. Failing to do this could cause problems in the quality of food being stored and also reduce the temperature of the appliance and create condensation inside them. **End Summary** Topics: refrigeration]]> refrigerator]]> freezer]]> hvac]]> safe]]> appliance]]> efficiency]]> Chicago]]> Giant Mechanical]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

The Facts You Need To Know About Indoor Pollutants

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

With the number of people suffering from asthma and other breathing problems increasing weekly it is important that you know just how many indoor pollutants there are in your home. Years ago people believed that just by keeping your home clean you were getting rid of anything harmful that could cause you to be ill, this is not the case today. There are many different things that can all contribute to illness and breathing problems and they are polluting the air you breath inside the cleanest homes constantly. If you suffer from breathing difficulties or someone in your family does you might be shocked to learn just how many pollutants could be lurking in your home such as: -Dust mites: These tiny microscopic creatures live in bed mattresses, fabric and carpets all around your home and they feed on human and pet skin, discarded food particles and any other organic products in your home. Dust mites then produce faeces which are inhaled and can be a major irritant for people who suffer from asthma and other breathing problems. -Pet dander: This is basically pet dandruff which is produced much in the same way that human dandruff is produced. **End Summary** Topics: home]]> health]]> allergies]]> pollutants]]> breathing]]> dirty]]> air]]> illness]]> sick]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

How Do I Protect Myself From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Each and every appliance that is fuel burning carries a risk of leaking carbon monoxide, unless it burns carbon based fuel. Carbon monoxide is created through the process of combustion and is so deadly as it is virtually invisible to humans as it is odorless, tasteless and colorless and exposure to it can quite quickly lead to death. When breathed in carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream and prevents oxygen from circulating around the body. After time this will lead to organ failure, and without immediate medical treatment, death. However the majority of people who die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning will die in their sleep as they are breathing in the fumes all night. If you are concerned about the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning you need to make sure that you do all you can to protect yourself and others from leaking appliances. Leaking appliances are the main cause of death from carbon monoxide poisoning and many people do not even realise if their appliances are faulty and leaking. **End Summary** Topics: CO]]> carbon monoxide]]> heating]]> air conditioning]]> ventilation]]> health]]> risk]]> Chicago]]> Giant Mechanical]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

How Do I Check That My Appliances Are Energy Efficient?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Today in the home there are countless electrical appliances all designed to make tasks in life easier and to provide heat, refrigeration and conditioned air which feels fresh and clean. Such appliances all run on electricity and in the majority of homes there will be several appliances all running at the same, all using electricity at different rates. Few people know how much electricity it takes to run each appliance, and few people spend time thinking about this, yet want to lower their fuel bills. As the cost of electricity continues to go up more and more people are looking to ways in which they can save electricity and money. One of the best ways in which you can do this is by making sure that all your appliances are energy efficient. When it is time to replace your air conditioner for instance make sure that you get the most energy efficient unit that you can. If you are unsure about what to look for when buying appliances here are some things to bear in mind. Make sure that you buy an appliance that will fit comfortably into your home. **End Summary** Topics: home]]> appliances]]> refrigerator]]> freezer]]> energy star]]> efficient]]> savings]]> Chicago]]> Giant Mechanical]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

How Can I Prevent Indoor Allergies?

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Each year more and more people are falling ill through pollutants in their homes or offices and it is becoming a very real problem. Indoor allergies are accountable for hundreds if not thousands of sick days each year as people are struggling to cope with the symptoms brought on by irritants. Indoor allergies tend to be focused on the eyes, noses, throats and skin of suffers with many people complaining of itchy, water eyes, running noses, sore throats and flaking skin. Obviously for sufferers of indoor allergies life can be difficult as it may feel as though there is no end to their illness. Help is at hand however. In order to prevent indoor allergies, or at the very least reduce their symptoms it is important to understand what causes them. If you are one of the unlucky people who suffers from indoor allergies here are a few causes and preventative measures against this misery causing illness: -Dust mites: Dust mites are very tiny creatures that live and feed on the dead skin cells from humans and animals. Their droppings are one of the main causes of indoor allergies and can bring about asthma attacks. **End Summary** Topics: allergies]]> home]]> health]]> pollen]]> dust]]> sick]]> illness]]> air]]> mold]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

HEPA Filters Versus Standard Filters

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If you have an air conditioning system or other form of ventilation the chances are that it will use filters as part of its process. Filters are possibly one of the things that you pay little thought to as they are inside the air conditioner and only need to be changed every so often. However you might be surprised to know that using a poor quality filter could be preventing your air conditioner from working as well as it should be. HEPA filters are very different from a standard filter in that their construction is unique. Each HEPA filter is a mat that is made up of different sized fibres all woven over and under each other creating a mesh like structure. The holes in this mesh at tiny, so tiny in fact that a HEPA filter can trap a particle that is 0.3 micrometres - this size of particle is the hardest to trap and is known as the most penetrating particle size - or MPPS and HEPA filters trap 99.997% this size of particle. Compare this to a standard filter that will trap around 90% of the larger particles and you can see the difference. **End Summary** Topics: filter]]> filtration]]> HEPA]]> ventilation]]> clean air]]> particles]]> allergies]]> Chicago]]> Giant Mechanical]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .

Facts About Using Old Appliances

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Everyone likes to make sure that they get the best deal they can when they are shopping and as a result you may be tempted to only change appliances when they break down and become irreparable. This attitude for the majority of people seems reasonable; after all why pay good money for a new appliance when you have one that works perfectly well at home. Or does it? You might be shocked to learn that over time many appliances begin to lose efficiency and do not perform as well as they should do. This can often be overlooked as people do get used to how their own appliances work and fail to notice if their air conditioner takes longer to heat up or cool a room down than it used to. Take refrigerators for example, if it seems to be warmer than normal the usual response would be to just turn down the temperature to make up for the difference. However leaving your air conditioner on for longer or turning down the temperature in your refrigerator means that they are using more electricity to do the same job. And this costs you more money. **End Summary** Topics: refrigerator]]> freezer]]> cooling]]> appliance]]> efficient]]> home]]> savings]]> deal]]> Chicago]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Giant Mechanical is a leading Chicago area company that provides Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and a variety of other services. Find out how Giant Mechanical can help you with your commercial, residential, or institutional needs by visiting http://www.giantmechanical.com .