Breathe Cleaner, Healthier Indoor Air with Fras-Air/General Service Experts
If you’re sick of low air quality disrupting your sense of comfort, let Fras-Air/General Service Experts identify what products and services will offer the most benefits. 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 give us a call at 908-448-2154 for more information.
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Financing Options to Meet Your Needs
High-efficiency indoor air quality products are essential components when it comes to home comfort, so why should installation be a budget buster?
Fras-Air/General Service Experts simplifies indoor air quality installation with EasyPay financing plans, making it so you will not have to stress 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 908-448-2154 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 Hillsborough home or business. The concentration of airborne pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than in the open air. 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 concerns, 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 causes indoor air pollution?
Some of the most prevalent 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 harmful to your health?
Definitely. 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?
Solving 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 not be as healthy as you would think. 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 setting up a Home Health® Report consultation with Fras-Air/General Service Experts.
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How do I know which indoor air quality product is best for me?
Each home has differing comfort needs, especially if someone in your Hillsborough home has allergies, asthma or a weak immune system. You may need a single product like an energy-efficient air filtration system, or multiple. Fras-Air/General Service Experts can help you find the right mix of equipment.
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Are all HVAC filters alike?
No. HVAC air filters are different in quality and design, and some have exclusive features. We generally advise 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 aid you to identify high-efficiency filters. For most residential needs, a MERV rating of 11 or lower will be sufficient.
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How regularly should I replace my air filter at home?
The optimal 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 lead to 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?
If the issue is not your body’s hydration, excessively dry air can irritate your throat and sinuses. Start thinking about buying a whole-home humidifier if you persistently struggle with a dry, itchy throat.
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What are the positive aspects of a central, whole-home humidifier?
Your HVAC system removes 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 provides balanced humidity throughout the entire building.
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What is the appropriate amount of indoor humidity?
For many, 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 pick the right humidifier?
The wisest 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/H2O is required every hour to ensure balanced 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?
It depends on the model, but 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 necessary 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 released 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 improperly. 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 signs 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 alarmed about carbon monoxide in my home?
Yes. Removing carbon monoxide should be a priority because of the danger it poses to your health and well-being. CO gas can be encountered in any Hillsborough home or commercial property, making proper ventilation and prevention strategies universally beneficial.
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What can be done to defend my home from carbon monoxide?
Prevention is the optimum 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 point 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 right 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 examined by a specialist. This ensures chimneys and vents aren’t blocked and are connected appropriately.
- Confirm gas appliances are operating correctly, especially your heater. You can ensure efficient, safe operation by scheduling routine furnace maintenance with Fras-Air/General 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 discovered, you should then contact a trusted HVAC company for repairs.
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How can I prevent 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 typical sources, but they can be solved with the sanitation properties of a germicidal UV light. They are really effective against odor-producing microorganisms.