Tag: Home Maintenance

Quick Answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to Call a Professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick Answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to Call a Professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick Answer: Choose a portable air cleaner by matching its clean air delivery rate (CADR) to the room area, then separate particle filtration from controls that reduce pollution at the source. A portable unit is a supplement to source control and ventilation, not a guarantee that every indoor pollutant will be removed.

Match CADR to room size

ENERGY STAR explains that CADR is a measure of how quickly filtered air is delivered and that a larger CADR can serve a larger area. Its sizing guidance is calculated for an 8-foot ceiling, so a higher ceiling may require a higher CADR or a different sizing decision.

CADR evidence: is sized appropriately to fit your room. The chart below is for estimation purposes. The CADRs are calculated based on an 8-foot ceiling. If you have higher ceilings, you may want to select a portable air cleaner with a higher CADR. Portable Air Cleaner Sizin

Room-size evidence: our indoor air quality in EPA's Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home (PDF, 3 MB). Check your room size Be sure to consider the square footage of the room where you will place the room air cleaner. Larger models use more energy, so choose a model that is sized app

Know what the filter is addressing

EPA describes indoor pollutants as particles or gases. Use the product information and the official guidance to distinguish what a unit is designed to filter; do not assume that a particle-focused device addresses every gas or chemical source.

Particle evidence: ng materials, consumer products, and home furnishings. These indoor air pollutants can be particles or gases, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Common contaminants that can be found indoors include particulate matter (including PM 2.5 [fine] and PM

Gas evidence: consumer products, and home furnishings. These indoor air pollutants can be particles or gases, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Common contaminants that can be found indoors include particulate matter (including PM 2.5 [fine] and PM 10 [coarse]),

Control pollution at the source

Filtration can support, but does not replace, source control and ventilation. Remove or reduce the activity creating the pollutant when it is safe to do so, and use the official guidance for the situation instead of treating an air cleaner as the only remedy.

Source-control evidence: utdoor air. In addition, research shows that filtration can be an effective supplement to source control and ventilation. Using a portable air cleaner and/or upgrading the air filter in your furnace or central heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)

Use the product instructions

1. Measure or estimate the room area and note whether the ceiling is higher than the sizing assumption.
2. Compare the product’s stated CADR and recommended room size with the official guidance.
3. Check whether the product addresses particles, gases, or neither claim for the pollutant you are concerned about.
4. Keep airflow clear and follow the manufacturer’s filter, placement, and replacement instructions.

When to Call a Professional

Seek qualified help for persistent indoor-air problems, combustion concerns, visible mold, a suspected gas or chemical release, or symptoms that continue after leaving the area. Do not use this guide as a diagnosis or as a substitute for emergency services.

Official sources

Use both official pages below to confirm the live guidance and product-specific limits.

Quick answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver

Quick answer: Start with the safety, water, heating and cooling checks that can prevent small problems from becoming expensive repairs.

What to check first

• Look for leaks under sinks, around toilets, and near water heaters.
• Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
• Replace or clean HVAC filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clear leaves and debris from outdoor equipment and drains.

Seasonal routine

In spring and fall, inspect weather seals, gutters, visible ductwork, and exterior hose connections. Before extreme heat or cold, confirm that your thermostat, shutoff valves, and emergency contacts are easy to find.

Costs, maintenance intervals, and energy use vary by home, equipment, climate, and local service rates. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then check the manufacturer’s instructions and your local utility information.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed professional for exposed wiring, gas odors, structural damage, refrigerant work, or a leak you cannot safely isolate.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver