Is your home dry come what season? Your skin and throat will tell you if the air is anything but agreeable. You may also find the HVAC system straining to do its job.

For those on the Wasatch Front, it is likely Utah’s well known arid climate to blame. We at Alta Air LLC have been putting homeowners and businesses in northern Utah at ease since 2003. Do not hesitate to put in a call to (385) 317-4056 to discuss the state of your system.

The air in Utah is as clear as it is beautiful, yet that dryness has a way of exacting a toll on heating and cooling equipment. One can avoid trouble down the road by being aware of the sort of problems this brings and keeping the system in good order.

Why the Dry Air of Utah is an Adversary for HVAC Systems

With its high elevation and scant humidity much of the year, Utah is hard on your equipment and your air quality alike. The dry conditions sap moisture from your furniture and your home’s air supply as well as from your own skin. It puts a different spin on how the HVAC operates in any given season.

We encounter these issues with some frequency:

Furnaces that must run longer to produce a sense of warmth; dust and other fine particles that remain in the air; a thermostat set to the proper temperature but no comfort to be had; static in the home; and all the dry throats and sinus or allergy aggravation that goes with it. Not to mention wood trim, flooring and furniture that have dried out and cracked from the lack of indoor humidity.

Colder than it is

There is a fact most Utah homeowners are not aware of: at equal temperatures, dry air is going to feel colder. So in the winter your furnace is put to work to make you comfortable even if the thermostat is on 70.

All that overtime takes its toll in the form of more wear on the parts, a reduced life span for the equipment and steeper energy bills. A whole-home humidifier is a good remedy; it allows you to turn the thermostat down and still have a warm feeling in the house, taking some of the burden off the furnace.

Dust and the State of Your Indoor Air

In drier climes like ours, fine particles and dust hang in the air longer. They are drawn into the HVAC where they clog up filters and make a deposit on the coils and in the ductwork.

A dirty coil or filter is the last thing you want; it makes the system labour and the air worse for it. For many a home in this climate it is the source of poor efficiency and comfort. An upgrade to your indoor air quality and changing filters on a regular basis will put right what is wrong.

Summer Strain on the Cooling System

Utah summers are hot and without much humidity. Your air conditioner is not contending with the kind of moisture one would in the Southeast, but the heat and dust are a heavy demand on it.

When the outdoor unit is caked with debris it cannot shed heat, resulting in less effective cooling and higher energy use. Or a breakdown on the day it is hottest.

Everyday Discomforts

Then there is the matter of living with it. Static, cracking wood, sinus irritation … dry air is not pleasant. These are minor irritations perhaps, but they indicate an environment at odds with you and your equipment.

Putting Some Protection in Place

These are not insurmountable problems. To safeguard your system in Utah you can do the following:

• Make a habit of changing filters
• Have maintenance done to keep components in shape
• Put in a whole-home humidifier for the winter months
• Use products for indoor air quality to cut down on allergens and dust
• See that the outdoor unit is free of dust

Alta Air LLC has the heating, cooling and indoor air quality solutions to suit the conditions we face here on the Wasatch Front. We are BBB Accredited, licensed and insured, and on hand 24/7 for a repair or a word of advice on taming the dry air.

To get some help from our team and see your system better withstand the climate, give us a ring at (385) 317-4056.