Over the past month here at Titan, we have begun installing a new product that is helping schools and universities maintain the health safety of their students and staff during the pandemic. A new air-cleaning technology from Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) removes pathogens (including COVID-19) from the air using the existing HVAC system in a building. Let’s go over how it works. How it Works GPS’ patented technology is called needlepoint bipolar ionization (or NPBI™). This technology purifies indoor air by reducing airborne particulates, odors, and pathogens.  To accomplish this, NPBI™ creates and releases ions into the airstream using your existing HVAC system. These ions disperse throughout the room and form bonds with particles in the air through a process called agglomeration. This process forms large clusters of particles that are more easily filtered out of the air by your HVAC system. In addition, the ions themselves have a microbicidal effect (meaning they destroy microbes) on pathogens, rendering them inactive. NPBI™ does this without producing ozone or other harmful byproducts, so it’s safe to use in indoor spaces. You can see how this technology could change the game this winter for schools, universities, and other businesses that rely on gathering people indoors. Please note that in their disclaimers, GPS states that this technology is not intended to take the place of other precautions to prevent the transmission of disease, and that compliance with health authorities and the CDC’s guidance is still important, including but not limited to social distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and the use of face masks. Testing and Compliance This technology has undergone several rounds of testing to prove its safety and effectiveness. GPS has done in-lab sensitivity testing and simulations, as well as field testing in several of their customer locations, and has found it to be effective and non-harming both to people and the environment. As a bonus, it has also been shown to save up to 30% on energy consumption! This technology has been registered and certified by UL 867 and UL 2998 as ozone-free, and is CE compliant. Where it’s Being Used NPBI™ is already being used in thousands of offices, airports, hospitals, schools, and other community spaces worldwide. Among their list of customers, GPS lists Harvard University, Google, Boston Children’s Hospital, and even the White House. Titan has only been installing this product for the past month, but already it is in high demand among our customers, especially local school districts. The hope is that this technology will help schools stay open during the pandemic, while providing an added level of safety for students, teachers, and staff. This exciting new technology is available for installation by our HVAC technicians here at Titan. If NPBI™ sounds like a good fit for your building, or if you have questions, call us at 651-714-8931. ...

Generally speaking, large open spaces take more energy to heat and cool than smaller enclosed spaces, especially if they have high or vaulted ceilings. Yet modern open floor plan design tends to result in greater energy efficiency, not less. Let’s take a look at why that is. More Natural Light Homes with an open floor plan have fewer walls and angles to block the spread of light, allowing you to take full advantage of natural lighting. Sunshine can stream throughout the space uninhibited, filling your home with natural light. More natural light equates to more natural warmth as well, decreasing your reliance on your furnace in the winter. During the summer, improved airflow helps maintain more consistently cool temperatures, and shades and ceiling fans can help keep things cool so you don’t overtax your A/C unit. If windows are optimally placed in the home so that you can get the most benefit from natural light, you will reduce the amount of energy you need to heat and light your home. Improved Air Circulation Walls impede the flow of air, making enclosed spaces stuffy. They also make it difficult to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the home — often, one room will feel just right while the rest are too warm or too cold. You can overwork your HVAC unit trying to keep all of your rooms comfortable. An open floor plan allows air to circulate freely, making it easier to keep indoor air fresh and maintain an even temperature throughout the home while reducing the energy you use. Less Square Footage Needed The same square footage can feel bigger or smaller depending on the design of the home. Homes with open floor plans feel more spacious than those with a traditional floor plan, meaning you need less square footage to create an open and spacious atmosphere in your home. In other words, a smaller home with an open floor plan can feel just as spacious as a larger home with a traditional layout. The smaller your home, the less energy it requires to heat, cool, and light, and the lower your utility bills are. Open floor plans are not without their downsides — less privacy, potentially noisier, difficult to contain kitchen odors, and so on — so they are not to everyone’s preference. But when it comes to energy efficiency, modern open floor plan design has traditional floor plans beat.Whether you have an open floor plan or a traditional home, the best way to keep your HVAC unit running as efficiently as possible is with a routine maintenance plan. Contact Titan to get on our calendar for routine maintenance, repair, or replacement by giving us a call at 651-714-8931. We look forward to serving you! ...

Fall is officially here, which means heating season is just around the corner. But before you turn on your furnace for the first time, there are a few things you should do to ensure it’s ready to keep your home warm all winter long.   Change the Air Filter A clogged air filter keeps your furnace from running efficiently and can potentially cause it to overheat. Check your filter monthly and change it as needed — at least every 3 months, but more often if you have allergies or pets who shed. If you have a reusable air filter, vacuum it to remove any dust, then wash it with soap and water and allow it to dry before inserting it back into the furnace.   Uncover Vents & Clear Out Debris Blocked vents will keep heat from flowing uniformly throughout your house, so make sure nothing is obstructing your heating vents — including furniture, curtains, rugs, or other objects. You can also remove the register covers and vacuum out the ducts with a hose attachment to remove some of the dust and debris that accumulates between regular professional cleanings.   Declutter the Area Around Your Furnace Items stored near your furnace can pose a fire hazard. Move anything that is stored close to your furnace unit, paying special attention to flammable items such as rags, mops, paper, and chemicals. To be on the safe side, it’s best to keep all flammable materials in a separate room from the furnace.   Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Test your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to ensure they are in working order, and change the batteries if you haven’t done so in a while. If your home doesn’t have CO detectors, you’ll want to add them. When a furnace burns oil or natural gas to create heat, carbon monoxide is produced as a by-product. The CO is typically vented out of your home by your heating system, but cracks in the heat exchanger, blockages in the vents, or other issues can cause your furnace to leak carbon monoxide, putting your family at risk for CO poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors typically last 5-7 years, so if yours is on the older side, it may be time to replace it.     Test the Thermostat Test your thermostat to make sure it’s communicating with your furnace. Turn the thermostat up high enough to make the heat kick on, and if it seems like it's not communicating with the furnace, replace the batteries (if it has batteries). If that doesn’t fix the problem, you may need a new thermostat.     Seal Doors and Windows Make sure all outside doors and windows have a nice tight seal. Any gaps will allow heated air to escape and cold air to enter your home, making your furnace work even harder to keep your house at a consistent temperature (and therefore increasing your heating bill).     Schedule an Inspection Routine yearly maintenance helps keep your furnace in tip top shape as well as reduce the cost of major repairs. Fall is the time to schedule a tuneup and inspection for your furnace to make sure it’s ready for the cold weather months. During an inspection an HVAC technician will inspect your system for signs of wear and tear, clean out your system, and make any needed adjustments to keep everything running reliably throughout the winter. And if your furnace is nearing the end of its life, this is a good time to have it checked out to see if it can hang on for another year or if it’s time for a replacement. Titan Heating & Cooling is here to help you with regular HVAC maintenance, new furnace installation, or any...