December 15, 2017
Indoor air quality is central to the health of your family. Did you know that the air inside the average home is much more polluted than outdoor air? It is—about five times more. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde are usually found inside homes.
Another concern as it relates to indoor air quality is humidity. Air that is too humid or too dry can have unpleasant effects on your health and damage your home. Let’s check out three of the ways Winters Heating and Cooling can help you enhance the indoor air quality in your Franklin & South Indy home.
A Clean System Is the First Step to Good Indoor Air Quality
A dirty HVAC system can harbor and circulate allergens throughout your house. Your first line of defense is to ensure you maintain your system and keep it clean. The easiest thing you can do is assess your air filter regularly and replace it when it becomes dirty. In many households, the air filter needs to be changed every two or three months, but Winters Heating and Cooling recommends that you check them every month—especially if you have indoor air quality issues. Annual furnace, heat pump and/or air conditioner maintenance is beneficial, too. Your technician will ensure your system is clean and not circulating dust and debris throughout your Franklin & South Indy home.
Enlist the Help of an Air Purifier
An air purifier can help improve indoor air quality and offer some relief from seasonal and indoor allergies. For maximum allergy control, look for an option that filters out at least 95 percent of particles as small as .3 micron (a micron is one-thousandth of a millimeter). Regardless of whether allergies are an issue with any one in your home, filtering out pollutants is beneficial. The EPA has stated that the long-term effects of poor indoor air quality include potentially debilitating or deadly respiratory and heart diseases and cancer (https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality). A good air purifier, like the Lennox® PureAirTM, will remove 90 percent of germs and bacteria from your indoor space—down to .01 micron.
Another way an air purifier can make your house more comfortable is by eliminating household odors. While not as severe as pollutants and germs, bad odors are typically unwelcome in people’s homes. Odors from things like pets, cooking, and sports gear can have it smell like your home is unclean. Cleaning your air with an air purifier is a healthier way to get rid of these odors than trying to mask them. Cleaning products, air sprays and scented candles might actually pollute your indoor air more. The right air purifier will end household odors, offering you clean, healthy air.
Control Humidity for Health
The EPA suggests maintaining your indoor relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. When your air is too dry it can cause health problems like upper-respiratory issues, dry throat and nose, and itchy skin. Don’t forget that viruses generally thrive in dry air, and dry air is known to intensify symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. And, chances are high that your home’s air is too dry—the average heated home has a relative humidity between 13 and 16 percent in the winter months. That’s drier than the world’s driest deserts! So what can you do?
A whole home humidifier can provide up to 50 percent more humidity than portable humidifiers. Plus, you don’t have to repeatedly adjust most models—just program in your desired humidity and you’re done. Proper humidity levels will not only help keep everyone in your home in good health, but they can help defend your home from damages caused by dry airlike shrinking and cracking wood. What’s even better is that humid air feels warmer, so with a whole home humidifier on board, you could program your thermostat a little lower to save money without sacrificing comfort.
These are just some of the ways Winters Heating and Cooling can help you enhance your indoor air quality. Contact us at 317-406-5382 to find out even more options.