For most people, spring is a time to look forward to as it brings warmer weather. For allergy sufferers, it is the most dreaded time of year as allergens increase, and sometimes humidity levels rise, making it harder to breathe comfortably. However, with a few air quality upgrades to your HVAC system, you can start breathing easier this year.
Ventilation
You will lower the concentration of indoor pollutants if you increase the amount of outdoor air entering your home. The best way to achieve this is to install a whole-house ventilation system. Balanced and supply systems are most suitable for the Los Angeles climate; however, balanced systems can be expensive to run. Bathroom and kitchen fans are also excellent at removing contaminants from a room while increasing outdoor air ventilation.
Humidity Control
Your home should be kept at between 30 and 60 percent humidity for optimal comfort. Too little humidity causes sore throats, dry and itchy skin, nose bleeds and sinus infections, while too much humidity can make you feel clammy, and can worsen your allergies and asthma because of an increase of mold, mildew and dust mites in your home. To increase humidity, install a humidifier in your home, either room model or whole house; if you have too much humidity at times in your home, then look into dehumidification technology. Ventilation fans in the ways listed above can also help.
Air Cleaning Technology
Air cleaners range widely in price and type from table-top appliances to whole-house systems. The more expensive tend to be the most effective at particle removal, although only gas phase air cleaners are designed to remove gaseous pollutants.
Filtration
Air filters work in a similar way to air cleaners except that the air is passed through a filter rather than another type of cleaning element. In order for an air filter to remain effective, you must adhere to the manufacturer’s directions and change the filter whenever necessary.
To learn more about air quality upgrades for your HVAC system, and for more home comfort advice, contact us at Around the Clock. Founded in 1967, we are ranked in the top 5 percent bracket for air conditioning and heating services in Los Angeles.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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