As the months get progressively colder, our thoughts naturally turn to keeping our homes comfortable during the heating season. Most people will focus entirely on how they will heat their homes adequately and pay little attention to their indoor air quality. This could be a mistake; the indoor air quality is vital if you want to be comfortable and protect the health of your family and friends. Let’s take a closer look at why we need to consider air quality and a two effective methods that can be used to improve it.
Indoor Air Quality:
The main reason for a poor quality of indoor air, is the presence of airborne contaminants in the home. These contaminants are mostly microscopic in size, which means that they cannot be by the naked eye. Some common contaminants are pollen, dust, pet dander, bacteria, viruses, mold spores and others. Casual exposure to many of these contaminants is not generally a problem, but prolonged exposure can pose a risk to your health. People that are exposed to poor quality indoor air could experience health problems, such as flu symptoms, allergic reactions, and respiratory issues. Often, those people with pre existing conditions are the first to be affected and are hit hardest by the effects. Luckily, there are ways to improve the air quality without cracking a window and letting all the treated air outside.
Use an Air Purifier:
The best method to use for cleaning up your indoor air is to install an air purifier in your home. An air purifier is specifically designed to remove those nasty contaminants from your indoor air, and they can do this is a variety of different ways. A basic air purification system will typically use an air filter made from a fiber mesh to trap microscopic contaminants and yet allow the airflow to continue uninterrupted. A slightly more advanced option is an air purifier that uses ionization to attach ions to the contaminants, and they draw the heavier particles out of the air supply leaving the air clean. Lastly, an air purifier could use an ultraviolet light source to kill mold and germ spores that are living in your air supply. Each of these three systems has its merits, seek local professional advice on which would suit you best from a local HVAC expert before making a purchase.
Dealing With Humidity Issues:
When you have too little or too much humidity in your air, it can make the home a very uncomfortable place to be. This is a common problem, household items can be damaged, and it can also lead to a variety of health issues. When the air is too humid, it creates a condition where mold growth is encouraged and spreads. If the air is not humid enough, the body’s defenses against infection are lowered, and your eyes, skin, and lips, may become dry and cracked. The best solution to this problem is to install a whole house dehumidifier or humidifier to balance the humidity levels in your home.