FAQs: Air Quality in My Home
Three Air Quality Considerations for Your Home
Air Filtration Options
Humidity Control Options
Annual Maintenance for Improved Air Quality
Signs that Your Home Needs Improved Air Quality
Three Air Quality Considerations for Your Home
- Ventilation: Proper ventilation is crucial for maintaining optimal indoor air quality in your home. Make sure to use exhaust fans in areas like the kitchen and bathrooms, and consider an air exchange system to bring in fresh outdoor air while removing indoor pollutants.
- Air Filtration: Invest in high-quality air filters for your HVAC system to improve indoor air quality. Filters with a high MERV rating can capture a larger percentage of airborne particles, including dust, pollen, and pet dander. Regularly changing your filters ensures your system operates efficiently and your air stays clean.
- Humidity Control: Maintaining balanced humidity levels (ideally between 30-50%) is essential for good indoor air quality and also helps prevent mold growth and reduces dust mites. Use dehumidifiers or humidifiers as needed, and ensure proper drainage and ventilation in areas prone to excess moisture like basements and bathrooms.
Addressing these factors can greatly enhance your home’s air quality and contribute to a healthier, more comfortable living environment.
Air Filtration Options
Newer, basic furnaces no longer include filters. Instead, an optional “clean air cabinet” is mounted alongside the blower that filters your heat or air conditioning anytime the blower is running.
- Basic Air Filter. A traditional 1” filter that’s housed in a very small cabinet mounted to your blower. This filter captures approximately 12% of air contaminants within your home and is preferred by only about 1% of our customers. Filter Life: one month
- Healthy Climate HC11 Cabinet. A 5″ cabinet mounted alongside your existing blower with a mid-range efficiency rating (Merv-11). The downside to improved home insulation is that more dust, pollen, pet dander and other allergens can get trapped and circulate throughout your living space. This filter captures approximately 90% of air contaminants within your home and is preferred by about 85% of our customers. Filter life: up to 12 months
- Ultra Violet Light. A stand-alone option that targets mold spores and dust mites. This can be combined with any of our filter systems and added to an existing ducted system (heating, cooling, or both).
- PureAir Purification System. A complete system that comes with a UV light already built in combined with a Merv-16 Heppa Filter. The air inside our homes is two to five times more polluted than the air we breathe outside which contributes to asthma, allergies, and other health issues. The PureAir Purification System takes out what you shouldn’t take in. Not only will this clean the air inside your home better than any other single system, it works with almost any heating and cooling ductwork you may already be using. This system captures approximately 99% of air contaminants within your home. Filter life: 6 to 12 months. Warranty. The PureAir air purification system comes with a 5-year limited warranty on all covered components.
Humidity Control Options
Achieve optimal humidity levels with these solutions:
- Whole-home humidifier. This works with your central heating system to maintain optimal humidity levels in your home during the winter months. Your home will be healthier and more comfortable with a whole-home humidifier
- Bypass Humidifier. Works in conjunction with your HVAC system, using the air handler or furnace fan to direct humidified air throughout the home.
Note: All Healthy Climate Whole-Home Humidifiers come with a 5-year limited warranty on all covered components.
Annual Maintenance for Improved Air Quality
To maintain optimal indoor air quality, regular maintenance is essential. Higher-rated filters, such as those in the PureAir Purification System, must be replaced on schedule to avoid clogging and damage. Here’s how the system works:
- The Merv 16 filter captures particles and bioaerosols as small as 0.01 micron and removes them from the airstream. These contaminants are so small that standard filtration systems cannot stop them.
- The light energy from the Ultra Violet lamp and catalyst work together to kill mold spores and dust mites with no harmful by-products being produced.
- As the odor-and-chemical-vapor-filled airstream flows through the PCO cartridge, the airstream is exposed to the metal catalytic surface (titanium-dioxide-coated PureAir cartridge).
Signs That Your Home Needs Improved Air Quality
1. Constant Sneezing or Coughing
If you find yourself or your family sneezing or coughing more than usual, it could be a sign that the air quality in your home isn’t up to par. Dust, pet dander, and other allergens can build up and get kicked up into the air, causing those irritating symptoms. Even if it’s not allergy season, poor indoor air quality can trigger respiratory issues and make it tough to breathe comfortably. If you notice these symptoms hanging around, it’s definitely time to look into ways to improve the air, whether it’s through better filtration, air purifiers, or even just regular cleaning.
2. Musty or Stale Odors
Ever walked into a room and been hit with a musty or stale smell? That’s often a sign of poor air quality, possibly due to mold or stagnant air. These odors can not only be unpleasant but also indicate that there’s something lurking in your home’s air that shouldn’t be. Improving ventilation and using air purifiers can help eliminate those funky smells and refresh your indoor atmosphere. If you’re tired of trying to mask odors with candles or sprays, it’s worth investigating the underlying air quality issues.
3. Excessive Dust Buildup
If you find yourself dusting more often than you’d like, it could be a sign that your air quality needs some attention. High dust levels in your home indicate that your HVAC system might not be filtering out particles effectively. This can lead to a cycle where dust settles everywhere, making your living space feel dirty and affecting your health. Improving air quality with HEPA filters or regular duct cleaning can make a noticeable difference. By tackling that dust problem, you’ll not only have a cleaner home but also breathe easier!
Considering An Upgrade?
We recommend scheduling an assessment to explore all your options for improving indoor air quality and discover potential money-saving opportunities!
Enhance Your Indoor Air Quality Today
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality: Elevate your living environment by focusing on indoor air quality. Installing advanced air filtration systems and maintaining optimal humidity levels can drastically reduce allergens, dust, and pollutants in your home. Enjoy healthier air and a more comfortable atmosphere year-round.
Protect Your Family’s Health: Cleaner air means fewer respiratory issues and allergies. By investing in high-efficiency air filters and germicidal lights, you create a safer and healthier home for your loved ones. Breathe easier knowing you’ve taken steps to enhance your family’s well-being.
Boost HVAC Efficiency: Upgrading your HVAC system with state-of-the-art air purification and humidity control solutions not only improves air quality but also ensures your system runs efficiently. This can lead to lower energy bills and fewer maintenance issues over time.
Ready to experience the benefits of superior indoor air quality? Contact us today to explore your options and discover how you can make your home a healthier, more comfortable place.
