Breathe Easier – 3 Ideas To Improve Your Home’s Air Quality Posted on September 6, 2017September 8, 2017 by Vital AC Solutions | Posted in Blog Most people don’t think about the air in their homes unless it’s too hot or too cold. But the quality of the air in your home can affect your health, the condition of household goods and the condition of your home itself. Properly maintaining your HVAC system will help you manage humidity and other aspects of your home air quality. Table of Contents 1. Don’t Let Your Home Be a Wet Blanket2. Get Your Dander Out, Not Up3. Air Quality is a Whole House IssueComments 1. Don’t Let Your Home Be a Wet Blanket Too much moisture in the air can damage your home and compromise your health. High humidity can encourage mold growth, and exposure to mold spores are linked to upper respiratory problems. If you have seasonal allergies or asthma, allergens and irritants can make it very difficult to breathe easy. A smoothly running air conditioning system will reduce humidity, improving air quality and protecting your home. We’ll be happy to discuss ventilation options with you to choose the best arrangement for bringing in enough fresh air to keep humidity low while maintaining a comfortable temperature. 2. Get Your Dander Out, Not Up Dust and pet dander can aggravate allergies, and be an irritant even for people who do not have allergies. Dusting, mopping and vaccuming can help, but these are temporary and time-consuming measures. If you’re noticing an increase in upper respiratory irritation or infections, it may be time to have a look at the air conditioning. This should include the air ducts, to ensure that they are trapping irritants and not circulating them through your home. Change filters regularly, and choose a filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of at least seven and up to thirteen for filtering that is only second to a HEPA filter. If a member of your household has respiratory problems, talk to us about installing a whole house air cleaner with your HVAC system. 3. Air Quality is a Whole House Issue Your HVAC system is a crucial tool in maintaining air quality, but they can’t work alone. Check for small gaps in window or door frames that are leaking outdoor air. While you want ventilation, you want this ventilation to be controlled. Seal off air leaks with weather stripping, caulk, plaster or wood filler, depending on the location and size of the crack. Make sure that appliances such as dryers and ranges have proper ventilation for the moisture they emit, and install an exhaust fan in your bathroom to lower humidity. Exhaust fans and ventilation can also eliminate strong odors from cooking or household projects that call for strong chemicals. CONCLUSION: A home with good air quality is easier to clean, requires fewer repairs, and is more comfortable. Maintaining your HVAC system keeps your home in good condition and lets everyone breathe a sigh of relief. Comments comments