Staying cool and comfortable is a high priority for most people during the summer, and for good reason. We donb t envy anyone who has to go through summer without a good air conditioning system to rely on. Still, itb s not the only thing that you should be worried about over the next couple of months when it comes to your homeb s air.
You should also be taking steps to make sure that your indoor air quality is as high as possible during the summer, as it tends to drop in most homes during the hot season. Have a look at some of the following ways that you can keep your indoor air quality high this season.
Install an Air Purifier or Filter
The main reason that indoor air quality is so low throughout the year is due to the presence of airborne contaminants. These include microscopic particles like dust, dander, pollen, germs, and mold spores. Breathing in high enough concentrations of these particles over time can led to things like increased allergy attacks and flu infections. To make matters worse, a lot of people shut all of their doors and windows to help with climate control during the summer season. This leaves them breathing in the same stale air full of contaminants day in and day out, without any fresh airflow to cycle contaminants out of the house.
Air purifiers and filters address this problem by removing airborne contaminants from the air supply. How they do this varies from system to system. Ionization purifiers draw contaminants out of the air using ion clouds, while air filters simply use mesh to strain particles out of the air that passes through them. Consult with a professional to help determine which system type would fit your needs best.
Install a Humidifier or Dehumidifier
Chronic humidity issues can wreak all sorts of havoc on both your health and that of your home. High humidity increases mold growth, and makes it harder for your body to regulate its temperature during hot days. Low humidity will make it easier for you to get sick, and can weaken the wood components of your home by sapping them of moisture. If you suffer from frequent humidity imbalances in your home, you should consider installing either a humidifier or dehumidifier to control it for you.
Duct Sealing
Ducts can get pretty leaky over the years, contributing to both a drop in HVAC efficiency and indoor air quality. In fact, duct leaks are responsible for output losses of up to 30% in forced air climate control systems. Thatb s a pretty big chunk of your air conditionerb s cooling capacity that is just going to waste. Not to mention that all kinds of nasty airborne contaminants can make it into your air circulation through holes in the ducts. If you havenb t had your ducts sealed in a while, or ever, now might be a good time to do it.
Comfort Central, Inc. provides full HVAC services in Hendersonville, NC. If you need indoor air quality services, contact us for an appointment with one of our professional technicians.