Every homeowner desires good indoor air quality and ventilation helps to achieve indoor air that is not only comfortable, but healthier for your family. Some geographical areas naturally have higher humidity levels than others, but humidity levels can be too high inside your home no matter where you live. Dust particles, bacteria and other pollutants can also reside in your home, making it hazardous to those with allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems.
Even in the cold Northeast, the air inside your home can be too moist, resulting in the growth of mold, mildew and other bacteria. This not only affects the health of your family, it can actually affect the walls, floors and furnishings inside your home. Air can also be polluted by carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke and formaldehyde, among other things.
When it comes to indoor air quality, ventilation is key. Here are a few strategies that will help you achieve cleaner, healthier more comfortable air:
- Spot ventilation will keep those areas of your home most prone to mold and mildew drier and therefore inhibit the growth of mold. Bathrooms and kitchens are prime areas for spot ventilation.
Raising the windows will help clean the air as long as there is not a lot of pollen or other pollutants outdoors. Of course, this is not a great strategy in the dead of winter here.
- Air cleaners (or purifiers) can help reduce the dust and other small particles in your home. Whole-house air cleaners are available, and will filter out dust mites and other particulate matter.
- Newer programmable thermostats have a humidity feature that will allow you to control humidity levels in your home so that the air is neither too moist or too dry.
A well-maintained HVAC system is capable of keeping temperatures comfortable; it can also help keep humidity levels in check when equipped with the right thermostat.
Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, serving the Route 495/128 area of Massachusetts, can be your partner in improving indoor air quality. Call us if you have any questions.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ventilation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.