Modern Americans spend the great majority of their time indoors and the majority of that indoor time is inside their homes. That means the quality of air in your home will have a big impact on your quality of life. Taking a few steps now to keep your indoor air fresh and clean will have your entire family breathing easier for years to come.

Indoor Air Quality Products and Services

Every home has unique IAQ needs, and the HVAC industry has been working hard for decades to produce products that can meet those needs. Here are some of the most popular systems on the market today.

• Air Purifiers and Cleaners: These systems directly remove contaminants from the air, which is especially helpful for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. These range from basic filtration systems to high-powered cleaners with HEPA filters.
• Humidifiers: Maintaining a good humidity level in the home is a key part of maintaining good air quality. As a bonus, humidifiers help to preserve your wooden furniture.
• Energy Recovery Ventilators: One of the best ways to improve air quality is to just let fresh air into the home, but opening a window during the cooling season is a great way to undermine your air conditioner. Ventilators work with your other HVAC systems to cycle in fresh air without sacrificing energy efficiency.
• UV Lamps: Often paired with other HVAC systems, these lamps zap bacteria and mold with ultraviolet lights.

In addition to these systems, consider investing in professional duct cleaning. Our HVAC technicians will access your entire duct system, carefully scrub off any dirt and dust with special brushes that won’t damage the ducts themselves, then blow all of the contaminants away with a high-powered vacuum cleaner. We generally recommend having your ducts cleaned every three to 10 years, depending on smoking, pets and general home cleanliness. Specific issues, such as mold and vermin in the ducts, may also call for an immediate cleaning.

Benefits of Improved Air Quality

If there’s anyone in your home who suffers from asthma, allergies or any other respiratory illness, maintaining high indoor air quality needs to be a top priority. Taking contaminants out of the air will ease symptoms and help them breathe more easily, and respiratory health is a big part of overall health and quality of life.

Even for those who don’t suffer from any particular health issues, though, there are huge benefits to maintaining good indoor air quality. Keeping the air in your home clean makes it easier to control temperature as well, improving the efficiency of your forced-air systems and, more importantly, overall comfort. Studies have linked improved air quality to increased productivity, meaning it’ll be easier for the whole family to get things done around the house. High air quality also controls dampness and mold, preventing other maintenance issues from emerging and increasing the resale value of the house.

Contact us to find out what steps you can take to improve the quality of air in your home.