Indoor air quality is central to your family’s health. Did you know that the air inside the average home is much more polluted than outdoor air? It is—about five times more. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon, and even formaldehyde are regularly found inside homes.
Humidity is also a concern when it comes to indoor air quality. Air that is too humid or too dry can have ill effects on your health and damage your home. Let’s take a look at three of the ways Temp Air System Inc. can help you improve the indoor air quality in your La Puente home.
A Clean System is the First Step to Good Indoor Air Quality
A dirty HVAC system can harbor and circulate allergens throughout your indoor space. Your first line of defense is to keep your system clean and well-maintained. The easiest thing you can do is take a look at your air filter consistently and replace it when it becomes dirty. In many households, the air filter needs to be changed every two or three months, but Temp Air System Inc. recommends that you check them every month—especially if you have indoor air quality problems. Annual furnace, heat pump, and/or air conditioner maintenance is beneficial, too. Your technician will ensure your system is clean and not circulating dust and debris throughout your La Puente home.
Enlist the Help of an Air Purifier
An air purifier can help improve indoor air quality and provide some relief from seasonal and indoor allergies. For the greatest allergy control, look for an option that filters out at least 95 percent of particles as small as .3 microns (a micron is one-thousandth of a millimeter). Even if no one in your home suffers from allergies, filtering out pollutants is significant. The EPA has stated that the long-term effects of poor indoor air quality include potentially debilitating or deadly respiratory and heart diseases and cancer (https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality. A good air purifier, like the Lennox® PureAirTM, will remove 90 percent of germs and bacteria from your house—down to .01 micron.
Another way an air purifier can make your house more comfortable is by eliminating household odors. While not as bad as pollutants and germs, bad odors are usually unwelcome in people’s homes. Odors from things like pets, cooking, and sports gear can make it smell like your home is unclean. Cleaning your air with an air purifier is a healthier way to get rid of these odors than trying to cover them up. Cleaning products, air sprays, and scented candles may pollute your indoor air more. The right air purifier will obliterate household odors, leaving you with clean, healthy air.
Control Humidity for Health
The EPA recommends maintaining your indoor relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. Air that is too dry can cause health problems like upper respiratory issues, dry throat and nose, and itchy skin. Don’t forget that viruses generally thrive in dry air and dry air is known to aggravate symptoms of allergy and asthma sufferers. And chances are high that your home’s air is too dry—the average heated home has a relative humidity between 13 and 16 percent in the winter months. That’s drier than the world’s driest deserts! So, what can you do?
A whole-home humidifier can provide up to 50 percent more humidity than portable humidifiers. Plus, you don’t have to repeatedly adjust most models—just program in your desired humidity and you’re ready to go. Proper humidity levels will not only help keep your household in good health, but they can help defend your home from damages caused by dry airlike shrinking and cracking wood. What’s even better is that humid air feels warmer, so with a whole home humidifier on board, you could program your thermostat a little lower to save money without sacrificing comfort.
These are just a sampling of the ways Temp Air System Inc can help you improve your indoor air quality. Give us a call to find out even more options.
