In most cases, people are concerned with keeping the temperature in the house where they want it to be. Your home comfort is more than just temperature control though. Another highly important (and highly overlooked) factor to keep tabs on is your indoor air quality (IAQ).
If you haven’t thought about your indoor air quality before, today is the day to start giving it some thought! Here’s some helpful information about your indoor air quality so you can figure out if there are areas that need improvement.
1. Too much dust and debris can hinder your HVAC system.
Dusty air isn’t just irritating to your nose. It’s also irritating to your HVAC system. For starters, dirty air can clog your system filter much faster, leading to weakened airflow into your AC or heater. Another issue is that if the air is dirty enough, it can start to muck up the internal components of the system, coating heating elements or refrigerant lines, or clogging burners. As you can guess, all of this adds up to some big problems for your HVAC system and your home comfort too.
2. Your humidity level needs to be balanced.
Humidity levels can actually make or break your home comfort. That’s why we advise that you never underestimate the importance of humidity.
Too much humidity can lead to problems keeping cool in the summer because it makes it harder to cool the air. It can also lead to an increase in the risk of mold growth in the home.
Too little humidity can lead to other issues in the winter. You may notice that dry air can lead to issues with keeping your home warm. This is because air with too little moisture is unable to hold heat as well as it needs to. Dry air can also lead to increased allergies and illnesses.
3. Fresh air can help improve your home’s air quality
Having a well-sealed home can be a double-edged sword because it keeps the heated or cooled air that you want inside, but it also doesn’t allow much air to escape. This means dust, pollen, fur, and other debris that could escape in a draftier house aren’t able to.
There are systems that can help with this such as the energy recovery ventilator. This brings fresh air that is pre-heated or pre-cooled into the house. It can help you enjoy cleaner, fresher air without having to sacrifice your comfort by opening a window.
4. Poor air quality may indicate other issues
Poor indoor air quality is sometimes a sign that there is a different issue to be dealt with. For example, you may have leaks in your ductwork, allowing unfiltered air to enter the house. Make sure to have a professional check your ductwork, doors, and windows for air leaks that may be letting extra dirt, dust, and debris into the house.
Contact the team at Ace Hardware Home Services for help with your indoor air quality needs. Thank you for choosing Ace Hardware Home Services!