Your furnace is so important during this time of year as it gives you comfort in the midst of sub-zero temperatures. However, there’s one thing that’s particularly challenging for any homeowner during winter: maintaining good indoor air quality. Since opening your windows is not an option and excessive heating leads to low humidity levels, what can you do to ensure the air that circulates throughout your home remains clean and healthy?
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted HVAC company in Brooklyn Center MN that offers total home comfort solutions, including whole-home air purification systems.
This article aims to give you helpful tips on how to keep your indoor air healthy even during the coldest nights of winter.
Get your ducts cleaned.
If you are using a central HVAC system, you have to ensure your ductwork is clean and sanitized as it is the channel by which the heated air is transported. When a duct network is clogged, your comfort is compromised; so is your indoor air quality. Since the rooms cannot reach the temperature you have set on the thermostat, your furnace will be working non-stop to reach the desired temperature. This can put your health at risk, especially if anyone from your family is already suffering from allergies or have preexisting respiratory conditions.
Duct cleaning involves the elimination of dirt, dust, and debris from HVAC ducts, vents, grilles, registers, heat exchangers, cooling coils, fan motor, and housing, and other parts of an HVAC system. There are ducts that are usually located behind walls and above ceilings, the only effective way to clean them is with a high-powered vacuum and compression system.
In order to remove microbiological contaminants, the use of chemical biocides to the inside of the ducts and certain parts of your system may also be required.
Duct cleaning can lower the risk of developing illnesses associated with poor indoor air quality. In-depth cleaning of your ducts removes strong odors caused by pets, cleaning products, paint, mold, tobacco, and food ingredients.
Grow houseplants.
Houseplants are well-known air purifiers. Certain plants can absorb harmful odors and gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and other airborne particles and pollutants that are harmful to humans.
Houseplants such as peace lilies, English Ivy, aloe vera, and spider plants use their leaves and roots to absorb indoor air pollutants, which purifies the air you breathe in.
Use a humidifier.
During the cold season, humidity levels significantly drop since cold air can hold less moisture compared to warm air. Since you’re operating your furnace almost non-stop, your home’s humidity levels will even be more critical. This causes the air to feel much cooler, which means you will need to turn up your furnace to get your desired temperature. More importantly, low humidity is also attributed to dry skin and a higher risk of catching airborne diseases.
Using a humidifier gives you the ability to improve your indoor air by regulating your home’s humidity levels. A study found that According to a study, raising indoor humidity levels to at least 43 percent has a significant effect on about 85 percent of airborne viruses, making them nearly ineffective.
This is helpful, especially if you have a family member who is suffering from allergies or has a preexisting respiratory condition such as asthma and sinusitis.
Run a whole-home air purification system.
Since you don’t want the cold outside air to get in your home, you ensure that your home is tightly sealed. This makes your HVAC system more energy-efficient. Sadly, this method causes your home to have poor indoor air quality. Airborne contaminants get stuck inside and can accumulate to a harmful level, putting your family at risk of developing different kinds of health issues.
This is why you need an air purification system, which is an effective way to clean the air that circulates throughout your home. Certain air purifiers use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that effectively catch 99.97 percent of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. These highly efficient filters take away smaller allergens like dust, smoke, chemicals, asbestos, pollen, and pet dander.
Need Help? Call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
Home comfort is not only about having the right indoor temperatures; it also involves making sure you are inhaling clean, safe air. If you need help establishing good indoor air quality, give us a call. We are your reliable New Hope heating and air conditioning company.