Indoor air quality began to be a real concern shortly after energy efficiency became a priority of builders and homeowners. Airtight homes that conserve energy also accumulate indoor pollutants. The absence of natural ventilation allows fumes, inorganic particulates and airborne micro-organisms to concentrate in living spaces to levels that exceed outdoors. Since most people spend the majority of every 24 hours at home, exposure to polluted indoor air may cause symptoms such as allergic responses, hay fever and respiratory illnesses. Three approaches can help restore healthy indoor air quality in your home:
Source control
Building materials and furniture that emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as formaldehyde should be avoided in favor of certified low-VOC materials. Mold and bacteria rely on microscopic organic matter in the air for food. Improving household hygiene can reduce the food supply that sustains mold and bacteria.
Adequate ventilation
Kitchen and bath exhaust fans used properly can help maintain indoor air quality. A bath fan to remove moisture laden air when showering can reduce the humidity level in the entire home. Kitchen exhaust fans run when boiling on the stove can also reduce the amount of moisture in the home. Sealing duct leaks and leaks above ceiling fans are just two thins that can be done to help stop the inflow of outside contaminants.
Whole-house filtration
While your HVAC system circulates pollutants through your home, it can also be a powerful ally in improving indoor air quality. Whole-house air cleaners installed directly inside your HVAC system filter the entire air volume in your home as it circulates through your ductwork many times per day. These cleaners may utilize high-efficiency mechanical filters and germicidal ultraviolet lights to filter and destroy micro-organisms such as mold spores and bacteria.
At CCAC, Inc., we’re constantly concerned about customers and healthy indoor air quality. Ask us for more information about technology to clear the air in your Coastal Bend home today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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