When you consider your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) you probably think about the temperature. But this is not the only thing that you should be worried about. The quality of your indoor air is affected by many factors: allergens and contaminants in the home, your relative humidity levels, and even the condition of your air conditioning ductwork.
These problems can affect not only your comfort, but also your health, the health of your family or home occupants, and the integrity of your home’s structure. Fortunately, you can turn to us for excellent indoor air quality services throughout the Santa Fe, NM area. But how do you know what services or products you need?
Why You Need Indoor Air Quality Services
First, you need to understand why you need these services to begin with. After all, the air in your home may look clean and clear. One of the biggest reasons for poor indoor air quality in homes throughout the country, however, is the presence of microscopic airborne contaminants.
This can include dust, pollen, dander, viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. In small amounts, it’s pretty easy for the average person’s immune system to defend against these contaminants. But in higher concentrations, they can do some harm. This is particularly true for people who suffer from allergies or asthma.
Cleaning Your Air
As we mentioned above, there are a number of different reasons you may need indoor air quality products or services. For instance, for the airborne contaminants that we referred to, a high quality air filtration system or air purifier can do the trick. Remember, the air filter that comes standard with your HVAC system isn’t actually there to protect your indoor air quality; it’s there to protect the inside components of the system itself.
You’ll need a better system to truly protect your air from the contaminants that can infiltrate your living space. You may also want to consider the addition of a UV air purifier to your IAQ arsenal. A UV air purifier attacks mold spores and mildew from the source—your damp, cool ductwork—and effectively kills the microorganisms that cause their development. This prevents the mold and mildew from building back up, too.
Don’t Forget About Humidity
When it comes to heat, the only thing that can make the warmest of summer days worse is increased humidity. It makes it nearly impossible to cool down, especially if you are indoors. While relative humidity levels that are too low can be harmful (under 30%) so can too high of levels (over 50%).
While your air conditioner does have some dehumidification properties, it cannot effectively lower your relative humidity to healthful levels all on its own. You’ll want to consider the installation of a whole house dehumidifier. Humidity encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can make you sick all on its own. It also can damage your property, causing effects such as warped floorboards or bubbling paint.
Contact Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration today for comprehensive indoor air quality products and services.
