Humidity, Indoor Air Quality

Fall is upon us. The wonderful season of crisp, cool air and brightly colored leaves is a welcome relief from the record high temperatures this past summer granted us. Unfortunately, though, autumn is is not all pumpkins, spice and everything nice; fall presents problems with your home’s indoor air quality. No wonder October is National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month! We’ve made a list of this season’s worst and most common issues your home might face with its quality of air.

Dry Air

The cooler temperatures of the season bring with it dryer air.  Not only can dry air be irritating to your nose, throat and skin it creates an environment where viruses and bacteria can thrive.  For optimal comfort and health, keep you home’s humidity between 30-50% during the winter.  If your humidity consistently falls below this range, consider investing in a whole-house humidifier.

Allergens & Contaminants

Indoor air can be marred by allergens and airborne contaminants such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites and mold spores.  Over time, these pesky pollutants accumulate in your home’s ductwork and can get recirculated in the air that you and your family breathe day in and out.  A whole-home air purifier not only helps to capture allergens but it also kills harmful viruses and bacteria.

Poorly Maintained Heating System

Everyone wants to believe that the air they are breathing is clean and healthy. Unfortunately, if your HVAC system hasn’t been properly maintained, that may not be the case.  A professional furnace tune-up and inspection will not only help your system run safely and more efficiently, it also ensures that it is clean and able to filter out allergens and particles before they get into the air that you breathe.  Proper maintenance includes changing your filter every 3 months along with having your system cleaned and inspected twice per year.

Inadequate Air Circulation

Indoor air is oftentimes less clean than outdoor air due to a lack of circulation. One option is to open a few windows to increase ventilation throughout your home.  You can also turn on the fan setting of your thermostat, this helps encourage air movement and boosts air filtration.   If a more advanced solution is needed, you can consider a whole-home ventilation system that automatically creates the perfect exchange of fresh outdoor air with stale indoor air, for the ultimate in comfort and health.

Carbon Monoxide

Every year around this time, you hear tragic stories about families who have been unknowingly poisoned by Carbon Monoxide.  The scariest thing about these situations is the fact that they can happen to anyone.  And the only way to protect yourself and your family is to regularly test your CO detectors and replace them every 5-7 years. A yearly furnace inspection can also help identify CO leaks or other hazardous conditions as they relate to your home’s heating system.

The whole-home options might seem like a pretty big investment to take on, but in reality they can save your money on your energy expenses and improve your health. We here at Luxury Heating and Cooling can help you make a decision about your home that will be best for you and your family. Join us in celebrating National Indoor Air Awareness Month by heeding this list and embarking on your own quest for crisp, clean fall air indoors!