Using devices like a humidifier or UV lamp can improve the indoor air quality in your Tar Heel, North Carolina, home. If anyone in your family suffers from allergies or asthma, check out some indoor air quality devices that can help everyone in your home breathe easier.
Ventilator
With proper insulation, heat doesn’t escape your home in winter or enter inside during the summer. But if your house is too tightly sealed, your home won’t allow enough fresh outdoor air inside and your indoor air quality could suffer. Using a ventilator ensures you always have adequate air exchange.
A ventilator brings outdoor air into your home and expels stale, indoor air. You can find two types of ventilators available: energy recovery ventilators and heat recovery ventilators. Both types exchange air efficiently and work to support a comfortable temperature in your home. An energy recovery ventilator also exchanges water vapor to support your home’s humidity.
UV Lamp
Mold and bacteria in your home’s air conditioner coils could be affecting your indoor air quality. Ultraviolet technology has been proven to eliminate mold and bacteria and you can use the lamp to prevent pathogen growth in your home’s HVAC system. Use a UV lamp to sterilize your air conditioner’s coils so that these airborne contaminants don’t circulate through your home.
Air conditioner coils typically reside in a dark, moist environment, which can grow mold and bacteria. By attaching a UV lamp to the inside of your unit, you can prevent contaminant growth and kill any pathogens already in your unit.
Air Filter System
Airborne particles such as dust, pollen, and pet dander can trigger allergies and irritate the symptoms of family members who suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems. To improve your home’s indoor air quality, use a central or portable air filter.
Air filter units have different filtration capabilities, so be sure to choose the filtration device that’s right for you. The minimum efficiency reporting value, MERV, of a filter indicates how thoroughly the filter can trap airborne particles. The higher the MERV rating is, the smaller the particles the filter can capture.
A unit that uses a flat or panel filter can trap large particles and is usually rated MERV one to four. A pleated filter traps large- and medium-sized particles and has a MERV between five and 13. High-efficiency filters have a MERV rating from 14 to 16.
Installing an air filtration unit along with your current HVAC system can help keep your home’s indoor air free from irritating particles. A portable air filter may be a solution when you have a known problem area in your home or a particularly sensitive family member.
Air Purifier System
An air purifier unit traps pollutants and prevents them from circulating through your home by eliminating them. This system can protect your home not only from particles such as pollen and pet dander but also germs such as the common cold or influenza.
Using an electrical charge, an air purifier eliminates harmful germs and bacteria once they’re trapped in the unit’s filter. The electricity damages the cell wall of the trapped pathogen, renders it inactive, and kills the contaminant.
For expert advice on integrating a central air purifier unit into your current HVAC system, talk to one of our Bass Air Conditioning Company HVAC professionals.
Dehumidifier
Maintaining proper humidity in your home is important. Too much moisture in the air makes the home feel stuffy and uncomfortable and can also aggravate respiratory conditions. If your home is too humid, it will encourage mold growth, which can make your family sick. The ideal humidity level in your home, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is between 30 and 50 percent.
Proper humidity levels contribute to comfortable indoor air quality and prevent respiratory problems and damage to your home. Choose from a dehumidifier installed as a central or whole-home unit or a portable dehumidifier which can be used in areas of your home where you need it most.
At Bass Air Conditioning, our experts can recommend, install, and maintain indoor air quality equipment, including ventilators, UV lamps, and dehumidifiers. Call us today at 910-778-1536 to find out more about indoor air quality solutions for your Tar Heel home.
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