The Importance of Air Quality

Today, new homes are well sealed and insulated. They’re energy-efficient, but low airflow could cause uncomfortable air conditions inside as the same air is continuously re-circulated throughout your home. This recirculation can throw off your home’s humidity balance and even cause damage from mold. Don’t worry, though, because 1st Choice Service Group Heating & Air in Asheville can help you have the best of both worlds: an energy-efficient home that is also comfortable!

Continuous Flow of Fresh Air in Asheville

Decrease health-threatening pollutants and make your home as comfortable as possible by ensuring a constant flow of fresh air. You might like to open the windows, but that only works in favorable weather. Also, open windows can usher more allergens into your home. So what can you do? A whole-home ventilation system brings fresh outside air in with your conditioned air.

Improving Comfort, Health and Humidity Control

We recommend maintaining your home’s relative humidity levels between 30% and 60% for your best comfort and health.

Signs that your home is too humid:

Frequently damp areas
Musty odors
Condensation stains on the ceiling
Condensation or frost on windows

Sticky or clammy feeling in the air
Peeling wallpaper
You have to operate your air conditioner more to get comfortable

You can also run into problems with your health and home when the air is too dry. During colder months, indoor relative humidity can be as dry as some of the world’s harshest deserts.

Symptoms of low humidity in your home:

Excessive allergies or respiratory illnesses
Scratchy, sore throat or excessive cough
Dry, irritated nasal passages
Dry, itchy skin
Chapped lips

Static shocks
Cracked, peeling wallpaper
Warped or cracked wood
Damage to household furnishings

Allergies and Other Health Problems From Poor Air Quality

Healthy Climate SolutionsWould you consider your home to be healthy? It may not be as healthy as you think. Invisible particles and chemicals carried through your home’s air may cause headaches and allergy flare-ups. And mold and mildew can cause a variety of health concerns.

How to Prevent Indoor Air Quality Problems

Fortunately, correcting indoor air quality problems can be relatively easy to do. Just try these ideas:

  • Radon is the top cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, according to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Test your home for radon. Go to www.epa.gov to find out more information and to find out if your state offers free or discounted test kits to the public
  • You should have carbon monoxide alarms set up near all sleeping areas
  • Make sure your home remains smoke-free
  • Dust mites can inflame allergies and asthma, particularly in children. To reduce them, clean regularly. While even regular cleaning can’t get rid of all dust problems, you can minimize them by making use of a whole-home filtration system with a MERV 16 rating, the highest capture efficiency among air cleaners.
  • Anything that burns gas should be vented to the outdoors.
  • Don’t use scented candles or aerosol sprays to mask odors. Instead, find the source of the odor and get rid it.
  • supplies for cleaning, painting, and hobbies should be low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compound), which are safer for your family and the environment. Ozone is a proven lung irritant, so it’s best to avoid using products that produce it.
  • You can help keep humidity levels comfortable using a humidifier or a dehumidifier, depending on your area. Set humidity under 50% to prevent mold and mildew buildup.
  • Fix all leaks and cracks in your home.
  • Make sure your home is properly ventilated, to avoid moisture problems. With a ventilation system, stale, contaminated indoor air is replaced with fresher outside air.

Having your HVAC equipment inspected to greatly reduce the buildup of contaminants or moisture is another easy way to keep your home healthy. You can call 1st Choice Service Group Heating & Air in Asheville or simply make your appointment online.