You don’t have to live with unhealthy air in your San Antonio, Texas home . Whether the air always feels stuffy or the moisture levels never seem right, there are techniques and products you can use to improve your indoor air quality. Learn about six HVAC devices you can use to easily restore optimum indoor air quality levels.
Air Cleaners
Sometimes not even regular vacuuming and dusting sessions can keep your home clean, especially when the problem lies in the air circulating through your home. Air cleaners work with your HVAC system to trap much more than the standard dirt and dust that air filters capture during a cycle.
Air cleaners take the process to the next level by capturing pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, and even airborne pathogens. Most air cleaners trap bacteria and other organisms down to a size of one or even one-third micron, which means many can eliminate potentially harmful pathogens like common cold viruses. Some air purifiers even kill bacteria and pathogens upon contact, providing your home with perfectly clean air.
UV Lamps
In some cases, your HVAC system can’t do enough to maintain healthy air in your home. Some environmental conditions can actually cause your heating and cooling system’s coil to become a breeding ground for microbial growth spores and bacteria. While you can often manage situations like this with periodic maintenance, sometimes you simply need to stop the problem at the source.
Ultraviolet (UV) lamps reside near the indoor coil and the related drain pan, where they kill harmful bacteria and microbial growth before they have the chance to enter your air supply. By stopping these airborne contaminants in their tracks, you can prevent the spread of bacteria as well as larger microbial growth issues in your home.
Ventilators
For most homes a tight building envelope is a good thing, since it means your home doesn’t suffer from air leaks or allow polluted outdoor air inside. In some cases, however, a residential building does not allow for adequate ventilation, compromising air flow in the home.
If your home constantly feels stuffy and you find it difficult to draw in fresh air on a regular basis, a ventilator is often the answer. These appliances pull in fresh air while expelling stale air with each cycle, so you’ll never have that stuffy feeling. Many ventilators also work with your HVAC system to lower energy consumption by using the energy of the outgoing air to condition the incoming air.
Humidifiers
When it is cold outside, some HVAC systems fight to maintain comfortable humidity levels indoors. Dry air can lead to respiratory issues, damage wooden furniture, and drive up energy costs.
A whole-home humidifier adds moisture to the air via either steam or water vapor. Since these appliances address the air throughout your home, you can rest assured that they will provide healthy, humidified air to every room.
Whole-Home Dehumidifiers
Many homes in the San Antonio area struggle with excessive humidity levels, especially during the summer months. These high levels of moisture can create breeding grounds for microbial growth, dust mites, and other pathogens, and compromise the integrity of some household appliances.
A whole-home dehumidifier works with the HVAC system to pull moisture from the air with each cycle. Since humidity problems often develop in the basement or other areas of the home that are prone to dampness, you can also opt for portable models that work well in these localized areas.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
One of the most dangerous airborne contaminants, carbon monoxide is also one of the hardest to detect. Because this gas is invisible, odorless, and tasteless, it can cause illness and poisoning before most homeowners even realize its presence.
A carbon monoxide alarm can safely detect this dangerous gas and alert your family to its presence before it causes ill effects or even death. Since malfunctioning appliances, furnaces, or other fuel-reliant devices can sometimes create unhealthy carbon monoxide buildup, install carbon monoxide alarms in your home, especially near bedrooms.
Need a hand improving the air quality in your home? The experts at Woods Comfort Systems can provide the information and products you need. Call us today at 512-842-5066 to learn more about how we can improve your indoor comfort.
