What Indoor Air Quality Accessories Can Help Keep Me Healthy?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the novel coronavirus disease 2019—also known as COVID-19—can cause mild to severe respiratory illness when an individual is exposed to the virus.
Even before the outbreak, adults on average spent nearly all their time indoors at work or at home. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports this amount of time reaches upwards of 90 percent for most people.
Add it all up, and you just can’t stress enough the importance of good indoor air quality.
Our All About Air team wants to share with you the following list of the different indoor air quality accessories available out there. Making an investment in one or more of these helpful technologies and tools for your home just might help you and your family breathe a little easier.
Dehumidifiers
During the summertime in Horseshoe Bay, there is a really good chance you will be facing the opposite-of-winter humidity problem. When humidity levels are high, summer months can feel a great deal hotter. Too much moisture in the air can make cooling down more difficult, cause condensation or moisture damage to the structure of your home, and contribute to mold and other allergen growth.
While a well-maintained air conditioning system brings down the heat and can help take some moisture out of the air, you may want to invest in a whole-house dehumidifier, or opt for a stand-alone unit for a space like your basement.
Humidifiers
In Texas winters when the air is cold and dry, whole-house humidifiers can be particularly beneficial, keeping relative humidity levels at an ideal of about 45 percent. This means fewer scratchy throats, and less dry skin and static electricity. Plus, humidifiers can help protect your furniture, wood floors, and musical instruments from shrinking, warping, and other damaging issues.
Electronic Air Cleaners
Attached to your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, electronic air cleaners are a whole-house solution. An ionic system, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, and static electricity are utilized to kill or trap up to 99.98 percent of all allergens. Performing an almost complete job, these cleaners combine the best of all available indoor air purification technologies.
Air Scrubbers
Viruses, bacteria, mold, odors, vapors, gases, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among the substances attacked. Working with your HVAC system, air scrubbing systems are a relatively new technology. Air is treated with an ultraviolet (UV) light while it is forced through a titanium dioxide-coated component. Additionally, contaminants are transformed into oxidizers, meaning more pathogens can be eliminated in the surrounding air—and even on surfaces.
UV Air Treatment Systems
In hospitals and other healthcare facilities, UV lights are a mainstay to kill viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. You can do the same: piggyback on this technology by investing in a UV home air treatment system. Shortwave UV lights attacks viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens because air is forced through a UV purifier.
Ionic Air Purifiers
Improving indoor air by removing nearly everything except for odors and smoke, the most advanced ionic air purifiers can basically clean themselves. Early models of these systems simply emitted negative ions that bonded with positively charged common indoor air pollutants; particles then grew heavy and fell onto surfaces and floors for a cleanup via dusting and vacuuming. These are highly effective systems.
HEPA Air Purifiers and Filters
Air purifiers and air filters branded with the HEPA designation are designed to remove 99.7 percent of all particles sized over 0.2 microns. So consider airborne particles— such as mold spores, pollen, household dust, and pet dander—as goners. Combine HEPA purifiers and HEPA filters with HEPA vacuum bags to make a big improvement in your indoor air. Just remember, it’s important for you to change HEPA filters regularly.
Activated Carbon
Remove smoke, gases, chemicals, odors, and other fumes from the air in your home in good order with activated carbon purifiers. Many of them tackle pollutants in combination with a HEPA purifier. Successfully manage nearly all of the common indoor air issues in your home by adding a UV purifier.
Air-to-Air Exchangers
Designed to bring in and treat outdoor air while pushing out the stale indoor air from your home, these air-to-air exchangers automatically adjust the temperature and humidity of outdoor air prior to circulating it through your ductwork. This is then circulated throughout your home for you to breathe.
Air Filters
To keep large particles at bay before your indoor air enters your furnace or air conditioning system, an air filter is required on all HVAC systems. Ranging in quality and price, filters on the lower end of quality catch only large particles, while HEPA filters trap some of the smallest.
In order to keep your air clean and your equipment working properly and efficiently, it’s very important to change your air filter on a regular basis; do so at least every three months, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. During times like these, we recommend changing your filter much more frequently, even weekly or biweekly is not extreme.
All About Air Is Your Indoor Air Quality Expert
To speak with our team about any of these indoor air accessories, call All About Air in Horseshoe Bay, TX. We are here for you and want to help keep you healthy inside your home. Call us at 830-308-5200 or request service online today. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities.