Indoor air quality is always an important issue in a home, but winter amplifies every concern. With the ability to crack a window for fresh air all but gone for most of the winter, your HVAC has to do more of the work of keeping your home’s air clean. Likewise, the shift toward dry air inside most homes during the winter has notable consequences.
Homeowners need to prepare for the changing indoor air quality environment over the winter. Here is how to breathe easier when the cold weather sets in.
HVAC Maintenance
The effectiveness of your house’s overall HVAC setup is one of the biggest factors in terms of indoor air quality. If you haven’t scheduled a system checkup this year, the time before winter is a good opportunity. Not only can one of our technicians check how well the furnace is running, but we can also check how well systems like fans and dampers are working.
This is also a great time to replace any filters in the system. If you’d prefer to change the filters yourself, you should still learn which models of filters are best for your HVAC. Running the wrong type of filter can impede airflow and negatively affect indoor air quality. Ask what type of filter to use, which local stores offer them and how to swap them in. We can help you determine if there are multiple filters on a system and where they are, too. If you’d prefer to have a pro do the job, we can set you up with a recurring maintenance schedule to ensure the filter is replaced as needed over the winter.
Humidity
Winter can be a very dry season, especially in houses that rely on forced-air furnaces. From an indoor air quality perspective, that leads to issues like dry nasal passages, sinuses, mouths and even lungs. We often encourage homeowners who find winter air uncomfortably dry to install a humidifier. Whole-house systems are available. It’s best to keep the relative humidity level above 30% to discourage skin and respiratory problems.
In a region like Huntington, WV, the winter isn’t always dry. During periods of snowmelt and heavy rains, dehumidification is also important. High humidity levels can encourage mold growth, a major indoor air quality problem. The ideal humidity level is below 50% in order to prevent mold.
If you have existing humidification and dehumidification systems in your house, ask for a system checkup. You’ll want to be sure that those systems are still operating in that optimal range between 30% and 50% to keep your house as comfortable and your indoor air as healthy to breathe as possible.
Air Purification
Numerous issues make indoor air quality worse when winter arrives. Although you can say goodbye to pollen, closing the windows and doors helps trap pet dander, dead skin cells, bacteria, odors and viruses in your house. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from products as diverse as paint, carpets and hairspray can also collect in your home.
Air purifiers are more aggressive solutions than air filters. A system may include layers of high-efficiency filter materials, activated charcoal and even UV-C light. Purifiers often include multiple filters in several stages. The best purifiers can also remove significantly smaller particles than most filters can.
If someone in your household has a medical condition like allergies, asthma, COPD or heart trouble, consider adding air purification. The same goes if you’re worried about someone with several respiratory issues. Purifiers can reduce symptoms and minimize stress on the body from poor indoor air quality.
Ready to Upgrade Your Indoor Air Quality?
Variable Comfort Solutions is a locally based and family-owned business that serves residential and commercial customers in Huntington, Barboursville and the surrounding areas in West Virginia with our air conditioning and heating services. We never use subcontractors for our projects, and our HVAC technicians are trained and experienced professionals. Financing options are available for qualified customers.
If you’re concerned about indoor air quality as winter arrives, contact our team at Variable Comfort Solutions, and tell us what we can do to help!
