Have you been feeling stuffy when relaxing in your home? Are members of your family complaining of coughing, sneezing, and generally feeling uncomfortable while indoors? Is there a lingering unpleasant smell throughout your home?
What could be causing all of these problems that are making your home a place you’d rather not stay? The answer is likely the quality of your indoor air.
The air inside your home can become contaminated with:
- Outdoor allergens and pollen
- Pet dander
- Dirt, dust, and debris
- Smoke and ash particles from nearby wildfires
- Mold spores and bacteria
- Stale air that is recycled again and again
It is even possible that your indoor air quality has declined due to off-balance humidity levels. If there is too much moisture in the air, you’ll feel muggy, even while just sitting and relaxing. On the other hand, low humidity will dry out the air, your skin, and your hair. You need to strike the right balance of humidity while also keeping contaminants out of the air if you want to breathe easy in your own home.
What Happens If You Breathe Contaminated or Stale Air?
For most people, breathing bad indoor air makes them feel uncomfortable and uneasy. But things can get much worse for people with asthma, respiratory complications, seasonal allergies, or weakened immune systems, such as the sick, elderly, or very young. Breathing in contaminated or stale air for people in these groups could trigger health complications requiring medical treatment or medication.
The best way to prevent respiratory hazards for your loved ones is to always keep your home’s air clean and fresh. Utilizing a variety of air purification methods with the help of a trusted HVAC company is a great starting point.
Effective Ways to Improve Air Quality
Thankfully, improving the indoor air quality in your home does not have to be a complicated process. When you work with a local HVAC service company with experience, they can help you determine the most effective ways to clear the air.
Several popular methods to improve indoor air quality include:
- Air filters: Your heating and air conditioning system will be equipped with one or more air filters, depending on its design. You can upgrade these filters to catch more and smaller contaminants that pass through the system. Replacing air filters should be done at least twice a year, sometimes as often as once a month depending on the type of filter you have.
- Air purifiers: With a whole-home air purifier, no matter where you go within your home, you breathe clean, healthy air. Air purifiers can kill up to 99% of viruses and bacteria in your home. They also help prevent dust buildup.
- Duct cleaning: If your duct system has not been cleaned in years, then it likely has a thick buildup of dust. A duct cleaning service will eliminate years of dust and grime all at once.
- Fresh air ventilation systems: To keep the air flowing in your home and eliminate stagnant air, you can use a fresh air ventilation system. This is a great option to freshen your whole home’s indoor air without racking up high energy costs.
- Humidifiers and dehumidifiers: Controlling the humidity levels in your home is as easy as using a humidifier or dehumidifier, depending on whether you need to increase or decrease the humidity level. Get relief by perfecting your indoor air with a whole-home humidifier.
- UV lights: Bacteria and spores that float through the air can be neutralized by passing through UV lights placed inside your air ducts. The light source is invisible to your eye, so it is no distraction, even at night.
Rest & Relax Better in Your Portland Home
Pyramid Heating & Cooling in Portland offers indoor air quality improvement services of all kinds. Our professionals would be happy to visit your home and determine which system will be the most effective based on your home’s layout and your family’s health concerns. With us on the job, you can start to breathe easier, better, and safer in your own home before you know it!
Call (503) 783-8488 or contact us online to schedule a service in Portland today.