Think about the air you breathe every day—how clean is it?
Most people spend the vast majority of their days indoors, and much of that time is spent at home. Yet, it’s easy to overlook your indoor air quality (IAQ). We might think about the temperature of our Minnesota homes and even the water quality. But how often do you think about the air you are breathing?
Our team at Perfection Heating & Air Conditioning has practical and sustainable suggestions to improve your indoor air quality. We specialize in creating comfortable homes. Let’s take a look at a few steps you can consider to improve the air quality inside your Maplewood, MN, home.
What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies indoor air pollution as particulate matter or gas.
Particulate matter consists of solids and liquid droplets that vary in size. Some particles are small enough to be inhaled and can cause sinus problems, burning eyes, bronchitis, and respiratory illnesses. Dust, fumes and smoke, viruses, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, bacteria, and mold are some examples.
The EPA notes that hundreds of gaseous pollutants also have been found indoors. Sources include tobacco smoke, gas stoves, exhaust fumes, laser printers, paints, building materials, furniture, adhesives, caulks, cleaning products, craft materials, pesticides, and other chemicals.
Other contributors could be inadequate ventilation, poorly maintained heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and excessive moisture creating mold and bacteria.
How Can You Recognize Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Sore throats, stuffy noses, constant headaches—these symptoms of poor indoor quality are often mistaken as respiratory issues.
Continual exposure to indoor pollutants can lead to more serious health consequences like heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, and even cancer.
Take control of the air you breathe. Give our team a call and schedule a free consultation to determine how we can improve your indoor air quality.
Indoor Air Quality Services
Controlling the source of air pollution and providing adequate ventilation are both necessary to improve your air quality. Here are some products that can help:
- A whole-house air filtration system seamlessly integrates with your ductwork to protect your entire home. These systems work especially well if someone in your home suffers from allergies or a respiratory condition. These whole-house systems integrate directly into your ductwork for comprehensive coverage.
- If you suspect your indoor air quality is lacking, then an air cleaner could be the perfect solution. Air cleaners include different types of air purification systems, each with its own specific uses.
- Balance your indoor humidity levels with a whole-house humidifier. Dry air can lead to sore throats, stuffy noses, an increased risk of illness, and cause damage to your wood furniture and flooring. The ideal humidity level is between 30 and 50 percent.
- Muggy hot weather is a drag. Your air conditioner works hard to remove some of the excess moisture in the air—another solution is to install a whole-house dehumidifier. When the humidity level is out of balance in your home, everyone suffers.
- If you find that your indoor air is stale, bring some fresh air indoors. But how do you do so without raising your energy bill? An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is a great solution for improved comfort without increased associated costs.
- A heat recovery ventilator works much like an ERV in that it uses outgoing stale air to precondition incoming fresh air. You enjoy fresh air without stressing your HVAC system and paying higher energy bills. These systems integrate with your ductwork to create an added layer of comfort.
- For biological contaminants such as mold spores, mildew, and bacteria, you need an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. Hospitals and industrial settings have used these systems for years. Now the technology is available for your home.
Remove the Sources of Pollution
Whichever strategy you choose, these simple steps will help improve your indoor air quality:
- Change or clean air filters according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- Seal leaks in your ductwork.
- Vacuum and dust regularly.
- Drain dehumidifiers daily and clean the reservoir.
- Clean refrigerator drip pans regularly.
Installing or Replacing Your Indoor Air Quality System
Our licensed professionals are trained to work with indoor air quality systems. We specialize in retrofitting equipment in older homes, along with new construction and remodeling jobs.
Are you looking to replace a component? We install and replace all makes and models of HVAC equipment. We only use top-quality parts and materials to get the job done right.
Repairing Your Indoor Air Quality System
Give us a call right away if you detect an issue with your equipment. Whether your system starts making a strange noise or is not responding correctly, our team will quickly troubleshoot the problem and resolve it.
Maintaining Your Indoor Air Quality System
Preventative maintenance plays a vital role in the performance of all your heating and cooling equipment. Let’s work together to create a planned maintenance schedule that fits your needs and budget.
Be sure to ask about our Pro Tune Maintenance that offers significant cost savings on service calls, repairs, and parts. Sign up today and enjoy peace of mind knowing a trusted professional is watching over your HVAC equipment.
Call Your Indoor Air Quality Experts Today
Take steps to control the air quality inside your Maplewood, MN, home. Perfection Heating & Air Conditioning is a trusted source for all your home comfort needs. Call us at 651-777-7620 or request service online today.
Need Indoor Air Quality Service?
Contact the experts at Perfection Heating & Air Conditioning.
Call us at 651-777-7620!
“The whole team, from scheduling to installation, was great to work with. They managed the project through the city inspection and helped to ensure everything was approved in a timely manner. I would definitely recommend.
I got a continuously running fan installed in my bathroom. A motion sensor is typical but I'll add that if you have a small bathroom next to a hallway and often keep the bathroom door open, you may not want the motion sensor. The sensor has a range of 10 feet at 90 degrees so we often trigger the fan to run at a higher speed just when we walk by. We've unplugged the motion sensor. I also included a humidity sensor that will still trigger the fan to run at a higher speed during a shower.”
“Excellent service, cost, follow-up”
“I called Perfection Heating in the fall of 2020 wanting an estimate for an AprilAire Humidifier purchase/installation. I spoke to a technician Nick about how dry my house is in the winter and also my basement smells musty in the summer even with the central air and a dehumidifier running. I told him it continues to smell also in the fall after the outdoor temperatures have cooled. I wanted the home's heating/ventilation system looked over because another issue was the basement was very cold in the winter.
Nick came to my home to look over my heating/venting system. He found I had no air return installed in the basement and that was probably why the basement smelled musty. He also found in a spare room there was a heat register in the ceiling but no duct work. He then found the damper was closed on an existing heat vent which was contributing to the cold temperatures.
Nick did not try to sell me anything I didn't need, but simply explained what would benefit the indoor air quality of my home on the main living level and the basement. Nick gave me an affordable estimate to have the humidifier installed, add an air return and run duct work to the spare room. I was most impressed with his knowledge, explaining in terms I understood, and how thorough he was inspecting the home and heating system.
I had Mike and Allen to my home to perform the installation of the above items. Their workmanship was superior quality, they were respectful of my home, laid down tarps, wore face masks, completed the job in a timely manner, and cleaned up when finished.
They also added a tee to my furnace drain hose which prevents water from backing up into my furnace (which would ruin the furnace) should the drain hose ever develop a blockage.
Within two days of having the air return installed and to this day, I have had no musty smell, even with the AprilAire Humidifier running.
All I can say is WOW! I am truly impressed with this company from start to finish. It's nice to see character and integrity still count. I will be calling them for any future repairs/replacements I may need done. Thank you Gentlemen, great job!”