Achoo!

This part of Missouri is known to have some pretty prominent allergy issues. And, unfortunately, the sneezing and sniffling don’t stop just because it is winter. While the flowers and trees may not be producing a tidal wave of pollen as they do in spring, a lot of us are still struggling with our allergies.

Why? Because of poor indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality in Ridgeland is a major factor in your home comfort. It can affect everything from how well you can breath to how efficiently you are able to heat your home. You may not realize it, but the IAQ in your home can truly make or break your comfort, especially during winter.

So what can you do? Well, thankfully we have a little list of ideas that you can use as you see fit that will give your IAQ the boost it needs!

What Impacts Your IAQ?

Your IAQ can be either good or bad depending on a number of factors. Factors that can impact the air in your home include humidity levels, the presence of dust and dirt, and how much fresh air is able to get in. Your IAQ may be bad if the humidity is too low in the winter (which also makes your heater’s job harder), leaving everything dried out, the air dusty, and no fresh air to be found.

Ways to Improve the Air in Your Home

So how do you address poor IAQ? We have a few different ideas for you below:

• Clean Your Filters and Your Ductwork: Your HVAC filters will become clogged with dirt and debris over time and should be changed out every few months. The same concept applies to your ductwork, although duct cleaning can be done once every few years rather than every few months. Making sure these parts of your system stay clean and clear prevents all that debris from entering your home.
• Look Into an ERV or HRV: An ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) and an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) do similar jobs: they bring temperature-controlled fresh air into your home. The main difference is that an ERV also brings in a certain level of humidity to balance out the levels inside if the air is too dry.
• Consider the Benefits of an Air Purifier: Air purifiers are similar to air filters, but they go a little bit further. Rather than just tackling dust, dirt, debris, and fur, a purifier also nullifies contaminants like allergens, bacteria etc. This means a purifier is cleaning your air in a way that kills things which could otherwise affect your health and your IAQ.

As always, whatever option you choose to help your IAQ, make sure that you consult with a professional HVAC technician about installation and ongoing upkeep. You never want to put something as important as your IAQ and your home comfort into the hands of an amateur.

Need to improve the breathing environment in your home? Contact Environment Masters, Inc. to learn how our team can help.