Many people often assume that outdoor factors like pollution and humidity ensure that indoor air quality is always going to be better. However, many Baltimore-area homes have indoor air quality problems that can be more than twice as bad as what you may encounter outside. What is driving this problem? More importantly, what can homeowners do to address the situation?
Ventilation
The simplest answer is that air circulation outdoors tends to encourage the flow of fresh air in ways that are hard to achieve indoors. This has become especially true in recent decades with a growing emphasis on HVAC efficiency. Indoor air quality has often suffered to tighten up gaps in home structures and ventilation systems.
Particularly, carbon dioxide tends to accumulate in these tightly efficient homes. High carbon dioxide levels can make you feel mentally fuzzy. Likewise, dust, mold, pollen and other irritants accumulate indoors. These can aggravate a host of respiratory issues like allergies, asthma and COPD.
The upside is that some modern HVAC solutions allow us to address air quality issues while also improving efficiency. Air filters and scrubbers can rid homes of particulate matter down to very fine levels. Heat-recovery ventilation systems can capture much of the warmth from outgoing air before exhausting it. This makes it much easier to bring in fresh air without incurring major heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer.
Indoor Chemicals
Indoor areas have lots of sources of chemicals. For example, many furnishings and building materials include volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde. If your household uses gas for cooking, the combustion process emits chemicals like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Similar problems occur with many consumer products, paints, carpeting and cookware.
As previously noted, modern ventilation systems help a lot by efficiently bringing in outdoor air. Carbon filters react with many chemicals to neutralize them, too. Some newer UV light technologies also work with catalyzers to eliminate VOCs.
Microbes
Indoor areas are breeding grounds for microbes, and viruses, bacteria and mold spores can all accumulate. This is a particularly common problem in the winter when people close doors and windows in order to stay warm. However, it can also be a problem in the summer, especially if you keep your home tight for air conditioning during heat waves.
This is another case where UV light treatment can help. UV lights can break down the DNA and RNA that are critical to the reproductive cycles of microbes. This significantly reduces their numbers within 24 hours, leaving you with cleaner and healthier air.
Humidity is a major factor in driving mold growth as well. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC can keep mold from growing. The goal is to maintain a humidity level below 50% to ensure that mold doesn’t have the moisture it needs. Especially with the coastal environment we have in our area, dehumidification is an important indoor air quality solution.
Dry Air Can Be Problematic as Well
Dry air can result in cracked skin, bloody noses, sore throats and respiratory issues. It also fosters static electricity, which is a nuisance at best but also a threat to electronics.
Many homeowners use humidifiers to moisten the air. This is especially important during the winter months when cold fronts and heavy heating operations can dry the air. Optimally, a humidifier should keep the relative humidity level above 30% to maximize comfort.
HVAC Maintenance
Without regular maintenance, an HVAC system can cause many of these problems to worsen. Poor airflow can make ventilation harder. Gas and oil heating systems can emit more chemicals as their performance declines. A declining air conditioner can encourage mold growth as it struggles to keep up with humidity.
You should schedule professional HVAC maintenance at least annually, with spring being the best time. If you have a system that’s older than 15 years, you may want to adopt a twice-a-year maintenance schedule. Late summer or early fall is a good time for a second checkup.
At Your Service Heating & Cooling LLC is a family-owned company that has earned a Best of HomeAdvisor Award and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. We have been helping Baltimore-area clients with their indoor air quality issues since 2013, and we provide a full range of other HVAC services as well.
If you’re concerned about your home’s indoor air quality, reach out to the pros at At Your Service Heating & Cooling LLC today.
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