The air comfort in your home is dictated by the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems and by the quality of air inside. The most efficient heating and cooling systems won’t necessarily improve your indoor air quality in any significant way unless you have instituted methods for your system to help with ventilation, air purification, and air filtration. If you are researching how you can increase the quality of your indoor air, you may be presented with a number of false assumptions about various aspects of your indoor air. S.O.S. Heating & Cooling in Salt Lake City understands what is entailed with maintaining your indoor air quality and can help you navigate these confusing waters.
1. Indoor Air Is Better Than Outside Air
It is a common misconception that your indoor air must be better than the air outside, since you may think that indoor air will not have the same amounts of pollen, dust and other small particles that can cause people with allergies to have reactions. However, the air inside is contained and trapped, and if the air filtration and purification systems are not sufficient to remove these contaminants, then these pollutants will accumulate into a higher ratio than the air outside. This is especially true in modern homes, which are more insulated and tightly built. A proper ventilation system is important to bring in air from the outside for good circulation while purifying and cleaning it.
2. New Buildings Have Better Indoor Air Quality
We all probably tend to think that a newer building must have better indoor air quality, because we may have images in our mind of dusty and moldy ducts and vents in older buildings. But new buildings also have new paint and new carpet, which can release chemicals into the air at a higher amount and faster rate than an older building. These chemicals in high amounts can cause reactions even in people not normally susceptible to modest amounts of contaminants. If you or your business is situated inside a new building or one that has been recently renovated, then you should take care to have it properly ventilated and filtered. The professional technicians at S.O.S. Heating & Cooling in Salt Lake City have the knowledge and training to keep your home well-ventilated and equipped with efficient filters.
3. Poor Indoor Air Quality Does Not Affect Health
It is not just the immune-compromised who can be negatively affected by poor indoor air. Many people are allergic to dust mites, and there are other types of small particulates that can cause allergic reactions. Older homes can have issues like asbestos and lead paint, which require specific protocols to avoid having dust from these materials accumulate in the home. Paint and carpet can emit chemicals, and biologic compounds can also be detrimental to your health.
4. Radon Is Only a Problem in Residential Buildings
Discussions about radon gas and the potential it has to cause harm in people are most often centered around residential housing. However, radon is a natural gas that is found in the ground, and it can seep into any type of building, especially in areas that are known to have large amounts of naturally occurring radon. The EPA has standards for acceptable levels of radon, and you can have your home or commercial site tested at any time.
5. Increasing Humidity Is Always Beneficial
When you think of the humidity levels in your home, you probably believe you should always use a humidifier to raise the amount of humidity. But too much humidity indoors can cause increased growth of biologic compounds that can attach to structures inside your residence. Not only can this damage your home, but it can also emit toxins that can cause allergic reactions in residents. S.O.S. Heating & Cooling can help you ensure that there are proper levels of humidity in your home in Salt Lake City and help you keep it that way. There are many types of humidifiers and dehumidifiers that can be portable or whole-house units that work in tandem with your HVAC system.
Great indoor air is well within your grasp. There are many ways to purify, ventilate, and clean the air inside your home, and you will benefit from a great sense of comfort and improved health. S.O.S. Heating & Cooling provides heating and cooling repair, maintenance, and installation for all brands of air systems, and we are proficient at all aspects of air comfort. To learn more about our services in Salt Lake City, give us a call today!