Indoor Air Quality

Sunshine. Ice cream. Vacation. Summer is almost here, and we’re sure you can’t wait to chill and just have a great time — whether out of town or just at home. If you choose to stay at home, have you considered improving the quality of air that circulates throughout your home this summer?

This season is known as a time when people suffer from allergies as it causes more allergic reactions. When you air out your home by leaving your doors and windows open, contaminants make their way into your home and settle on different surfaces, such as carpeting and HVAC ducts. Since your air conditioner runs almost non-stop, it circulates airborne particles, posing dangers to you and everyone in your household.

Thankfully, you can take some steps to improve your indoor air quality in summer. Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your leading HVAC company in Coon Rapids MN. We are experts at indoor air quality and offer products and services that will help you breathe in cleaner, fresher air every day.

Here are practical ways to maintain healthy indoor air quality this summer.

Control sources of poor indoor air quality.

One of the best ways you can do to avoid indoor air pollution is to control sources, like those that contain asbestos. Keep such items sealed or enclosed to avoid circulating polluted air. You can also adjust your gas stove settings to minimize the number of emissions. Be sure that there are no leaks in your gas lines. For the most part, controlling sources of pollution is the more cost-effective method of keeping your indoor air clean than increasing ventilation, which can even increase energy costs.

Keep your HVAC filters clean.

Your HVAC system has a filter that keeps dust, dirt, and other contaminants from getting into your air conditioning unit and circulating it throughout your home. Over time, the filter gets clogged, compromising your home’s indoor air quality. To avoid breathing in polluted air, make it a habit to clean or replace your air filter at least once a month, especially if your cooling system works 24/7. Check your user’s manual to find out whether you have a reusable or a replaceable air filter.

Groom your pets regularly.

If you have furry friends roaming around your home, keep in mind that they slough off dander more in the summer to keep their bodies cool. Pet dander can cause adverse effects on your indoor air quality, i.e., clogging your filter much faster. Therefore, it’s best to have your pets groomed periodically in the summer to minimize the amount of dander present in your indoor air. Ask your pet shop how short they can safely cut the hair, and try to keep it as short as possible during summer.

Use a dehumidifier.

Most of the known allergy triggers such as dust mites, mold, and mildew develop in a humid environment, which is common during this time of year. Too much moisture can damage your furnishings like wallpaper and wood floors and can leave behind foul-smelling odors, especially in areas with condensation issues.

To get rid of excess moisture, use a whole-home dehumidifier, which keeps your home’s ideal humidity levels with minimal upkeep. It performs its task without any disruption or change to your daily routine.

Look for a dehumidifier that has the ENERGY STAR® seal. These products are the same or better than standard products; only they use less energy. ENERGY STAR-approved dehumidifiers meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Department of Energy. Since these systems use less energy, they help you save money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment by causing fewer harmful emissions from power plants. And you get the features and quality you expect.

Healthy Climate Whole-Home Dehumidifiers are ENERGY STAR-approved systems that remove up to 130 pints of moisture per day. They work with all HVAC system types and are equipped with washable filters. These systems are available at Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning.

Ask the Indoor Air Quality Experts

If you want more tips on how to maintain clean indoor air this summer, give us a call. It would be our pleasure to help you keep your family safe from indoor pollutants. We are your reliable Andover heating and air conditioning company.

Your HVAC systems are most thankful for the change of seasons. After another grueling period during the frosty winter, the temperatures are becoming much more bearable. Who doesn’t want the warmth of spring and all the beautiful colors it brings, right? Unfortunately, with the coziness of springtime comes different indoor air quality issues at home.

Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted HVAC company in Edina MN. In this blog, we want to share with you some important tips on how to have healthy indoor air this season.

Overview

Over the course of winter months, it is often necessary for your indoor air to be humidified, as relative humidity in outdoor air is much lesser during this time of year. However, during spring, the outside moisture levels will increase, which means you now need to dehumidify the air coming from the outside to condition your indoor air. The increased water volume within the HVAC system can turn into dampness and possible microbial development.

Moreover, spring is notorious for causing people to suffer seasonal allergies triggered by the increase in outdoor particulate matter, especially pollen. Also, migratory birds, which may be found on the rooftops near outdoor intakes can affect the quality of your indoor air.

With that in mind, here are some helpful tips you can consider.

Regular House Cleaning

A clean house is a healthy house. Your cleaning efforts should focus on strategies to minimize the buildup of mold, dirt, dust, and particles in your home.

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt on your carpets and rugs. Do this at least twice a week with a vacuum cleaner that is packed with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

Be sure to regularly change your beddings, drapes, and other items that attract allergens. This is particularly important if you’re living with household pets. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, washing your beddings in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit is an effective way to cleanse them. Also, consider using dust mite-proof pillow covers and mattresses.

Duct Cleaning

Regardless of the season, airborne allergens are drawn into your HVAC system and stay the ductwork. When you turn the system on, those allergens and microscopic pollutants are pushed into your home, which you and your family inhale. For this reason, it’s important to think about having a professional to clean and disinfect your duct system. This step is an effective way to improve your indoor air quality, especially if you haven’t had your ducts cleaned in about five years.

House Plants

Thirty years ago, NASA discovered that houseplants can absorb harmful toxins from the air, especially in confined spaces with poor ventilation. This study has been the basis for research about indoor plants and their role in cleaning indoor air. While plants don’t clean the air as effectively as air purifiers, they are more natural, therapeutic, and economical. Peace Lily, Red-Edged Dracaena, Snake Plant, and Lady Palm are some of the most well-known plants that can improve your indoor air quality.

Ventilation Upgrade

Your home needs proper ventilation to achieve good indoor air quality. However, if your home is airtight, it prevents the proper exchange of indoor and outdoor air. Without proper ventilation, the air becomes musty, there’s too much moisture, and mold and mildew begin to develop in your home.

There should be a good circulation of outdoor air into your home to weaken harmful contaminants. Investing in a ventilation system is the way to go. This device adds the proper amount of fresh air from the outside to the indoor air. It uses ducts and fans to draw in and circulate fresh air throughout your home. It can also release air from certain areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. A ventilation system improves your comfort level, makes your HVAC system more efficient, prevents condensation, and cleans your indoor air. What should stop you from having one?

Ask the Air Quality Pros

If you need a ventilation system, a humidification system, a better filtration system, or an air purifier, call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning. We have an array of air purification products that can improve your indoor air quality and keep your family safe from airborne contaminants. We are your reliable Minnetonka heating and air conditioning company.

When the temperatures are high, we tend to stay at home and rely on our air conditioners to keep us comfy. But staying indoors requires us to have clean air that circulates throughout our home. 

Several items in the house can affect indoor air quality, such as chemicals, gas, and beauty products. These pollutants can irritate the eyes, cause allergies, headaches, and fatigue. Prolonged exposure to indoor air contaminants can even cause certain types of cancer and compromise the lungs.

For this reason, it is essential to take the necessary steps to purify your indoor air, making sure you and your family breathe in nothing but clean, fresh air.

Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your all-around HVAC company in Fridley MN. We offer highly efficient air purification systems engineered to eliminate household pollutants and keep your home a comfortable and safe refuge.

Here are practical tips to help you improve your home’s indoor air quality this summer.

Floor Cleaning

One of the parts of the house that is easily contaminated is your flooring. When your family goes in and out of the house, contaminants like dirt, dust, pollen, and allergens can get inside, triggering allergies and asthma. To minimize the risk of these health issues, simply leave your shoes at the door and clean your floors regularly.

Daily sweeping, particularly in high-traffic areas, is critical. Floors that you often use include the kitchen, which requires sweeping at least once per day to keep it clean. Don’t forget that light-colored flooring looks dirty much quicker compared to dark ones.

To effectively clean your floors, use a vacuum cleaner at least once a week, and put your heart into it. Weekends are great when you can spend enough time to remove accumulated dirt, especially in areas you don’t get to sweep daily.

To disinfect your floors, take a targeted approach. You don’t need to sanitize every level in your home each day. The areas you must regularly clean are the ones where you’re stepping into the house wearing your shoes. Also, make it a practice to leave outside shoes at the exterior of your home.

Filter Replacement or Cleaning

Your HVAC system has a filter that keeps dust, dirt, and other contaminants from entering the inside of the machine and circulating it throughout your home. Over time, the filter gets clogged, which compromises your home’s indoor air quality. To avoid inhaling polluted air, make it a habit to clean or replace your air filter at least once a month. Check your user’s manual to find out whether you have a reusable or a replaceable air filter.

Operating a Dehumidifier

Most of the known allergy triggers such as dust mites, mold and mildew develop in a humid environment, which always comes with summer. Excessive moisture can also damage your furnishings like wallpaper and wood floors and can leave behind nasty odors, especially in areas with condensation issues.

To combat over-humidification, use a whole-home dehumidifier, which effectively removes excess moisture and humidity from the air. A dehumidifier keeps your home’s ideal humidity levels and performs its task without any disruption or change to your daily routine.

Look for a dehumidifier that has the ENERGY STAR® label. These products are the same or better than standard products; only they use less energy. ENERGY STAR-approved dehumidifiers meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Department of Energy. Since these systems use less energy, they help you save money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment by causing fewer harmful emissions from power plants. And you get the features and quality you expect.

Professional HVAC Maintenance

The most important aspect of maintaining your HVAC system is to ensure it circulates nothing but clean, fresh air. While cleaning or replacing air filters is a relatively easy maintenance step anyone can perform, keeping your indoor air clean goes beyond mere filter management. With the help of an HVAC professional, you are sure the other parts of the system such as ducts, coils, vents, and registers, are thoroughly clean. This process will ensure your HVAC system effectively captures pollutants.

Want Clean Air in Your Home? Call the Experts

To ensure only clean air circulates throughout your home, call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning. We are your reliable St. Louis Park heating and air conditioning company.