Prior to this article, in Part 1 and Part 2, we detailed the significance of Indoor Air Quality and went over some of the sources of air pollution found in homes and workplaces here in the U.S. We also discussed the various health effects caused by indoor pollution.
In this article, we at Westerville Air Conditioning & Heating will go over the distinct varieties of products and services we extend to homeowners to ensure they have superior Indoor Air Quality. Officials say indoor air pollution can negatively impact your health, well-being, energy levels and mood.
The following list are some of the products and services we offer and recommend.
The iWave-R
The infamous iWave-R is a sought-after air purification system growing in popularity that has increasing relevance in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. This affordable little system can go into any ducted home cooling system. It functions by targeting the outgoing air as it travels over the system’s ion generator. Before being dispersed into your home, this small device purifies the air killing viruses, pathogens, mold, allergens, and bacteria, while cleaning out any particles or smoke and other potential odors. In the end, you get superior, clean indoor air quality free of any harmful byproducts.
The iWave-R uses a unique, one-of-a-kind technology that mimics Mother Nature, which purifies the air with pressure and energy using things like waterfalls, lightning, and ocean waves to break up molecules in the air and as a result cleaning and purifying it to provide clean and healthy breathing conditions. The only difference between how nature and the iWave’s technology operates, aside from the size of the process, is that the iWave doesn’t release harmful ozone gases as a byproduct like nature does.
The iWave-R can go into any AC system that uses air ducts and isn’t bigger than six tons in size. Another cool feature is how it cleans itself and never requires maintenance or replacement parts.
Humidifiers
Humidifiers increase the moisture in the air, which raises the level of humidity in your home. This is a big improvement when the air you’re breathing becomes too dry. Humidifiers are great for relieving common symptoms of dry air in the cold-weather. They also help eliminate static electricity in your house (which is common during Ohio’s winter months) and stop dry cracking in furniture and paint. People often use them because they help to improve indoor air quality when the dry air can cause a variety of health problems. We should note, also, that a lot of homeowners who get humidifiers remark about the added savings on their monthly energy costs.
Dehumidifiers
Residing here in Ohio, we know how humid it can feel during the hottest months during our summers. So when those hot and humid dog days of summer become unbearable, it can send us dashing back inside seeking cool shelter. But where do we go when it’s humid inside, when you can feel the moisture in the air and smell its mustyness? Health officials suggest keeping the relative humidity level in your home between 30 and 50 percent. If it gets up higher than 50 percent, your home will feel uncomfortable and the air will become unhealthy to breathe. Not only that, but high levels of humidity can mess up your AC system’s performance and cause asthma and allergy symptoms to worsen. As if that’s not enough, high levels of humidity create an ideal environment for mold and mildew and cause health issues in even a normally healthy individual. Using a whole-home dehumidifier will improve your home’s Air Quality by sustaining optimal, health and comfortable humidity levels all day. They are wise investments that can ensure you and your family’s health and comfort.
Thermostats
The tech-savvy thermostats popular these days are a far cry from the old hockey-puck-looking dial on the wall growing up at our parents, or grandparents. To compliment their cool features and futuristic designs and slick displays, you can adjust these thermostats at any remote location using any smartphone or smart device. Plus they go great with our Indoor Air Quality products, fully compatible.
Smart thermostats enable you to manage not only your HVAC systems, but also air purifiers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, ventilation systems and any other IAQ components. Most of the thermostats selling on the market today are smart devices. They are designed to save energy, lower energy costs and prevent any kind of wasting. Because they are smart, they provide superior control of your indoor air quality. Any time you invest in a thermostat upgrade, it results in more efficiency and better temperature consistency throughout your place.
The result is a saving of money from utility bills while keeping your HVAC system running most efficiently, enhancing your air quality to improve overall health and wellness.
A few of the major brands include Honeywell, Nest and Ecobee.
Air Filters
Air filters are an excellent way to improve your indoor air quality. But take heed: Not all air filters are created equal, and they have to be replaced regularly to be effective.
If you’re looking to improve your indoor air quality, you should know those inexpensive washable fiberglass air filters hardly even improve your HVAC system’s efficiency and they do less to promote the air quality in your home. We suggest looking into an air filter with a better MERV rating. You could alternately upgrade to a thicker air filter. A four-inch filter is much better than the standard one-inch prevalent in most homes..
MERV, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, rates air filters using a scale of 1 to 16, with 16 denoting the highest rated, thickest filters. But before you get the thickest one, you should be advised, residential HVAC systems usually can’t use an air filter rated above 13 on the MERV scale. Check your system to see how high of a MERV rating it can take.
UV Lights
For generations, the only things homeowners could do to improve their Indoor Air Quality was related to either ventilation, humidity control or filtration devices. And for generations, these innovations were useful. However, none of them did a thing to stop biological contaminants like viruses, mold, bacteria and fungi. These were effectively the deadly “dark side” of household air pollution.
And then, one day, it was as if someone had turned on the light.
Literally…
Having one of our technicians install an Ultra Violet lamp in your HVAC system will give you an extra level of defense against these ultra-hazardous bugs and indoor air pollutants, something especially useful in the age of COVID-19. For anyone who might be particularly susceptible to allergens and other dangerous organic particles, our UV lamps are especially effective because they kill these allergens, germs and any other bugs before they go airborne into your home, moving freely about. When these pollutants move beneath these UV Lights with the airflow, they kill them and neutralize the air instantly.
Air Duct Cleaning
If you’re wanting to ensure your home’s air quality is safe, promoting airflow efficiency while removing specific odors in your home, you should think about having your air ducts cleaned by one of our friendly team members.
Air ducts are roads inside of which all your home’s heated or cooled air is moved from your HVAC system to all the various areas in your home. Realizing this, it should make sense to ensure this air is as clean as possible. That involves making sure your air ducts are free and clean. Our professional duct cleaning service cleans out any dirt, dust and grime that might have gathered inside, which often clings to the walls of your air ducts. This enables us to get any allergens out and clear up any unpleasant odors that might be lingering in your home. One of the main reasons people consider this service important is because homeowners are unable to see inside of their ductwork. The stuff that’s inside there typically finds its way out and into the air you breathe.
AFFORDABLE INDOOR AIR QUALITY SERVICES IN WESTERVILLE!
We at Westerville Air Conditioning & Heating care about your home comfort, but just as important we also care about the health of you and your family members. Because indoor air pollution has a serious impact on your health and well-being, we hope you are able to use this information to make your home a healthier place to live. If you would like to know more about any of the products and services we listed above, or for prices, or to make an appointment, please call us today at 614-810-0075 or Click Here to set up an appointment now.
Indoor Air Quality 101: Part 1
