- September 23, 2017
Air quality is the single most prevalent thing in day to day life. On average, humans inhale 11,000 liters of air every day, which is the same size as about 95 bathtubs. The sheer volume of air that cycles through the human body means that even in the smallest quantities, persistent toxins or allergens in the air can create larger health effects throughout an adult life.
While every human reacts differently to these toxins, creating a higher air quality for a living space can create unexpected health benefits and increase the quality of life enormously. A place of residence is where people spend the most time consistently, and as such is the prime location to take actions to purify the air, helping filter out chemicals, allergens, or other toxins.
Not only does cleansing toxins from indoor air increase the air quality, but so too does maintaining a comfortable consistent temperature, as well as an appropriate humidity level for the house. Dry air can cause increased susceptibility to allergens, as well as dry out skin and can create extreme physical discomfort. Inversely, having air that is too humid is just as detrimental to the air quality, and can cause mold to grow in a home.
What is the perfect humidity level for my air quality?
Air quality isn’t just about toxins and chemicals, it is also about quality of life and comfort. The humidity level of a home is critical to these, a house that is too dry or too humid both suffer severe consequences to air quality. It is important to find a balanced humidity level in a home, to maximize comfort levels.
The ideal humidity level for a home is debatable and varies from person to person, but a general recommendation is to keep the humidity level between 40-60%. This level is affected seasonally, with cold air and heaters actively drying the air, and warm summer months and rain increasing the humidity.
Why is too much humidity bad for my air quality?
As beneficial as humidity is, too much humidity in a house can have serious and long-term health effects. The warm, damp air is a breeding ground for toxic substances that can have huge effects on the air quality. High humidity promotes the growth of mold, which can damage walls and cause lasting lung damage and can also go unnoticed for months or years. The moist environment also helps harmful bacteria grow and continuously be circulated throughout the air, which has been proven to cause asthma and allergies in children.
When a house is prone to high humidity, the best way to prevent or stop it is to purchase and install an HVAC system with better airflow. An unbalanced system can cause moisture buildup in unattended portions of the house, and can lead to mold growth in attic spaces or basements. It could also be worth purchasing a dehumidifier if the space is prone to high humidity, and to check the house for leaky pipes or drains.
How does dry air affect my air quality?
Low humidity’s effects on air quality are, thankfully, much easier noticed compared to high humidity’s effects. Low humidity causes both immediate and long-term effects to the human body, most frequently occurring in the cold winter months. Dry air can cause dry skin, and irritate the eyes and throat. The human body’s first line of defense against disease, its mucus membranes, also dry out and suffer from low humidity. The mucus membranes can swell, and leave the body prone to infections. Dry air can also affect your floors and furniture, as hardwood floors and leather can develop cracks in low humidity environments.
The best way to counter dry air is to install a humidifier and watch humidity levels carefully to ensure that it does not over humidify the home. It is also worth noting that an HVAC system that is too large can drain the humidity out of the air, and work to decrease the air quality. Keeping an eye on humidity levels is an easy way to tell if the HVAC system is causing the drop in air quality, or if it is just seasonal.
When Should I Schedule Cleaning and Maintenance?
Regular cleaning and maintenance is critical to keeping an HVAC system running efficiently and extending the system’s life, but what might be less well known is its dramatic effects on air quality. Scheduling regular cleanings can help insure the elimination of harmful toxins in the air, as well as improve the HVAC system’s ability to regulate temperature and humidity. General Air of Greenville has specialists ready to repair, lean, and inspect any HVAC system.
When scheduling a regular cleaning, it is important to also schedule a cleaning and filter replacement. This is so that while the operator has the system exposed, the vents, tubes and inner working can be scrubbed, eliminating any residual buildup. HVAC system sees literal tons of air flow through their systems, and buildup can become a serious issue, keeping contaminants circulating in a house’s air system.
The same precautions must be taken with air filters, which are the main line of defense for a system’s air quality. These filters try to collect all allergens, and physical dust particles, which can cause severe discomfort of regularly circulated through the air. Unfortunately, an unkempt air filter may have harmful particles escape, and these escaped particles are normally heavily concentrated versions of harmful irritants or pollutants. It is important to maintain clean air filters, or the system could be prone to severe drops in air quality, and a range of devastating health defects may follow.
It is important to maintain the air quality in a home. The air is the most vital part of the human body, and if it is even slightly contaminated, the human body reacts and can be damaged. It is important to look out for mold, mildew, animal dander, and find ways to help increase the air quality, using these steps. Contact General Air of Greenville to schedule a cleaning, air filter replacement, or professional advice on increasing the air quality in your home.
