The Importance of Indoor Air Quality During Winter Months

Indoor air quality services in Charlotte, NC

Winter is a season when you need to pay close attention to the quality of your indoor air. Because you close your windows and doors in Charlotte, NC to keep the chill out, there can be a high prevalence of contaminants inside your home. This includes particulate matter from dust, dander, mold spores, and more. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also an issue, as these chemicals can endanger your health. We’ll discuss several ways that you can improve indoor air quality in your home.

Removing Particulate Matter

Filtration is a great way to remove particulate matter from your indoor air. However, different types of filters exist, some of which aren’t effective at removing very small particles from your indoor air. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can remove up to 99.97% of the contaminants, including some viruses and bacteria.

A filter in your HVAC system removes particulate matter although it’s a basic type of filtration. Make sure you’re replacing this filter at least once every 30 to 90 days, depending on the filter you have and the recommendations outlined by the manufacturer. Also, take into consideration how many people live in your home, whether there are pets or smokers in the residence, and how frequently you run your heating equipment in the winter.

Reducing Chemicals, VOCs, and Odors

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from a variety of products in your home. This includes chemical-based cleaning products, perfumes, scented candles, a new carpet, paint, building materials, and even new furniture. With so many sources of VOCs in your home, it can be challenging to figure out how to remove them all. Activated carbon filtration is a great option for removing VOCs in your indoor air. It absorbs odors and chemicals, leaving you with fresher air.

Eliminating Pathogens

In the wintertime, it’s common for household members to share illnesses. It’s difficult to avoid this when you’re stuck inside with someone who is sick. However, there are ways in which you can reduce the number of microbes and pathogens that are circulating in your home. UV light technology is a great option. Air that is passing through your HVAC system will pass through a UV-C light. This light will damage the cellular wall of any microbes that are present in the air, rendering them harmless.

UV-C light also works to remove mold spores from your indoor air. If you encounter mold, this can cause a host of health issues, such as sneezing, headaches, sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath, anxiety, and inflammation.

Regulating Ventilation

You’re not likely to open windows and doors in the winter, but there needs to be some degree of air exchange between the inside and outside of your home. You can accomplish this by using ventilation equipment. This includes exhaust fans, which are probably already installed in your bathrooms and kitchen. You can increase ventilation in your home with special fans and equipment in your attic and basement as well.

Controlling Humidity

The relative humidity in your home should be between 35% and 50%, regardless of what the time of year is. In the winter, you may feel like your indoor air is dry. You can bring the level of humidity in your home back up using a whole-house humidifier. If you are experiencing high levels of moisture in your home, this can be addressed using a whole-house dehumidifier. This equipment is installed right onto your HVAC system, so you don’t have to worry about filling or emptying tanks or monitoring the location of your equipment.

It’s important not to allow too much moisture into your indoor air because this can promote the growth of mold in your home. Excess moisture can also damage wood flooring, furniture, and other furnishings and personal belongings.

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