Spring is here, and with the spring and summer humidity, rising temperatures and allure of open windows, it’s time to focus on indoor air quality. Here are some things to pay attention to in order to beat allergens and other types of indoor pollution.

• Ventilation. Fresh outdoor air, especially in the tree-rich Atlanta area, can be a welcome way of flushing pollutants out of your home. Ventilation can be as simple as opening a window or as powerful as running a window air conditioner with open vents, installing fans to bring outdoor air inside or ventilation solutions to flush air with household pollutants such as steam from cooking or chemicals from cleaning your home. In the summertime, an attic fan can also help save you money by keeping the solar-heated attic from warming up the whole house.
• Filtration. No matter how good your other solutions are, you’ll always need to filter the air in your home from dust and other airborne debris. Air conditioners and furnaces come with filters installed, but make sure you inspect them every month, and when they look dirty, replace them. Also, review your system’s MERV requirements – get a filter that fits your equipment and your air quality needs.
• Humidity control. As we move into the humid spring and summer months, remember that humidity can accelerate mold and mildew growth in hard-to-see and hard-to-clean areas, wrecking your indoor air quality. A whole-house dehumidifier can cut down on your worries, as well as making hot, muggy days feel cooler and more bearable.
• Air cleaning. Because homes are mostly closed systems, pollutants tend to get inside, stay inside and become part of  your stagnant indoor air. One way to cleanse pollutants from the air is by using an air purifier or electronic air purification system. Many models are available, ranging from small units that can fit on a desk to larger, whole-house systems integrating with your existing HVAC equipment or ductwork. For homes with young children, the elderly or those with special health needs, these systems can also support HEPA filtration – the same standard used in hospitals to create pristine air.

If you have any questions about your indoor air quality this spring, don’t hesitate to contact us at Powers Heating & Air. We provide superior HVAC services to the Peachtree City area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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