South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Indoor air quality always a priority; important to monitor it during winter

The quality of the air in your home should always be a priority, but during the colder months it’s particularly important to monitor it.

One of the most common air-quality problems in an indoor environment is particles in the air, such as allergens, viruses, bacteria and other contaminants, according to a news release.

You have longer exposure to these particles when you’re inside for a long time in the winter, and just because you can’t see these pollut­ants, it doesn’t mean they’re not there.

These lightweight particles can stay suspended in midair unless properly removed, and smaller particles can sometimes cause the most adverse health effects.

The human body’s immune system is able to deal with a certain level of contaminants. However, once allergens or other airborne pollutants reach a threshold, negative health effects and allergic reactions can occur.

However, by reducing the contaminant levels of airborne particles through proper indoor air-quality technologies, these problems may be alleviated.

Here are some hints on how:

• Air purifiers clean harmful microscopic airborne pathogens from the conditioned air and some even capture and kill them to prevent them from re-entering the home.

• Another issue during the winter is dry air. Installing a humidifier can help maintain proper humidity during heating season and help you avoid itchy, cracked skin, dry nasal passages and static electricity. It may even reduce the drying that can damage wood furniture and flooring.

• Air infiltration is also a big concern. Today’s homes are built for better energy efficiency, with tighter construction and less air infiltration. While that’s great for maintaining temperatures, it means air can become stagnant and stale in your home, especially when you and your family are spending more time indoors.

You need fresh air in your home and that’s where a ventilator helps, the release stated. It works with your heating and cooling system to allow clean, fresh outdoor air into your home without jeopardizing your comfort.

When evaluating your home’s indoor air quality, it’s important to discuss it with a certified heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contractor. All these helpful solutions can tie right into your home comfort control, making it easy to monitor and regulate indoor temperature, humidity and air quality, according to the release.

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