A decline in indoor air quality (IAQ) is often associated with wintertime, when a house is closed up and the furnace is operating. You may not realize that IAQ is a concern in the summer too, when it’s adversely affected by additional seasonal factors. Here are some of the most common culprits that impact summer IAQ and how to deal with them.
Indoor and Outdoor Allergens
When the weather warms up, grass, weeds, and tree pollen can easily get into your indoor air supply and cause misery for allergy sufferers. Airborne pet dander and hair can also contribute to allergy-related symptoms including sneezing, nasal congestion, and itching, watering eyes. To minimize the allergens spread throughout the house via the HVAC ductwork, check your system’s air filter on a monthly basis, and put in a fresh one when you see any visible debris. If a standard filter isn’t doing the job, talk to your HVAC pro about adding an air cleaner unit to your comfort system.
High Humidity Levels
Humidity levels always increase in the summer because warm air can hold more moisture. During the normal cooling process, your A/C does remove airborne moisture, but excess humidity can degrade air quality by allowing mold, mildew, and dust mites to flourish. Running the exhaust fans frequently in humidity-prone spaces like the bathrooms and kitchen can help, but it may be necessary to install a whole-home dehumidifier for healthier indoor air quality.
VOCs and Chemical Vapors
It’s necessary to keep doors and windows closed in summer to make cooling your home efficient, but this traps volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chemical vapors indoors. These potentially hazardous compounds that erode air quality get released from common cleaning and household products, textiles and carpeting, pressed-wood furniture components and building materials. Opening the windows whenever possible can help air out the house, but you should also consider having a ventilator unit installed that provides controlled air exchange and improves your indoor air quality year-round.
To learn about effective solutions to boost the summer IAQ in your Lorain home, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area