Parents spend a whole lot of time childproofing the home and sanitizing surfaces to keep their children healthy. But air quality rarely comes to mind. Small children breathe faster than adults, which means that they will absorb more pollutants into their lungs. This causes health conditions, such as irritated airways and coughing fits, and this can turn into more serious respiratory trouble later. Taking air quality seriously can ensure your kids remain healthy longer. Here are steps that you can take now to clean up the pollution in your home.
Get Air-Quality Testing
Many people just go out and buy air purifiers and call it a day. But that is the wrong approach. Air-quality testing is the most important thing that you can do because this will allow you to know what pollutants you have in your home, which will enable you to take targeted measures. Technicians will use special tools to test for pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, floating dust particles, high humidity, and hidden mold spores, and they will let you know what their levels are. Then, they will let you know which solutions will work best for your home.
Cleaning Out the Air Ducts
Air ducts collect a whole lot of debris. You’ll be surprised how much dust, grime, and pet hair you’ll find once you get down and dirty to take a look. Sure, your HVAC system has a filter. But these particles will circulate every time your HVAC system kicks on to heat or cool your home.
Professionals will use industrial-strength vacuums to suck all the dirt and debris out of the air ducts. Then, they will scrub away any remaining grime using special brushes.
Advanced Filtration Works Wonders
While air filters do catch a considerable amount of debris, a lot still manages to get through the mesh. Your average HVAC filter cannot catch microscopic particulates. You can work with an HVAC technician to install high-efficiency media air cleaners inside of your system so that the air in your home is cleaner. High-efficiency media air cleaners will remove up to 99% of microscopic particulates, which include smoke and pollen.
Take Things a Step Further With an Ultraviolet Light Purifier
In addition to the advanced filtration system, you can take things a step further and have a technician install an ultraviolet light purifier inside your HVAC system. Ultraviolet light purifiers can kill off mold spores and viruses so that they don’t have a chance to multiply and float in the air.
Get Whole-Home Humidification and Dehumidification
Balancing the humidity in your home is critical for keeping young kids healthy. Air that is too dry in the winter can irritate your children’s nasal passages and throats, causing nosebleeds and major discomfort. Air that is too humid can create an environment for mold to grow, which can lead to illness. Experts recommend keeping indoor humidity levels between 40 to 50%.
Work with an HVAC technician to install whole-home humidification and dehumidification systems inside your HVAC setup. These systems will kick into gear to keep humidity levels where they should be.
Now is the time to improve the air quality in your home. Children thrive when the air is cleaner. If you live in Denver, CO or a surrounding area and need indoor air quality services, make your first call to High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric.