The job of your home’s HVAC system is to keep your indoor temperature regulated, but the system can do so much more when indoor air quality products are integrated with it. Many HVAC system come with a standard air filter, but this air filter is not designed to help with indoor air quality. As such, if you are looking to improve your home’s indoor air quality, it’s time to schedule an Indoor Air Quality Services appointment with a Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning expert for your Larkspur, CO home.
IAQ Product Choices
Choosing the right indoor air quality products for your home will depend largely on what your needs are. Some households need to focus on removing allergens while others may want to focus on biological contaminants. Knowing what the products are and their capabilities plays a big role in your decision-making, so here is an overview of the types of IAQ products available:
Air Cleaning Products
“Air cleaning” is a general term that applies to both air filters and air purifiers. The main difference between air filters and air purifiers is that the word “filters” refers to mechanical air filters and the word “air purifiers” refers to electronic air cleaners and UV germicidal lighting. Air filters vary in strength and effectiveness, and the way to know how effective a particular air filter will be is by reviewing its MERV number. Air filters capture contaminants in their filter media while electronic air cleaners use ionization to charge particles and then capture the particles electronically. Both air filters and electronic air cleaners can capture allergens, but each can capture only some biological contaminants. This is where UV lighting comes in.
UV germicidal lighting destroys and eradicates biological contaminants by destroying the cell’s DNA; this disables the cells from reproducing. However, UV germicidal lights do not have an effect on non-biological contaminants like dust, so they are often paired with air cleaners or air filtration systems.
Humidifiers
We can have very low humidity in our area, which can lead to both property and health issues. One of the best ways to help balance the low humidity in your home is with the installation of a whole-home humidifier. These devices become part of your home’s HVAC system, so all you have to do is set your humidistat at the percentage you want and the humidifier does the rest.
Ventilation Devices
Maintaining good ventilation and indoor air quality can be a challenge for homeowners, especially during the very cold or very hot weather. But with an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) or heat recovery ventilator (HRV), you can have the benefit of pre-treated, fresh air flowing into your home while also reducing your energy usage.
A trained professional from Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning can help you determine which products will meet your needs and install them. Call us today and schedule an appointment!