Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
How is the Air Quality in Your Home? Many of us believe that staying indoors is the best way to avoid air pollution. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air in some indoor spaces may be more polluted than outdoor air. Sometimes, symptoms of bad indoor air quality can go unnoticed. Some of these symptoms include frequent colds, asthma, allergies, fatigue, dizziness, dry skin, headache, and cough, among others. So, how do we fix this problem?
What is your area of concern?
Thermostats
Modern thermostats are versatile and give homeowners various ways to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home or office. For starters, smart thermostats are programmable and they allow you to create settings that achieve the exact comfort you need in your home.
Scheduling is a key feature as well. You can set your schedule by the hour and day to be tailored to your personal comfort needs. Whether you arrive home late in the evenings or get your days started early, you don’t have to keep adjusting the thermostat to achieve the settings you want.
The Immediate Benefits
The biggest benefit of a modern thermostat is the ability to program your heating or cooling needs based on when your home is occupied or empty, this can extend your equipment service life and save you money. Modern thermostats also offer you an enhanced ability to track your energy use.
Your Personal Application
Using the thermostat app on your smartphone allows you to operate your HVAC system no matter where you are. This same technology gives you the ability to monitor your system when no one is actually inside of your house. These devices are designed to be easy to set up and easy to use, which can allow you to operate your HVAC system more efficiently while saving you money on your energy costs.
Air Scrubber
Allergens (dust, hair, pollen, dander)
An air scrubber is a self-cleaning, needlepoint bi-polar ionization generator designed specifically for treating air in residential duct AC systems. This means that as the air flows past the air scrubber, positive and negative ions actively treat the supply air to remove a spectrum of allergens.
The Immediate Benefits
Air scrubber units reduce bacteria and viruses, dust, static electricity, and odors in the living space, all without producing ozone or harmful byproducts. This process makes your indoor air cleaner and safer for you and your family.
Your Personal Application
This product needs no maintenance or replacement parts and has a 3-year limited manufacturer’s warranty! The air scrubber has an average lifespan of 10 years and can be transferred if you move or install a new system.
Aspire also offers air scrubbers for mini-split and ductless systems.
Mold, Mildew, Bacteria, or Germs
UV Lights
Never worry about mold, mildew, bacteria, or germs again. With a UV (“ultraviolet”) lamp installed in your HVAC system, it kills most organic micro-particles are killed before they have a chance to grow.
The Immediate Benefits
UV light is especially helpful during the summer months when mold spores are likely to form on your AC’s evaporator coils. To avoid the risk of breathing in potentially harmful air, a UV lamp will zap any bacterial growth and help ensure there are no toxic germs circulating throughout your home.
Your Personal Application
UV lights are typically replaced annually.
Very Wet or Dry Air
Very wet air – Whole Home Dehumidifier
Too much humidity is a challenge and a hazard if it’s sitting within your home. Moisture enables mold and fungus to develop without facing resistance. Those with allergies or respiratory problems might suffer more when their indoor air is too humid. Removing moisture from your indoor air requires a device called a dehumidifier.
The Immediate Benefits
Whole house dehumidifiers specifically work in conjunction with your HVAC system to modify the humidity in your entire home. Stand-alone options do exist, but their workloads are limited to specific areas or rooms. These units are portable options, but have less power and capability.
Dehumidifiers are purpose built to solely dehumidify your home. Our dehumidifiers are high quality so they operate quietly and efficiently.
Your Personal Application
Often, a dehumidifier is a great add-on to your HVAC system. Dryer air feels cooler, and in most cases, you can keep your thermostat set a little higher, saving energy and money in the process. Adding this appliance to your HVAC is a choice you make based on the specific conditions a homeowner is up against.
Very dry air – Whole Home Humidifier
Just as too much humidity is a problem, too little humidity can cause problems that go beyond annoying. When the air has very low humidity, it will look to pull moisture from wherever it can.
Nosebleeds, dry and cracked skin, as well as flare-ups of skin problems like eczema or acne are common when the air inside your home is too dry. More serious problems can also be caused by very low humidity. Static electricity, damage to your homes structure or furnishings, as well as increased risk of respiratory illnesses are some of the more serious conditions caused by too dry air.
There are some DIY (Do It Yourself) remedies that you can try before you spend money on a humidifier. Simply setting out bowls of water around the house can increase humidity. You can also place wet sponges, houseplants, or damp clothes in dry-air rooms. Leaving the bathroom door open while you shower and boiling water on your stove can also remedy the dry air in your house.
If these remedies do not provide relief, a whole-home humidifier (central humidifier) may be your answer.
The Immediate Benefits
The home humidifier adds moisture to the air flowing through your ducts. You can feel the near immediate effects after having a home humidifier installed. You will find it easier to breathe, less static electricity, and your skin shouldn’t be dry and cracked.
Your Personal Application
Winter is the time that we most often experience very dry air. During the winter months, a home humidifier can make your home much more comfortable, protect your home and furnishings, and increase your health. During these months, depending on the type of humidifier you have, you may need to do some basic maintenance monthly.
Air Filtration Systems
At Aspire, we offer Winston-Salem and Mocksville homeowners a wide variety of high-efficiency air filters. Even better, we’ll help you choose the best filter for your current HVAC setup.
Why is choosing the right air filter important? For one, if your filter doesn’t fit correctly, it won’t be able to catch all of the dirt and debris flowing through it. More importantly though, if your filter is too dense, it could limit the flow of air, putting unnecessary strain on your HVAC system. To prevent costly repairs caused by a misfitting air filter, Aspire’s highly-trained technicians will help you choose the right one for your home, and then expertly install it for you.
What is the highest quality air filter? At Aspire, we’re proud to offer HEPA filters. Commonly used by hospitals, HEPA filters can remove 99.97% of airborne particles, be it dust, pollen, mold, bacteria— even viruses!