In recent years, the public has become more aware of the impact of indoor air quality.
Just like the food we eat and water we consume, the air we breathe directly affects our health and well-being.
The level of moisture in the air, whether too high or too low, can cause damage to furnishings, breed harmful bacteria, cause sleeplessness and diminish our productivity. Headaches, coughing, sneezing, sore throat and congestion can be blamed on issues with indoor air quality. Chapped lips, frizzy hair and static shock are signs of low humidity levels. Mold and mildew growth, lethargy and aggravated symptoms of allergies are indications of overly high humidity. Long-term exposure to a high level of air pollutants can be responsible for serious medical concerns. Fortunately, the HVAC industry has responded. Where homeowners were once limited to portable air quality accessories that provided little benefits and required a great deal of maintenance, there is now whole-home technology. In recent years, a wide selection of IAQ add-ons have been introduced and proven effective. These accessories accommodate all different issues, types of HVAC systems and sizes of home. They operate almost silently, run efficiently and typically require only annual maintenance. There are air purifiers that install into the ductwork and emit positive and negative ions to treat every square inch of air reached by the heating/cooling system. There are germicidal UV lights used in hospital settings to kill bacteria, fungus, germs and all sorts of harmful pathogens. Ventilation systems are helpful to introduce fresh air without energy waste. Heat recovery ventilators use the outgoing air to preheat the incoming air, working to reduce the workload of the heating system. There are bypass, steam-style and fan-powered humidifiers as well as effective dehumidifiers.