Why Proper Ventilation in Your Home Is Essential Heating and AC Repair | Fort Worth, TX
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Have you ever walked into a room in your home in Fort Worth, TX, and immediately wrinkled your nose at the smell in there? Musty, stale odors from still air and organic particles that often arise from unaddressed moisture can create nasty odors. Inadequate ventilation leads to very poor indoor air quality. Many homes are designed, or altered, to be as airtight as possible. Heating and AC repair professionals can explain the importance of ventilation and the available methods to encourage air circulation.
Home owners concerned with energy costs do not want to lose cooled or heated indoor air or allow air from outside to force HVAC systems to work harder. Airtight homes often keep pollutants and allergens trapped inside. Air sealing is beneficial in terms of energy efficiency and comfortable indoor temperatures, but it can be hazardous to a family’s health when a house is sealed too well. Heating and AC repair professionals can help find an appropriate balance between sealing a home for energy efficiency and adequate ventilation.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, come from building materials, fabrics and woods in furniture, cleaning products, and living and growing organisms inside the home. Some people are more sensitive than others, but almost everyone experiences some degree of headaches, respiratory problems, and neurological symptoms from inhalation of VOCS.
Build up of volatile organic compounds in indoor air can be avoided with proper ventilation. Homes with poor ventilation often have too much moisture in the air. Indoor air absorbs humidity and moisture because there is nowhere for the moisture to go. Mold and mildew thrive on moisture. If a wall or piece of furniture feels damp to the touch, it definitely holds enough moisture for mold to thrive.
Moisture in homes in Fort Worth, TX, increases when there is a large difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. Humidity and temperature differences trigger condensation inside the home, and within the home’s structures. Mildew and mold can even grow inside walls where it is not immediately obvious. People with asthma, COPD, and other respiratory issues are at increased risk, but everyone in the home can suffer from ill health when mold grows out of sight. Mold produces spores that spread throughout the entire home.
Air movement is the best and most efficient way to keep indoor moisture levels down. The winter months in Fort Worth, TX, are generally known for less humidity than warmer months. Seasonal changes have progressively less impact on indoor air quality and humidity as homes become much more airtight than they were in the past. Contact heating and AC repair services for advice on keeping humidity levels down without forcing HVAC systems to work harder.
Allergens, including dust and dander, also build up without adequate ventilation. Homes with pets may have more dander and other allergens in the air, but even homes without pets have their fair share. Pollen, dust, and other allergens cling to clothing and shoes when people enter the home. Filtered fresh air through ventilation keeps pollutants and other irritants moving and eventually moves them out of the house.
Homes with dogs and other pets may have pet doors that allow more air circulation or open doors more often than homes without pets. Homes without pets are still at risk of high levels of allergens. Pollen, dust, and other irritants have no way to leave the house without ventilation, so the irritants simply hover in the air or fall to the ground to be stirred up by activity. Heating and AC repair professionals can identify problems with a home’s ventilation and recommend solutions to minimize pollen and other irritants inside the home.
Proper ventilation increases the air quality inside the home and improves comfort. Homes need some way to ventilate old, stale air that is full of irritants. Bathrooms and kitchens benefit from spot ventilation and exhaust fans. Contact heating and AC repair professionals to find the best options for spot ventilation. Cleaning and disinfecting solutions used in kitchens and bathrooms also produce chemical pollutants. The fumes and chemicals cause respiratory and neurological problems without sufficient ventilation.
Carbon monoxide is a huge concern in homes with inadequate ventilation. A carbon monoxide leak inside the house can quickly reach lethal levels if a home is sealed against outside air circulation. Always keep carbon monoxide alarms in the home, and consult heating and AC repair professionals to assess or install alarms and help find a good solution for healthy air circulation indoors.
Types of Mechanical Ventilation
Call heating and AC repair professionals if sinus headaches or the sniffles are frequent problems in your home in Fort Worth, TX. The professionals can inspect the home’s ventilation systems and highlight problems or offer advice for improvement while still maintaining an energy-efficient home. Heating and AC repair professionals can provide advice on whole-house ventilation systems. Whole building ventilation systems circulate air and encourage air exchange throughout the entire home to improve indoor air quality.
Home owners in Fort Worth, TX, may disagree on the benefits of allowing outdoor air circulation or keeping a home sealed tightly against intrusions of outside air. The best conditions for any home depend on many factors, and solutions differ based on the home’s occupants and their needs. Proper ventilation is necessary in every home, no matter how large or small. Heating and AC repair service providers are the best source of information and they can advise home owners on the best solutions for their family’s situation.
Proper ventilation is essential for healthy indoor air quality, and home owners have plenty of options. The three main types of mechanical ventilation include exhaust-only, supply-only and balanced systems. Heating and AC repair professionals at One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating can explain costs, benefits, and installation requirements for all three types and help you choose the best option.