A recent study from Velux cited that over 25% of all Americans spend their 21-24 hours inside, citing this as a worldwide problem that needs to be addressed. They referred to this phenomenon as the “indoor generation”.
Velux also conducted a study on the relationship between outdoor ventilation and health, but their studies appear to be inconclusive at this time. What they did emphasize was the importance of maintaining good indoor air quality by ensuring you’re getting good ventilation throughout your home, addressing mold and mildew, plugging gas leaks, and sealing off asbestos.
For us living in Florida, we face the toughest challenge. Our outside air is humid, warm, sticky, and generally unpleasant. So what can homeowners in Gainesville and the rest of Florida do to improve their indoor air quality? It all starts with your HVAC system, and as Gainesville’s most green HVAC contractor, we know exactly how you can help improve your indoor air quality.
5 Ways Florida’s Indoor Generation Can Improve Indoor Air Quality
Install HVAC UV Lights
There’s no better method to kill airborne contaminants and allergens than HVAC UV lights. Installing UV lights significantly improves the quality of your indoor air by breaking down the DNA of the hazardous spores and bacteria. Not only can UV lights defeat bacteria and mold, but they also fight against the growth of algae in condensate drains.
Change Your AC Filter Regularly
Your air conditioning filter is essential to your health and the health of your HVAC system. Changing your filter regularly and using an air filter that has a high MERV rating can help filter out smoke, pet dander, and other airborne allergens. It’s such a simple thing, but most often people forget to change their air filter. Just look at the state of an air filter from one of our recent customers:
Duct Cleaning
If you got a good look at the air filter above, then you can only imagine the state of their air duct system. Changing your air filter regularly is only half of the problem when it comes to dust, mold, and mildew in your home. A thorough air duct cleaning helps to keep the air clean and improve your HVAC system’s efficiency.
Use a Dehumidifier
Velux recommended that you air out your home three to four times a day for at least 10 minutes at a time, with more than one window open. The problem with that strategy here in Florida is that our air is very humid. Exposing our home to the humid air ramps up our indoor humidity and could cause a host of problems. One way to combat that is to invest in a dehumidifier. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, most dust mites die off in low humidity levels or extreme temperatures.
If you choose to open your windows periodically, just make sure you run the dehumidifier for at least an hour after the windows are open to prevent mold or other allergens from forming.
Add Indoor Plants
Adding live indoor plants not only improves your decor, but they also can help purify the air. There are several indoor plants that help to purify the air, which you can find inspiration for on HGTV’s blog. Make sure you’re keeping tabs on the amount of water you use to water your plants, as overwatering can pool up around your plant and could start to grow mold.
Get Help from Gator Air & Energy!
There is much more you can do to improve your indoor air quality here in Florida. We understand the challenges of living in Florida and in a humid climate. If you need help deciding what the best option is to improve your indoor air quality, give us a call. We were shocked by the “indoor generation” statistics and we want to help keep Gainesville, FL residents healthy, happy, and thriving! Call us today to schedule your consultation!
