Indoor air quality (IAQ) has been a concern for nearly as long as we’ve lived indoors. Indoor spaces have consistently higher concentrations of dust, pollutants and many other harmful substances, including germs. Improving IAQ involves taking measures to reduce contaminants and move fresh air indoors. When it’s not too humid, opening a window is one simple way to boost your home’s IAQ.
In the age of COVID-19, indoor air quality is more critical than ever. Experts continue to recommend staying outdoors and out of confined spaces to avoid exposure to the coronavirus from others. Of course, Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, so doing this isn’t always practical. Luckily, many of the things you can do to improve your IAQ will also help you fight germs like the virus that causes COVID-19, even indoors. We’ve compiled a list of tools to help you do just that.
4 Products to Improve IAQ in Your Home
Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can be outfitted with IAQ products to fight COVID-19 and freshen your air. Besides killing off bacteria and viruses, these IAQ products can remove pollen, mold and toxins that can take a toll on your health and well-being. Here are our four recommendations for indoor air quality products to remove bacteria from your home’s air and fight germs:
1. Air Cleaners
Sometimes called air purifiers, these devices remove a variety of unwanted contaminants from your house. They help you breathe a little easier while also fighting off germs in the home. They’re excellent for removing airborne particles, odors, gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). How do they work? Using fans, they pull air in through a series of filters, which clean out particles and harmful microbes to help kill viruses.
Many types of air cleaners have the germ-fighting power you need to keep you and your family safe. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is the gold standard for IAQ. It can remove 99.97% of airborne particles in your home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even advise using HEPA filters in office buildings to create healthier work environments during COVID-19.
A True HEPA filter will remove pollen, smoke, dust, dust mites, lint, odors, mold and pet dander. You can also try the less powerful HEPA-Type filter, which traps smoke, dust, lint, odors and pet dander.
For protection against airborne bacteria, consider a HEPA filter treated with an antimicrobial agent to kill germs on contact. It is particularly effective against fungi, mold spores and bacteria. For the most effective solution for bacteria and viruses, combine your air cleaner with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp.
2. Ultraviolet Lamps
UV lamps are powerful germicidal lights that can work alongside your air purifier to kill 99% of airborne germs and bacteria. You might see these sold together with air purifiers, labeled as a True HEPA/UV-C air purifier. A UV light can be installed within your existing HVAC system, and most bulbs last over a year. All you have to do to maintain this germ-fighting addition to your home is have it changed annually. We at E.A.C. can take care of it during a routine air conditioning maintenance visit.
Studies have shown ultraviolet light reduces many strains of bacteria known to cause asthma, sinusitis, fever, pneumonitis and other respiratory symptoms. Since UV lights attach to your existing HVAC system, they are effective at keeping the unit itself bacteria-free. A UV lamp prevents these microbes from spawning and becoming airborne. The CDC recommends UV light as a supplemental measure to inactivate airborne viruses.
Ultraviolet lamps can also provide many benefits besides their sterilization abilities. They help remove volatile organic compounds and odors and reduce algae growth. These features keep your air conditioner clean, so it will last longer without you cleaning it yourself. By reducing mold, bacteria and other types of buildup, UV lamps enhance airflow, prevent clogs in the drainage and improve your HVAC system’s efficiency.
3. Dehumidifiers
Humidity creates the perfect environment for some of your home’s most unwelcome residents — mold, mildew and dust mites. Mold and mildew release disease-causing toxins, and dust mites are a potent biological allergen. Mold from the air can end up in your food and even burrow itself in your home’s carpentry and soft surfaces. It gets there thanks to microscopic mold spores that float through the air until they land on surfaces where they’ll flourish.
Maintaining a relative humidity level between 30%-60% is ideal for controlling mold, dust mites and even pests like cockroaches.
Humidity is inevitable in South Carolina’s subtropical climate. By allowing mold, mildew and dust mites to grow, poor humidity control can trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions. In a time when COVID-19 is causing difficulty breathing, clearing out unwanted humidity is vital.
A portable dehumidifier can keep your most lived-in rooms moisture-free. It plugs into a standard outlet and collects water in a receptacle, which you’ll have to empty yourself. With Hilton Head Island’s wet climate and proximity to the ocean, a whole-home dehumidifier can be a worthwhile investment. It integrates with your central air system to remove excess moisture throughout your home. Along with the humidity, it eliminates those wet-environment-loving contaminants.
4. Ventilators
Proper ventilation plays a critical role in keeping the air in your home dry, fresh and clean. It helps remove pollution, radon or carbon monoxide buildup alongside excess humidity to improve your health.
How can ventilators work as a germ-fighting tool? Ventilators pull old, stale air out of your home and replace it with fresh, outdoor air. Alongside invisible polluters, they also remove airborne pathogens from the air. Most hospitals use high ventilation in operating rooms and isolation rooms for patients with airborne infectious diseases for this very reason.
While ventilators can’t claim to remove all germs in one fell swoop, they work by diluting the air’s concentration of airborne viruses. The more times per hour the air gets changed, the lower your chances for infection.
The CDC recommends increasing the amount of outdoor air drawn in through the HVAC system to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While your home likely already has a ventilation system, it can be smart to improve your outdoor air intake.
While exhaust ventilators are common, they’re not the best choice for our warm climate, because they can draw in moisture. A supply system draws in outside air, forcing old air to escape through vents. It allows for better control of the air entering your home. At E.A.C., we can evaluate your home and ventilation needs and give you the best advice to increase outdoor air intake.
Choose E.A.C. for Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
As we weather out the COVID-19 crisis, we’re all spending more time living, working and breathing in our homes. Improving your indoor air quality to help kill germs in your home’s air is one measure you can take to stay safe and healthy. E.A.C. Heating & Air is your local IAQ expert. For years, we’ve been helping businesses and homeowners like you fight asthma, allergies, respiratory infections and other ailments linked to IAQ issues.
We have a vast selection of air cleaners and filtration systems, UV lamp attachments, dehumidifiers and ventilators. Our IAQ specialists can help you find the right products to protect your home and install them correctly to give your residence optimal air quality. We’re proud to be of service to our community, making the air you breathe cleaner. Learn more about our IAQ services and start your search for IAQ products to fight germs today.