Indoor Air Quality
On average, people spend 90 percent of their time indoors but don’t know that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outside air. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has indoor air quality ranked as one of the top five environmental dangers to public health. It is linked to severe asthma and allergy development in children and to heart problems and lung cancer in children and adults.
What Are Some Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Symptoms of poor indoor air quality depend on the particular contaminant and are sometimes mistaken for allergies, stress, colds, or flu. Some of these associated symptoms are coughing, sneezing, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, nose bleeds, sore throat, and upper respiratory congestion. Your air quality can also contribute to the development or the exacerbation of some more serious conditions including infections, lung diseases, asthma, and heart disease.
What Are Some Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor air quality is affected by anything that releases gas or particles, which include combustion, personal-care products and activities, and even outdoor air quality.
Inadequate ventilation will trap contaminated air inside and can keep clean, fresh air from getting in. If you have unmaintained heating and air conditioning systems, your clogged air filters and dirty ducts will contribute to dust and mites in the air. Dampness in your house caused by floods, leaks, high humidity, or an unmaintained humidifier or dehumidifier can create mold and bacteria. Call Able Heating & Air for help in detecting the possible sources in your home.
You May Be Polluting Your Own Air!
Your own activities can contribute to the pollutants in the air. Cleaners and personal-care products are high culprits for this. Do not smoke inside. Cigarette smoke contains 7,000 chemicals and 69 poisons known to cause cancer. Children and elderly people are particularly sensitive to this, but it is unhealthy for everyone.
Burning of any kind of fuel releases particles into the air. Adequate ventilation is necessary to keep these contaminants under control.
The last thing to consider when looking at your own indoor air quality is the possibility of old or outdated building materials in your home. These poisonous building materials include asbestos and furniture made out of wood treated with formaldehyde.
What Can You Do To Improve Your Home's Air Quality?
Follow the recommendations below to help improve your home’s air quality:
- Ensure proper ventilation around fuel-burning appliances like furnaces, fireplaces, ranges, and heaters.
- Use proper ventilation when cleaning, painting, or using harsh chemical products in your home.
- Replace and maintain your home’s air filters at least once a season.
- Have your ductwork tested for leaks.
- Clean your humidifiers and dehumidifiers regularly.
- Keep your house clean by regularly vacuuming (use a HEPA vacuum cleaner), washing bedding, and leaving shoes at the door.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector, test for radon, and leave the asbestos to the professionals!
Dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air. Excess moisture can cause a number of seen and unseen issues in your home. Old and new houses alike go through phases of humidity levels for many different reasons.
Newer or remodeled homes have better insulation than ever before. While this cuts your energy costs overall, it also creates less air flow and therefore traps humidity. Older houses can have badly insulated pipes, windows, and cool surfaces which, when mixed with warm interior air, can create moisture. Your daily activities can contribute to the humidity level in your home as well.
Signs You May Need a Dehumidifier
- Condensation on your windows or doors - water beading or fog/vapor on the glass of your windows
- Mold spots on your ceiling or the corners of your walls
- Musty odor
- Spring water run-off
- Blistering paint or peeling wallpaper
- Creaky doors/windows/floors
Humidifiers
A humidifier is a device that emits water vapor to increase the humidity in your home. Our experts can help you determine if your home or business needs a humidifier.
A humidifier is often used to battle the symptoms associated with cold weather. The dry air caused by cold weather can wreak havoc on your respiratory system as well as damage your wooden furniture, musical instruments and more. A humidifier combats all of these things by reintroducing the needed moisture into the air in your home.
Humidifier Benefits
- Relief for chest congestion
- Relief for sinusitis
- Helps prevent chapped skin
- Helps to remedy colds and allergies faster
- Can help prevent nosebleeds
- Can help prevent snoring
- Protect furniture
- Protect wooden instruments
Need Indoor Air Quality Service?
Contact the experts at Able Heating & Air.
Call us at 540-718-7556!
Whole House Humidifier Repair in Culpeper, VA 22701
“Riley took time to explain what was going on with our system and how to solve it. Also explaining our maintenance options. Received great service, very pleased, thanks Riley.”
– Wanda S.
Indoor Air Quality Maintenance in Culpeper, VA 22701
“Very professional, on time, work done and completed with expertise.”
– Mariann F.
Whole House Humidifier Installation in Locust Grove, VA 22508
“Able Heating & Air/Mike Sidle installed a whole-house humidifier at my residence yesterday. From beginning to end the job was performed professionally and to my complete satisfaction. Mike arrived on time and really appreciated that when I answered the door he had his covid mask and shoe slippers on. He discussed with me what he was going to do and answered all my questions. The installation took about three hours and involved electrical and plumbing work. When finished, Mike explained the system and again answered all my questions. Have also received by email all related documents related to the performed work. Mike was most professional and friendly and am thoroughly enjoying my whole house humidifier. But I’ve been with Able Heating for several years, they always do an excellent job so not surprised that Mike Sidle did such a good job.”
– Pam N.
Indoor Air Quality Maintenance in Culpeper, VA 22701
“Able Heating does great follow up. Always contacts us when a service is needed and then keeps us up to date with status.
The team is on time and always lets you know when they are on the way.
All of the technicians are courteous and know what they are doing.
thanks for keeping our equipment running great.”
– David c.
Indoor Air Quality Installation in Culpeper, VA 22701
“On time and efficient and timely installation. Very satisfactory installation.”
– Roy C.
Indoor Air Quality Installation in Locust Grove, VA 22508
“What I love about Able Heating & Air is the communication that takes place including the customer. Amy (Customer Representative) is also to be commended for getting answers to questions and communicating. All efforts bring about a really great result leading to customer satisfaction and great products. We just added the Air Scrubber and EZ Trap Condensation Safety Device.”
– Robert T.
Indoor Air Quality Maintenance in Locust Grove, VA 22508
“Care from the best!”
– JANE J.
Indoor Air Quality Repair in Culpeper, VA 22701
“Convenient appointment set up. Coordinated arrival of technician. Seth evaluated the necessary repair and insured that the best method was applied to complete the job. Great customer service from everyone.”
– Tom A.
Indoor Air Quality Installation in Madison, VA 22727
“"Tech arrived on time and answered my questions to my satisfaction.He had the replacement filter and the new capacitor for the a/c on handand didn't have to order parts.Chris was very nice and a pleasure to work with."”
– D. K.
Promptly On Time
“To start with I contacted Able Heating and Air in reference to obtaining an estimate to replace my heating/air system. I was immediately given an appointment within a few days. However, the day before my appointment I turned on my heat and experienced a horrible smell like burning food in a stove. That day I called Able and spoke with Amy to express my concerns with regards to the burning smell. Even though I was not a customer at that moment she took the time to contact the owner and make him aware of my concerns. She immediately called me back and advised me that the owner was also concerned with the unusual odor and suggested that I turn the system off immediately. They immediately changed my appointment to that day. Bo responded to my home and was promptly on time. He was very professional, polite and informative and took the time to explain every detail with regards to replacing my system. He also provided several options to choose from to meet my budget and obtain a system that would best suit my needs. From that day forward the office has remained in contact with me via phone or email with regards to replacing my system. Do to the fact I was not able to run my system they made arrangement to replace it the following Monday morning.
The service team arrived that Monday morning in a timely manner. They were also very polite, professional and informative. They worked through the day and into the early evening hours until the install was complete. They took the time to show me how the new thermostat worked and provided my with the instruction booklet. They also took to time to photograph the air handler installation which was located in the crawl space of my home. This prevented me from crawling under the house to inspect the work. I considered that to be very thoughtful on their part and concerned about me having to crawl under the house. Once they were finished they cleaned up everything along with removing the old air handler and heat pump and the only way I knew they were even there was the view of an new quietly running Trane heat pump.In closing I would like to say that Able Heating and Air greatly surpassed my expectations in the service they have provided me. I highly recommend this company for all your heating and air conditioning needs. ”
Able Heating & Air proudly provides HVAC service to Culpeper, Locust Grove, Spotsylvania, Boston, Madison, Orange, Reva, Rixeyville, Warrenton, and the surrounding communities. Visit our service area page for more coverage details, call us at 540-718-7556, or request service online today.