Indoor Air Quality
In Southeast Michigan, indoor air quality is important to help protect yourself from airborne illnesses and allergy symptoms. Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne county homes are continuously being built with tighter construction methods which work to trap the air within your home. Couple this with the fact that indoor cleaning agents, appliances, cooking, etc. continue to pollute this air and you’ll find that poor indoor air quality is on the rise.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.), the air in new homes can be 10 times more polluted than outdoor air.
Additionally, the American College of Allergists states that “50% of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by indoor air pollution” and children are particularly vulnerable. Properly selecting an air cleaner or air purifier for your home is the first step towards protecting your family’s health.
Humidifiers & Air Cleaners
At Aladdin Heating & Cooling, we are proud of the state-of-the-art air quality systems we offer from Carrier. These systems trap and kill bacteria, viruses, mold spores, allergens and other pollutants in the conditioned air—and keep them out of the air your family breathes. We offer a wide range of filtration systems to fit price ranges and air cleaning needs. An Air Purifier offers to following benefits:
- Captures small, breathable particles down to 0.3 microns in size. (1 Micron = Approximately 1/25,000th of an inch)
- Captures airborne mold and other bioaerosols down to 0.01 microns in size
- Destroys odors (cooking fumes, pet odors, etc.)
- Removes chemical vapors such as fumes from household cleaners and products
- Does NOT generate ozone
- Reduces existing ozone levels
- Provides whole-home hospital grade air purification
There’s quite a bit of confusion among homeowners here in Royal Oak, Berkley, Warren, and the greater Metro-Detroit area about air filters. It’s no wonder — with so many sizes, types and price points available. To help cut through the confusion, here’s a basic guide to MERV ratings.
MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Rating Value, is your tool to compare the effectiveness of air filters for home heating and air conditioning systems. The goal of your air filter is to rid your home’s air supply of unhealthy, lung-irritating, airborne particles like dust, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, emissions from cleaning and home improvement projects, and infectious bacteria and viruses. Clean filters also protect your HVAC equipment and extend its life.
MERV filter effectiveness ratings range from 1 to 20, based on the amount and size of small particles each filter is capable of removing from the air. Higher rated filters trap more particles — and smaller particles — than less effective, lower rated filters.
If you’re choosing a filter, consider these basic guidelines:
- For excellent home dust control and improved indoor air quality, homeowners can rely on filters with a MERV rating between nine and 12.
- Filters with MERV ratings of 13-16 trap smaller particles, which include some bacteria.
- MERV values of 17-20 are assigned to true HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters.
- Hospitals and other lab or clean environments also use these filters, but some home systems can be retrofitted to accommodate them.
- In general, for homes with challenging environments (more contaminants in the air) and/or more sensitive residents (such as the elderly, children or residents with asthma or other lung ailments), a more powerful MERV filter may be needed.
- For homes with less airborne particles (and mostly large particles like dust) and/or less sensitive residents, a high-efficiency filter may not be worth the cost. Medium-efficiency filters, MERV 7-13, are nearly as effective at trapping harmful particles, according to the EPA.
Dehumidifiers
Control Moisture In Your Home With A Dehumidifier
Water stains on the ceiling and walls? Mold and mildew problems? Poor indoor air quality? All these are signs you may have a moisture problem. High indoor humidity is a common issue around Lake Orion, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, and other areas with high water tables but there are ways you can control moisture in your home. One of the most effective long term solutions is to get a dehumidifier.
The air holds different quantities of water when it’s at different temperatures. Warmer air holds more humidity, which is why hot summers can be so uncomfortable in Southeast Michigan. An air conditioner removes a limited portion of this humidity, but only as a by-product of the cooling process. To really control moisture in your home, you need a system specifically designed for dehumidification.
A whole-house dehumidifier works in conjunction with your HVAC system and ductwork. As indoor air passes through, moisture is collected into a tub and piped out of the house. When your air conditioner is running, a dehumidifier will work in conjunction with it, creating a cohesive system that will control moisture in your home without allowing things to get too dry. When the A/C is off, the dehumidifier runs on its own.
Taking steps to control moisture in your home can:
- Reduce the presence of dust mites, which thrive in humid conditions and can contribute to allergies and respiratory problems.
- Put a stop to feelings of mugginess or stuffiness, even in those rooms that always seem to be too humid.
- Make you feel cooler by removing heavy moisture from the air. Since you’ll be more comfortable, you may not have to keep the thermostat adjusted so low.
- Prevent mold growth in walls and on equipment. If you see even a little mold growing in your home, it’s a good bet there’s a whole system of mold growing right there behind the scenes.
Help eliminate musty or foul odors resulting from mildew
We install, service, and repair: Whole house air cleaners, air purifiers, HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) purification systems, bypass humidifiers, power humidifiers, flow-through humdifiers, steam generating humidifiers, whole-home dehumidifiers, UV Bulbs, and more!
Do you live in Royal Oak, Berkley, Warren, or the greater Metro-Detroit area and have questions about indoor air quality?
