As the name suggests, there are three key components to a good HVAC system. Those components are heating, ventilation, and cooling. Everyone already knows how important heating and cooling are in and around State College, PA. When it comes to ventilation, however, many people don’t fully understand its critical role. Let’s look at two important ways a ventilator can manage indoor air quality.
Contaminant Control
It sounds hard to believe, but the air quality indoors can be up to five times worse than outdoors. That’s primarily because contaminants tend to build up quickly in enclosed spaces. Common pollutants include dust, dander, smoke, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds from household items.
Proper ventilation helps to correct this issue by removing polluted air from your home and replacing it with clean air. The air that’s drawn in from outdoors naturally contains fewer contaminants. It’s also passed through a filter before entering your home to ensure it’s as clean and as healthy as possible. It’s quite literally a breath of fresh air for your home.
Moisture Management
It’s easy to see why particulate contaminants are potentially hazardous, but there’s another air quality risk that’s not so obvious. Many homes that aren’t well-ventilated suffer from excessive humidity. A safe humidity range is between 30 and 60 percent. Unfortunately, everything from bathing to cooking to breathing can push the humidity much higher in an inadequately ventilated home.
Too much humidity can promote the growth of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes in your home. It makes your house a more attractive target for pests and can also lead to wood rot. There’s some evidence that it may even be associated with respiratory illnesses and increased sensitivity to allergies. A ventilator can help keep humidity in check and ensure that moisture buildup doesn’t become an issue.
As you can see, a ventilator is a great investment in your family’s health. For more ways to help you breathe easier in your home, explore Triangle Heating & Cooling’s indoor air quality services or call (814) 355-7653.
