The arrival of fall and then winter leads to cold weather. With it comes a series of situations that tend to worsen indoor air quality. Some of the effects are very direct, but others are secondary effects tied to changes in our behavior during cold weather. If you’re worried about indoor air quality during cold weather, then you need to prepare your house and its HVAC to handle the situation. Here are some of the indoor air quality problems that come with cold weather, the common issues that accompany each and how to address them.
Reduced Airflow in the Home
The reduction in airflow in the home is the top indoor air quality problem during cold weather. People close windows and doors more often to conserve heat. While the instinct to save on your heating bills is a good one, it does come with the negative effect of reducing airflow.
Several problems tend to arise from reduced airflow. Foremost, a lot of unhealthy things will accumulate more as your house exchanges less air with the outside. Allergens tend to accumulate more in the winter because there’s nothing to blow them out of the house. If you have even one pet, that contributes. Even dead skin from your own body accumulates. Dust mites thrive in the same environment, too. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals from a wide range of activities, also tend to accumulate. These off-gas from modern materials in everything from clothing to your house’s carpet. Even cooking leads to VOCs in your house.
Anyone sensitive to these irritants is likely to suffer more during the winter. If you feel like you’re only congested when you’re inside your own house during the winter, for example, there is a good chance that the reason is tied to the reduced airflow. You may simply be stewing in an environment where more irritants are present. It doesn’t help that forced-air heating systems can also push dust from service closets and basements into a home’s living space.
Air filters and purifiers are the first line of defense against these indoor air quality problems. By screening out the nasty stuff in the air, you can usually reduce irritation. Especially if your household includes one or more people with a respiratory condition like allergies, asthma or COPD, you will notice the difference.
Another solution is to consider redoing the heating system. Adding better ventilation to the design can reduce problems. Replacing a forced-air system with a heat pump may also yield an improvement in indoor air quality. You may also want to adopt a heating system that supports the use of a high-quality filter, such as a HEPA system. Adding a more efficient system can also reduce the number of heating cycles, keeping the HVAC from stirring up as much stuff. Our technicians can also check that everything in your HVAC is sealed well to eliminate possible sources of problems.
Low Humidity
Heating systems almost always dry the air. In a region like Mesa, AZ, the air is often already pretty dry. Low humidity levels can dry out the mucous in your nasal passages, sinuses and lungs, leading to health issues like nose bleeds, dry skin, sore throat and even wheezing. Dry air even increases your risks related to exposure to viruses.
Low humidity also affects your household environment. Dry air encourages static electricity, which poses a possible threat to electronics and appliances. Likewise, extremely dry air can even affect materials like wood and upholstery.
Notably, some air purifiers tend to perform worse in low-humidity conditions. Moisture helps to trap particles in filter materials. When the humidity is low, a purifier simply can’t capture as much dust.
You may want to consider an HVAC unit that includes a humidifier. The target is a humidity level above 50%. Once more, a more efficient system that doesn’t run as often or for as long can help.
High Humidity
Yes, it might feel counterintuitive that cold weather can cause problems at a different extreme. However, cold weather also can cause high humidity. If people are coming in and out of your house during rainy or snowy conditions, the activity tracks moisture into the house. Reduced airflow also means that more moisture is trapped in the house from indoor activities, such as cooking or hot showers. Condensation can also collect around windows because the indoor heat interacts with outdoor cold. All this moisture can encourage mold growth.
High humidity levels also can affect HVAC performance. Heating dry air is generally easier than heating wet air because the moisture adds more mass to the air. Consequently, your heater may need to do more work to achieve the same level of warming in a humid house.
An HVAC with support for dehumidification can be valuable. You want to target a humidity level below 50% to minimize mold. Modern energy recovery systems in HVAC units are also often good at managing moisture exchange to keep the humidity at an ideal level.
Clogged Filters
Increased heating system operation also means that the filters in your home are more likely to get clogged in cold weather. The baseline for replacing HVAC air filters is once every three months. However, we recommend that you check your home’s filters once a month until you get a sense of how badly the filter might clog. For example, folks who live in a household with lots of pets may need to replace HVAC filters once a month. After a couple of years with a system, you will get a better sense of how often the filter needs to be replaced.
Make sure you’re using the right filter for your HVAC. If the filter isn’t the right size, it might not function effectively. Likewise, using something like a HEPA filter in a heating system that doesn’t support it could starve it of air, ultimately shortening its service life. If you can’t find the filters, have one of our technicians identify where they are in your HVAC. We can also tell you which types of filters are compatible with your home’s heating system and where to buy them.
Contact Us Today
Honest Air Conditioning has been in business for more than a decade. Our technicians are available to address issues involving HVAC and indoor air quality. We provide installation, maintenance and repair services for your heating and cooling systems. Honest Air Conditioning serves residents of Mesa and the surrounding areas. Specials are available on our website, and we also offer financing to qualified customers on many installation projects. Your home’s work may be eligible for tax credits, too.
Folks rely on us because we have an A+ rating with the BBB. Our company also has a history of zero complaints with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. We bring a transparent and honest approach to every project, and customers can expect us to focus on addressing their needs. You don’t have to tolerate poor indoor air quality once cold weather hits. Contact Honest Air Conditioning today to learn about the available solutions.