Feeling Cooped Up? Here’s How To Help Your Indoor Air Circulation

Ventilation systems can refresh and clean your indoor air, and also  improve air circulation. Even if you spend 90 percent of your time indoors (like the average U.S. citizen), a ventilation system can help you feel comfortable and breathe easy.

Unfortunately, the indoor air quality in the typical Long Island home is considered poor by the EPA’s standards. Many more contaminants than you might realize can become trapped indoors, especially in homes that don’t have adequate circulation. A few examples include:

  • Dust
  • Dust mites
  • Pollen and allergens
  • Mold and spores
  • Viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms
  • Radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US after tobacco smoke (according to the American Lung Association)
  • Chemical fumes from cleaners, air fresheners, paints, varnishes, adhesives and more
  • Off-gassing from pressed wood, carpets and construction materials

Even the carbon dioxide exhaled by residents can accumulate to unhealthy levels.

Fortunately, Long Island homeowners have a variety of tools at their disposal to improve indoor air circulation. Balanced ventilation systems, such as energy recovery ventilators, keep air circulation up by expelling stale air and drawing in fresh air. They also remove contaminants and humidity  from the incoming air stream. Some ventilation units are complicated systems with their own ducts, but others can be installed conveniently with your pre-existing ducts.

Air filters are a key element when it comes to keeping your air clean and your system efficient. A HEPA filter is designed with more surface area than a standard filter, and can trap 99.97 percent of the most minuscule particles, 1/300th the diameter of a hair. But before you rush to install a HEPA filter, give us a call. The highest efficiency filters aren’t ideal for every system. If it’s too restrictive, it can actually decrease air circulation.

Air circulation and quality can also be compromised if your ventilation system is not well maintained. Preventive maintenance  keeps your system clean and efficient, and facilitates smooth airflow through all components, including your ductwork. Call  T. F. O’Brien for more information, or to schedule your preventive maintenance today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).   For more information about indoor air circulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

T.F. O’Brien services the Long Island, New York area.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!