HVAC FAQs - Indoor Air Quality

Finding the best solution for allergies starts with determining what allergens trigger your symptoms. Particles that trigger allergies vary in size from small (10 microns) to very small (.03 microns). Knowing your primary allergy enables us to find a cost effective air filter to help reduce your symptoms. Some people are allergic only to large particles, such as pollen, that can be effectively controlled with a MERV13 media-type air cleaner such as the Aprilaire 2400 which traps 97% of pollen. Finer allergens such as mold and pet dander require the use of a whole-house MERV16 electronic air cleaner such as the Aprilaire 5000 which traps 99% of airborne mold. Ultraviolet air purifiers also work well with good filters to kill mold spores and neutralize air-borne chemicals.

Yes! Condensate on the inside of your windows in the winter is a sign of too much moisture in the home. Several factors could include inefficient windows, extremely cold outdoor temperatures, and excessive indoor humidity sources (cooking, showering without a bath fan, humidifier adjusted too high). Wet windows can be a major source of mold, and can also damage wooden sashes.

The optimal humidity level varies with the outdoor temperature and the quality of your windows. Again, our main concern is to avoid condensate on your windows. A good winter setting for your humidifier is about 35% relative humidity, but as high as 45% is good if your windows stay dry. Without a humidifier, the average home  in the Miami Valley runs about 12-18%RH in the winter (as dry as the Mojave Desert).

A dry home results in more dry, flaky skin and increases the amount of house dust. On the other hand, excessive humidity supports mold and dust mite growth. The recommended indoor humidity level is between 35% and 55%.