Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Indoor Air Quality’

What’s the Best Humidity Level for My Home?

Monday, December 20th, 2021
woman-leaning-back-comfortably-on-couch

During the summer, you don’t want too much humidity. As you’ve probably discovered, too much of it makes you feel really uncomfortable–hotter than the temperature reading on your thermostat it seems like, right? This is because moisture helps you retain heat. Moisture also encourages the growth of mold and mildew in the home, leading to potential property damage.

In the winter, however, it’s possible to have too little humidity. Dry air causes just as many problems as air with too much moisture in it, unfortunately. It leads to static shock, lowered immunity, and cracked wood in homes as everything dries out. There must be a happy medium though, right?

Of course there is! The ideal relative humidity level in any given home is between 30%- 50%… anything lower than that 30% is considered too dry. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it–have a whole-house humidifier professionally installed. Read on to learn more about the benefits of doing this!

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What Type of Humidifier Is Best for Your Needs?

Monday, August 16th, 2021

In our previous blog post, we covered the indoor air quality additions that would be best for your home as we head into fall. In the most ideal situation, this would be a combination of a whole-house media filter, a UV air purifier, and a humidifier. But not just any humidifier! A whole-house humidifier.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with a portable humidifier. This is a great option for a single room, particularly if it’s a young child’s room, or you’re putting it in the room of someone who is ill with a cold. But if your entire home’s relative humidity level is below 30% (the ideal range is 30-50%) then you need a little more “umph”… in the form of a whole-house system. Read on as we uncover the many benefits of this indoor air quality installation.

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Combat Spring Allergens at Home

Thursday, April 15th, 2021
woman-with-allergies

Did you know that your indoor air pollution can be far worse than the outdoor air pollution? Homes today are built very tightly, to allow no air to escape from your home. This is really good news for your HVAC systems—this tight construction helps those systems work as efficiently as possible. But it’s not great news for your allergies.

Since no air can escape from your home, this means that no allergens and other contaminants can get out either. This includes everything from visible pollen and dust to microorganisms, odors, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), mold and mildew, and more. Does this mean there’s nothing you can do about those contaminants and allergens? Of course not! While no single technology can reduce or eliminate contaminants in the home, there are a number of indoor air quality solutions we provide that can mitigate your exposure. Read on to learn more!

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Here’s Your Spring Cleaning Checklist!

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

checklist-with-red-markerWhen you see something about spring cleaning, you likely envision dusting and decluttering your home. Maybe you bag up some stuff to donate and call it a day. These tasks will certainly help you enjoy your home more, but we have a slightly different idea of what spring cleaning looks like.

For our professionals, spring cleaning means investing in home services and completing home maintenance tasks that will keep your household running as efficiently as possible. This improves your family’s comfort and contributes to lower monthly energy bills. Read on as we uncover our version of a spring cleaning checklist.

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What Does It Mean to Have “Good” Indoor Air Quality?

Monday, December 14th, 2020

young-couple-sitting-on-couch-looking-happyIndoor air quality is probably a term you’ve been hearing a lot lately, particularly if you’re reading this blog post at time of its publishing, near the end of 2020. Air quality is playing a huge role in how safe individuals feel in regards to the transmission of germs and illness. It’s understandable to have this concern, but what many homeowners don’t realize is they may have been suffering from poor indoor air quality for years without knowing it!

“Wait,” you may say, “My HVAC systems work just fine and keep me comfortable, so my indoor air quality is fine.”

Okay, but is “fine” really good enough for you? What would “good” indoor air quality mean for your home? When we talk about indoor air quality, we’re going far beyond how hot or cold it is in your home. We’re looking at how healthy the air you breathe is, as well as how that air quality can affect various components of your property. Read on as we explore what good indoor air quality looks like:

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Do You Need to Add Humidity to Your Home?

Monday, November 16th, 2020

woman-in-sweats-hugging-pillow-looking-coldIt’s no secret that the fall and winter seasons bring some pretty chilly temperatures to our area. You’re probably already dreading going out to your car in the morning if you’re traveling to work, school, or errands. But at least you have your nice, comfortable home to return to at the end of the day, right?

What if your home isn’t as comfortable as it could be when temperatures have dropped? Does it signal a heater problem? Well, it could. But oftentimes it’s not actually your furnace or heat pump that’s the problem, but rather the lack of humidity in your home.

While summertime brings excess moisture and makes us feel a lot warmer than it actually is outside, wintertime does the opposite. The good news is, there’s something you can do about it! Contact us about installing a whole-house humidifier in your home.

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Is Your Home Humid Enough?

Monday, November 18th, 2019

street-and-homes-in-philadelphiaWhen you live where we do, then you’re all too familiar with the experience of dry air. The missing moisture from the air can cause a host of problems in your home, especially this time of the year, as the temperatures cool and you need to use your heater more and more. Use of your HVAC systems actually help dehumidify your living space, exacerbating the problem with dry air and subsequent poor indoor air quality.

If you haven’t already taken advantage of a whole-house humidifier installation, the best time is now, while our current humidity levels are relatively balanced.

Chances are, you’ve seen portable humidifiers in drug stores, and you may even have one in your own home to help alleviate cold symptoms or allergy symptoms. But the whole-house humidifier tackles the root of the dry air problem.

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“Does My Furnace Produce Dust and Allergens?”

Monday, February 25th, 2019

close-up-with-white-background-of-woman-blowing-her-noseNo, although this is a common misconception. Your furnace or ducted heat pump doesn’t produce dust any more than a boiler or a ductless system might. What your forced air heater does do, though, is circulate dust, allergens, and other debris throughout your home. That’s not to say you shouldn’t use your heater! It just means that you’ll need the right indoor air quality system(s) in place to combat this—such as a whole-house air purifier.

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Indoor Air Quality Solutions Should Be Tailored to Your Needs

Monday, June 18th, 2018

Window sill of a house in ruralNo matter what part of the Pittsburgh area you live in, there are aspects of the air quality in your area that are less than optimal. And whether allergens, contaminants, or humidity levels, your indoor air quality can actually end up being worse off than that of the outdoor air quality.

That said, not everyone will have the same indoor air quality needs as their neighbor. While one home may benefit from the installation of UV germicidal lights, another may have household members with allergies who need an air cleaner. No matter what it is that you’re in need of, you can turn to our team for quality indoor air quality solutions in Pittsburgh, PA.

Keep reading for an overview of some of your options!

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The Best In-Home Solutions for Pollen Allergies

Monday, April 10th, 2017

sneeze-woman-tissueDid you know that about 20% of Americans are allergic to pollen? If you are one of the millions, you might notice that your symptoms don’t discriminate based on location. Whether you are indoors or out, allergies can come up and bring you down, and this is particularly upsetting when you are in your own home.

Pollen allergies can act up anywhere—mostly because pollen can be just about anywhere. It travels well, moving easily in the air and into your lungs, but you may be able to take some control at home.

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