Why Your Indoor Air Needs More Attention Than You Think
When we say, ‘air pollution,’ you probably imagine a smokestack belching out chemicals or a car exhaust spitting out dark smoke. But, according to the EPA, this picture isn’t wholly accurate. You’d be closer to the truth if you imagined a suburban home surrounded by a white picket fence. You see, the air inside the average American home is actually much more polluted than the air outside.
If you’re ready to clean up your air, call Bartlett Heating & Cooling and ask about our indoor air quality services in the Marietta area. As a family-owned company serving the community since 1989, we offer complimentary quotes on equipment installation and stand behind every product we recommend, so you can address your home’s air quality with confidence.
Common Causes of Indoor Air Pollution
You’re probably asking how these contaminants get into the air in the first place. A few common causes of indoor air pollution that call for indoor air quality services in Marietta, GA, include:
- Radioactive radon seeping in from the soil
- Smoke from old cigarettes
- Off-gassing from fire retardant materials
- Cleaning product vapors
- Dust mites and mold
- Viruses and pet dander
- Mildew
As homes become more energy-efficient and changing lifestyles lead many of us to spend more time indoors, poor air quality has become a public health crisis.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters More Than You Think
Air quality services in Marietta, GA address a big problem in the 21st century, both here and abroad. As homes become better sealed against the elements, clean air becomes even more important. Without you even knowing, your duct system could be contaminated with particulates that harm you and your family. Each time the HVAC system turns on, it can circulate dust, dust mites, animal dander, pollen, and bacteria throughout your home.
Below are a few statistics that help drive home the seriousness of the global indoor air quality crisis:
- The EPA estimates Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.
- Over 7000 non-smokers die of lung cancer each year after being exposed to residual smoke particles.
- A 2019 study by the University of Colorado Boulder found that routine household activities put many homes’ air quality on par with that of a polluted major city.
- Household air pollution is responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths worldwide each year.
- The air inside the average home can be up to 100% more polluted than the air outside.
The Benefits of Improving Your Indoor Air Quality
When Bartlett Heating & Cooling tackles your home’s air pollution problems with indoor air quality services in Marietta, GA, you and your family will reap a number of benefits, including:
- Better Sleep: By eliminating root causes of respiratory irritation (which can lead to snoring), our IAQ experts will help you sleep easier and wake better rested.
- Cleaner Indoor Air: If you’re tired of smelling the cigarette your aunt smoked in the kitchen 20 years ago, installing one of our products can help. Call us and kiss those musty odors, chemical smells, and lingering stenches goodbye.
- Fewer Allergy Symptoms: Conditions like asthma and emphysema can be worsened by mold in your home’s HVAC system. Installing a humidifier or air purifier can help remove pet dander and artificial fragrances from the air, giving you and your family relief from cold and allergy symptoms.
For many families in Marietta, these benefits are well worth the cost of installing air quality equipment. And if budget is a concern, quotes on humidifier and air purifier installation are complimentary.
Signs You Have an Indoor Air Quality Problem
A lot of people in Marietta have an air quality issue but don’t realize it. They might chalk it up to high pollen counts and general fatigue.
But if you regularly notice the following, it’s worth getting an air quality analysis done:
- Frequent runny noses or allergy symptoms
- Inefficient heating and AC systems
- You or others smoking in your home
- The presence of shedding pets
- Visible signs of mold or mildew
- Anyone in your home developing a weakened immune system
- Dust clinging to your vents and registers
- Stale or stuffy air
- When you’re buying a home or building one
- Nose or skin irritation
- Headaches, nausea, or chronic fatigue
- Stubborn odors that don’t go away
Being mindful of the warning signs of poor indoor air quality in Marietta, GA is essential for your family’s health and comfort. If any of the above sound familiar, call us, and our experts will work with you to find a solution that fits your home and your needs.
Our Marietta-Area Air Quality Solutions
No two homes have the same air quality needs, which is why Bartlett offers a full range of equipment and services to address the specific issues affecting your indoor air.
Here’s a closer look at what we offer.
Dehumidifier Services
Air that’s too wet is not good for you. Bacteria, mold, and viruses thrive in environments above 60 percent humidity. High humidity also lets these contaminants linger longer and cling to your home’s porous surfaces. In summer, excess humidity can leave you feeling sticky and hot. It’s one of several reasons homeowners turn to air quality services in Marietta, GA to dial in their comfort.
Dehumidifiers installed in your system:
- Expel excess moisture from your home and help you feel cooler at higher temperatures.
- Reduce energy costs
- Decrease the dampness in your home
- Make summer less sticky
- Improve overall comfort
- Help fight bacteria, dust, and mold
- Remove Excess Moisture
- High Efficiency Filters
Humidifier Service
A home that’s too dry deprives your nose and body of moisture needed by protective mucus layers and enables germs to travel farther. It also aggravates your throat and nose, leading to allergy problems. Humidifiers, which come in three main kinds, add moisture to your home’s air to solve these problems. Letting Bartlett install a whole-home humidifier is one of our most requested indoor air quality services in Marietta, GA, and it means more comfortable living for you and your family.
Installing a humidifier in the Marietta area will:
- Increase the moisture in your air
- Reduce static electricity
- Help you feel warmer in the winter
- Protect your wooden furniture from drying out
- Lower heating costs
- Calm overly active allergies
High Efficiency Filters
Looking for a way to keep your family healthy? The only filter that can capture something as small as a virus is a HEPA filter. While typically found in hospitals, residential HEPA filters are available too. However, HEPA filters restrict airflow and can’t go directly in the return air stream back to your furnace.
Instead, they’re installed in a “bypass” loop in the return air ductwork. With each pass, some of the air is shunted into the bypass and pulled through the HEPA filter by a separate fan in the HEPA unit before returning to the main airstream. This way, the furnace fan motor always has adequate airflow, and eventually the HEPA filter purifies all the air. For more on why these filters are a smart buy, contact Bartlett Heating & Cooling.
High-efficiency filters can help with:
- Pet dander
- Dust
- Smoke
- Germs
- Pollen
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers remove allergens, toxins, and pollutants from your air. They don’t emit anything and, to the uninformed, look like a heavier filtration system. While a portable air purifier may be enough for one or two rooms, you’ll need a whole-house air purification system to purify your entire home. Keep in mind that these systems need a forced-air setup to work effectively.
Having Bartlett Heating & Cooling install an air purifier for you as part of our air quality services in Marietta, GA, will lead to:
- Fewer lingering odors
- Cleaner and healthier air
- Longer periods between filter changes
Air Quality Testing
Not sure what’s actually in the air you’re breathing? You’re not alone. A lot of homeowners in Marietta assume their air is fine simply because nothing smells off or looks visibly dirty, but many common pollutants, like mold spores, allergens, and excess humidity, are invisible to the naked eye. Before recommending a filtration, purification, or humidity control solution, our technicians can evaluate your indoor air quality in Marietta, GA, so any fix actually targets the problem.
An air quality evaluation from Bartlett can help identify:
- Elevated humidity levels
- Signs of mold or mildew growth
- Dust and allergen buildup in your ductwork
- Ventilation or airflow issues affecting air circulation
Germicidal UV Lights
With a UVC air purifier (also called an Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation, or UVGI, air purifier), we harness the power of UV light and put it to work in your ductwork. Per the EPA, “UVGI air cleaners are designed to use UV lamps to kill or deactivate microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungal spores and fragments that are airborne or growing on surfaces.”
Typically, the application for killing microorganisms growing on surfaces is to keep the air conditioning coil above the furnace clean. However, if the purpose is to kill microorganisms in the air, the UVC air purifier is placed in the return air duct so the air first passes through the UV kill zone before going through the filter or air cleaner. It’s one more way our indoor air quality services in Marietta, GA can be tailored to your home’s specific needs.
Installing germicidal lights in your ductwork will:
- Reduce the number of germs in your home
- Decrease your electricity costs
- Make it easier to disinfect the air and surfaces in your home
Indoor Air Quality FAQs
Do humidity levels really affect my indoor air quality?
Yes, they do. Homes with excessively high humidity can develop mold, dust mites, and mildew. Houses with humidity that’s too low, meanwhile, experience dust and recurring sinus issues. Keeping your home’s humidity between 30 and 50 percent keeps you in the “comfort zone.” Keep in mind that these ideal levels can shift depending on the outside temperature. It’s exactly this kind of detail that air quality services in Marietta, GA are built to address.
Why should I care about my home’s air quality?
Studies show that indoor air is likely more polluted than outdoor air. No matter how tidy your house is, your air will still contain pollen, viruses, dust, and pet dander. Fortunately, Marietta’s indoor air quality experts can do a lot to help, even if they can’t solve everything. This includes installing an air sanitizer or UV germicidal lights in your HVAC system, which can truly expel these contaminants. We can also recommend improved filters, clean your ducts, and install humidification systems.
What type of furnace filter should I use in my home?
Start by determining how thick of a filter your system can accommodate. Most HVAC systems can’t accommodate filters thicker than an inch. In standard furnaces, we don’t recommend anything above a MERV 8. This can lower system efficiency. If anyone in your home has respiratory or cardiac disease, you may also want to consider installing a thicker, more efficient filter. These typically require a specialized cabinet.
What’s “Sick Building” syndrome?
If you’ve researched IAQ, you’ve probably seen references to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The term comes from a study in which public workers in one building reported headaches, fatigue, nausea, nose irritation, and watery eyes. Researchers examined this building and found it to have a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. This case gave birth to the term, which is now used to describe someone who experiences air pollution symptoms at work and notices an immediate improvement upon returning home.
Is there anything I can do to improve my own indoor air quality?
We recommend that homeowners who are concerned with the quality of the air they breathe take the following steps:
- Purchase a HEPA filter
- Vacuum, mop, and dust regularly to avoid airborne pollutants
- Choose natural woods and furnishings that don’t contain VOCs or emit chemical vapors
- Open your windows and air your home out from time to time
- Install a thermostat that includes humidity readings
These steps go a long way, though a professional assessment is still the best way to pin down what indoor air quality services in Marietta, GA, your home actually needs.
Call Bartlett for Indoor Air Quality Services in Marietta
For households with existing IAQ equipment, we also offer comprehensive maintenance and repair services. If you have a filter or humidity control system that’s not working right, give us a call so we can get to the bottom of the problem.
At Bartlett Heating & Cooling, Inc., we’ve been helping homeowners with their IAQ problems since 1989. We always take the time to explain possible solutions and outline the costs ahead of time. Our HVAC company stands firmly behind the products we sell, and we’re always willing to come back if there’s an issue with the equipment. We service Marietta, Smyrna, Atlanta, and the surrounding communities, offering reliable air quality services in Marietta, GA whenever you need them.
