We’re an HVAC contractor for Howell, MI and the surrounding areas. And we focus on all the letters in HVAC: heating, air conditioning, and ventilation.
It’s that “V” we want to talk about today, because a big part of working on ventilation is helping homes enjoy better indoor air quality. We offer a variety of services to help improve ventilation and remove unwanted particles from circulating through a home’s air. And right now, in winter, is one of the times when you probably need indoor air quality help the most.
But my home is all sealed up against the outdoors in winter
And that is actually one of the problems! During winter, you want to keep the cold outside and heat trapped inside. This is why you put weather-stripping around the doors and make sure the flue in the chimney is shut. It’s also why you have good insulation in the attic: it slows down the loss of heat through the roof of the house, where the heat naturally tries to rise. You certainly don’t leave doors and windows open when it’s cold!
But this strong heat seal on your house means there’s little chance for fresh air to sweep in and replace the stale air. Most of the harmful pollutants that can contaminate your indoor air don’t come from outside but from inside. In fact, indoor air can be 3 to 4 times worse than the outdoor air, which is the exact opposite of what most people believe.
Where are these contaminants coming from? Plenty of places:
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetic products
- Hobby products (such as glue)
- Varnish and other surface finishes
- Cooking
- An attached garage
- Anybody in the house who’s sick
There can be a large concentration of chemicals, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds inside your house in winter with no way to get out.
What can I do about this? I can’t just leave the windows open
No, but there are installations and services we can provide to help you better ventilate your house and clean the air.
- Heat and energy recovery ventilators: HRVs and ERVs are devices installed into your HVAC system which draw fresh air indoors and use the air already inside to pre-heat it. It’s fresh air without creating energy waste. Both can work in reverse during the summer.
- Air filters: There’s a range of air filters which can remove the larger particles moving through the ventilation system. Our IAQ professionals will identify the right ones for you.
- Air purifiers: These electronic systems can target the smallest particles, including microbes and bacteria.
- Air duct sealing: Sometimes the poor ventilation in a house is the fault of leaky ductwork. We can seal up those gaps and make your ventilation airtight again.
Speak to Our Indoor Air Quality Experts Today
Getting started with better air for the winter is a snap: just work with our professionals and they’ll pinpoint where ventilation needs help and what type. They’ll find the filters, purifiers, ERVs, etc. to help you enjoy excellent air quality both in winter and the rest of the year.