Design Comfort Blog: Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

Why an HVAC Air Filter Isn’t Enough

Monday, April 26th, 2021

hvac-air-filterFor many homeowners, when they hear the term indoor air quality, they think about the temperature of their home. Chances are, you’re one of these homeowners. If you’ve never questioned what sort of indoor air quality solutions may be best for you, you might not even realize how many options you have. No, the HVAC air filter isn’t sufficient for protecting your indoor air quality. In fact, that’s not even its purpose.

The air filter that comes standard with your HVAC system does block particles like dirt, dust, and other contaminants. But it does this to protect the interior components of the HVAC system itself, not your indoor air. So even though it doesn’t hurt your indoor air quality, it’s not enough to resolve any air quality issues your home might have. For this, you may want to consider the installation of a whole-home air purifier.

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What Kind of Air Purifier Is Best?

Monday, March 30th, 2020

woman-with-dog-enjoying-being-indoorsWe might cause some head-scratching with this answer, but when it comes to which air purifier is best, the real answer is, “it depends.” The thing is, different homes have different air quality needs. There are a wide number of things to consider. Overall, indoor air quality in Salt Lake City homes is often worse than that of outdoors, because contaminants, allergens, and even dry air get trapped inside due to tight home construction.

We can’t say what’s best for your specific home until we do a thorough assessment, but what we can tell you is that it’s best to get a whole-house system professionally installed, versus purchasing a small, portable system that can really only help a room or two.

But how do you even know you need a whole-house indoor air quality product of any kind?

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UV Rays Are Good for Your Home, and for You

Monday, March 19th, 2018

UV Rays Are Good for Your Home, and for YouYou may be wondering how UV rays can possibly be good for you. After all, when you go out in the sun for long periods of time, you wear sunscreen to protect yourself from these rays. But these aren’t the UV rays we’re talking about—we’re talking about UV lights, which serve as a way to improve your Salt Lake City, UT indoor air quality.

UV lights, also referred to as a UV air purifier, serve as a way to fight back against harmful bacteria that may exist in your ductwork, as well as the influx of germs and viruses that can make you ill—especially this time of the year when the air quality is relatively dry.

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How UV Rays Can Actually Be Good for You

Monday, March 20th, 2017

UV-rays-good-for-youIn 1903, Professor Niels Finsen won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his work on the treatment of diseases by means of concentrated UV light rays. But when we say UV rays can actually be good for you, that’s not exactly what we’re talking about.

You may be surprised to find that an excellent benefit of UV light rays is actually what it can do for your Cottonwood Heights, UT indoor air quality, and subsequently your health and the health of your family.

Mold and Bacteria Exposure

The ductwork connected to your HVAC system provides the perfect environment for the development of mold, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms. This is because they are dark, cool, and moist thanks to the use of your AC system.

When these contaminants enter your indoor air, they can create a number of health-related issues for you and your family. Infectious diseases are a threat, as is allergic rhinitis, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. If that sounds unpleasant to you—it’s because it is! Fortunately, however, professionally installed UV germicidal lights—also referred to simply as UV lights or UV air purifiers—help you fight against this.

UV Light and Your Indoor Air Quality

UV light has an anti-microbial effect on the biological contaminants that develop within your ductwork. When a UV air purifier is installed (typically within your ductwork/over the evaporator coil), it effectively stops the development of mold and mildew before it begins, therefore never giving it the chance to break off and make its way into your home.

Without the right type of air purifying products and services, your indoor air quality can be more polluted than you realize. It can even be worse than the quality of the air outdoors. For this reason, people with allergies, asthma, and any other respiratory issues can find themselves with aggravated symptoms if the problem is not remedied.

Is This Type of UV Radiation Safe?

It’s only natural that you would ask this—it’s understandable to be concerned about the UV radiation emitted from these devices. This type of UV lighting, however, is completely harmless. In fact, you’ve probably seen it utilized at concerts or theme parks as black lights to make your clothes glow! This type of UV radiation is completely harmless to people and to pets—but deadly to bacteria!

Additional UV Light Benefits

In addition to eliminating mold and mildew from your ductwork—and subsequently your indoor air—UV lights help eliminate the foul odor that typically comes along for the ride. Plus, UV lights are pretty versatile.

You do not have to make any room for them as they conveniently fit right into your HVAC system, positioned where they’re needed the most. If you have a central HVAC system, then this is definitely a highly recommended device for you and your home!

We offer a wide range of reliable indoor air quality products and services, including UV lights and other types of air cleaners. Contact us today to learn more, including why our customers keep saying, “I Love My Design Comfort!”

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Does Cold, Rainy Weather Impact Your Indoor Air Quality?

Monday, February 20th, 2017

Does Cold Rainy Weather Impact Your Indoor Air QualityThere are quite a few Utah residents and homeowners who don’t even realize just how bad the air quality can get in our area. We experience a weather phenomenon pretty often during this time of year called an inversion—which happens when normal atmospheric conditions literally become inverted. This traps a dense layer of cold air under a layer of warm air, and along with it, traps pollutants.

This problem is bad enough if you spend a lot of time outdoors, but it can be even worse when you’re indoors. In fact according to WebMD, your home’s indoor air quality can actually be worse than that outdoors. This is true of any state, but is especially pertinent in Utah. Fortunately, we have a wide range of West Jordan, UT indoor air quality products to help keep you healthy and comfortable indoors. But it’s worth learning why these efforts are so important.

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Discover the Power of a Whole-Home Humidifier

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

whole-home-humidifierIn a Daily Herald article written almost exactly 2 years ago, the writer described Utah as “drier than the Sahara” during the winter, and appropriately so. He noted how this intense decrease in humidity caused many illnesses that season, and the flu ran rampant. This is not a problem that’s unique to 2014, though. Utah has had this problem for many years, and will continue to have it for years to come.

So should we all sit back and just accept that we live in an extremely dry community that’s going to lower our immunities and make us sick? Oh, not to mention, low moisture levels can damage your home. No! You should not accept that. Instead, you should invest in a Taylorsville, UT whole-house humidifier.

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One Leading Method to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Monday, October 17th, 2016

No matter what time of year it is, it’s only natural that you want to be as comfortable as possible inside your own home. When you think of home comfort, you most likely think about the temperature of your indoor air. And this is key to your comfort, however not the only factor you should consider.

In order to maintain a truly comfortable environment within your home, you’ll want to think also about how well it is ventilated, and how you can achieve ventilation without wasting energy. Your solution lies in an energy recovery ventilator, or an ERV.

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Help Yourself This Spring with the Right Type of Air Cleaner

Monday, May 9th, 2016

Spring is in full force, which means pollen is here threatening the health and well-being of allergy sufferers and asthmatics alike. While you may think you can escape it by staying indoors, the opposite is usually true. Today’s homes are “tightly” built, meaning that there is no room for air to escape. While this is great for the efficiency of your HVAC systems, it actually hurts your indoor air quality. In fact, your indoor air quality can actually be worse than your outdoor air quality. This is particularly true this time of year. So what’s the solution?

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What Are UV Germicidal Lights Used For?

Monday, March 7th, 2016

Numerous studies have been conducted throughout the years that prove UV lights are capable of destroying the DNA of germs. This includes viruses, mold, spores, fungi and bacteria. UV lights can even help prevent the onset of allergies and asthma symptoms related to airborne particles. But how does this benefit you? What are they used for in residential settings?

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How Can an Energy Recovery Ventilator Benefit Me?

Monday, February 8th, 2016

Some homeowners may believe that they have to make a choice between great indoor air quality and great energy efficiency. The two are not mutually exclusive, though. Granted, enjoying the best of both worlds may not come naturally in your home, but you can do just that when you use an energy recovery ventilator in West Jordan, UT. These devices can be hugely beneficial for homeowners looking to enjoy fresh, clean air without wasting the energy that they’ve use to heat or cool their homes. Continue reading to learn more about ERVs, and remember that we are the company to call when you need IAQ services of any kind.

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