It feels nice to see the sun again. The rain has finally stopped and temperatures are expected to be in the 70’s for a while. Over the next several months there will be little need for cooling by your home’s HVAC system. The good news is that you will save money by reducing your energy usage. The bad news is that interior moisture levels inside of your home will begin to shoot up due to the lack of dehumidification from your air conditioner. In Alabama, one of the most important functions of your air conditioner is to remove moisture (dehumidify). Most people are comfortable at 30% to 60% relative humidity. Right now, our outside relative humidity in Decatur is around 70%. During this time of the year, interior relative humidity levels are very close to the exterior levels. Many times, interior levels are actually higher than exterior levels. This is bad because dust mites thrive at humidity levels over 50%. This is especially bad if you are like me and you are extremely allergic to dust mites.
There are many ways to combat dust mites. Allergy shots have helped me tremendously. I have zero carpet in my home because carpet is a breeding ground for dust mites. I also have a central vacuum system that removes all the particles to the exterior of my home. I have a fresh air intake on my HVAC system that brings in fresh air from the exterior when air is being removed by clothes dryers or exhaust fans. Remember that HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. I have heard it said that a home without ventilation is a “HAC” house that leaves you coughing. Most of my jokes aren’t funny but neither are air quality control problems inside your home. Moisture in the form of water vapor must be properly exhausted from the home. It should not be vented into the attic or crawlspace where it has the potential to cause serious problems. I have yet to inspect or test a home that has not had at least one bathroom fan disconnected and not working properly.
Controlling the humidity inside of your home is the simplest way to control dust mites. There are remote humidistats that are able to tell you the temperature and humidity inside and outside, as well as in your crawlspace. During times such as the spring or fall when you are not heating or cooling your home, it is important to provide supplemental moisture removal in order to help control dust mites. In many instances, small roll-around dehumidifiers provide adequate moisture removal and they can be purchased at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or online. However, in many homes constructed on crawlspaces, larger dehumidifiers are needed. In addition, French drains and sump pumps may be needed. Closed crawlspace construction is a great help in reducing interior moisture levels and moisture related problems that contribute to respiratory issues.
Finally, whole-house testing using a blower door identifies leakage areas where dust, pollen, mold, mildew, radon, and insulation are allowed to leak into the home. By identifying these areas, we are able to seal them and stop these nuisance particles from getting into your home. With a duct blaster, we are able to identify and seal duct leakage areas as well. By using the infrared camera, we are able to find improperly or insufficiently insulated areas that allow for condensation and moisture problems. If you are interested in a whole house solution to reduce energy costs or more importantly to make your home more healthy, safe, and comfortable, please contact us. For detailed information please check out our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment