Were you aware that your indoor air quality can actually be worse than that of the outdoor air quality in the community where you live? This is particularly true in south Florida, where for a good majority of the year we deal with stifling humidity. Our homes are tightly built to allow for better AC efficiency, as is of course needed, but this makes your indoor air quality even worse.
The ideal relative humidity level in your home is between 30-50%. For most of the year, ours is well above 50%, leading to excess moisture in the home which results in mold and mildew development and other problems that affect the health of your family and the physical structure of your house. But, can a Fort Lauderdale, FL HVAC contractor improve your indoor air quality?
Well, we can! We are one of the very few HVAC companies in south Florida who are also licensed mold assessors, mold remediators, and duct cleaners.
Why Does This Matter?
Whether indoors or outside, the way your body stays cool is by sweating. Sweat evaporates off of your skin and lowers our body temperature in the meantime. Whenever relative humidity levels reach that 50% mark or higher, the amount of ambient moisture in the air prevents that process from occurring.
So, sweat stays on your skin, leading to a clammy and uncomfortable feeling. But more importantly, it prevents your body from cooling off, meaning the air feels hotter than it actually is. Not only is this very uncomfortable for you and your family, it can put a great deal of strain on your air conditioner, as the cooling system will have to work harder and expend more energy to make up for the difference.
Also, as we mentioned above, high humidity fosters the growth of mold and bacteria in the home and often leads to a stale feeling in the air as well.
Prevent Mold Development
Of course we want you to be comfortable within your home. We also want you to be healthy. This means preventing mold development before it has the chance to infiltrate your indoor air and make you and your family ill. The first step in this process is to have a whole-house dehumidifier professionally installed by experienced technicians. This will allow you to keep your relative humidity between that ideal 30-50%.
The next step is to have UV germicidal lights installed. Placed in the apex of your ductwork, these lights are completely harmless to people and pets, but deadly to single-cell microorganisms, such as those that turn into bacteria, viruses, mold, and mildew. UV lights eliminate the threat of mold before it even has a chance to develop.
If You Already Suspect Mold
If you already suspect you have mold in your home, no need to worry. Our team conducts professional mold testing, and we’d be happy to come take a look. If we do find mold, we will give you expert guidance on the next steps you should take.
Whether you’re looking for a new HVAC system installation, want to have your ducts cleaned, or are interested in other ways to improve your indoor air quality, we’re the team to call! Contact Envirotech Air Quality Services today.
