Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Dehumidifiers

Low indoor air quality is a really common indoor air quality factor in poor health and comfort for homeowners across the country. It’s a problem that not a lot of people know they have, and those that do know they have it often aren’t sure how to fix it. If you suspect that your home’s indoor air quality is lower than it should be, but you aren’t sure how to fix it, read on for some tips. You can improve your indoor air quality! You just need a bit of professional help to do it.

Airborne Contaminants

All day, no matter where we go, we breathe in millions of various microscopic particulates. Most of these particles are harmless, but some are not. The issue is worse indoors, because the lack of constant air flow traps contaminants inside for us to breathe over and over again. Some common airborne contaminants include dust, dander, pollen, dirt, mold spores, viruses, and bacteria. Breathing in these kinds of contaminants for a long period of time can cause all kinds of problems, including allergy attacks, asthma attacks, increased flu infection frequency, and the like. If you think this may be why your indoor air quality is lower than it should be, then the best thing you can do is to install an air purifier.

Air purifiers are designed to strain contaminants of various kinds out of your air supply, usually by being installed in your home’s ductwork. Air filters, for example, passively snare particles that come into contact with them using fiber mesh. Ionization purifiers draw contaminants out of the air using ion clouds. You should consult with a technician to find out the best kind of air purifier to meet your home’s needs.

Humidity Issues

Chronic humidity issues are another common cause of low indoor air quality. Air that is too humid will make it very difficult for your body to cool itself, and will promote mold growth in the darker areas of the home. Air that is too dry will weaken your defenses against infection, and will make certain parts of your house more prone to damage by sapping the moisture from them. If you’re worried about the effects of chronically humid or dry air on you and your home, consult with a professional about installing a dehumidifier or humidifier.

As with air purifiers, there are a variety of different kinds of both humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Most humidifiers operate by either vaporizing water and blowing it through the ducts, or by spraying a fine mist. Dehumidifiers, by contrast, use desiccants or refrigerant to siphon excess moisture out of the air. Also like air purifiers, you should consult with a professional technician in person to determine which system would be best for you. If you’re looking for the best Loveland HVAC services, we can help you out.

Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning provides comprehensive indoor air quality services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional technicians. We’ll make sure that your indoor air quality is restored to the level it should be.

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The air in our part of the country is not particularly known for high humidity levels, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never find yourself dealing with excessively humid air in your residence. If you are at all concerned about the early warning signs of high humidity, which we’ll detail a bit below, just let a member of our team know. We install whole-house dehumidifiers in Fort Collins, CO, and we always do the job right. Don’t waste your time messing about with ineffective and inconvenient portable dehumidifiers in your home. Instead, schedule service with the pros on our staff, and ensure that the air in your home is sufficiently dry.

What Are the Signs of High Humidity?

Chances are that you’ve heard someone say, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” at some point. There is some truth in this saying, actually, though it’s a bit of an oversimplification. Very humid air does indeed retain heat very effectively, which can make you feel even more uncomfortable than you otherwise would. However, it also impedes the evaporation of sweat on your skin, which is your body’s natural cooling system. If your skin constantly feels sticky and hot, you may have too much humidity in the air in your home.

Not only will excess humidity leave you feeling less comfortable, but it can also lead to damage to your property. If you notice signs of wood rot in your home, if you see mold beginning to take root, or if the wooden floorboards are starting to warp, it could be because your home is just too humid within.

If you notice these warning signs in your household, contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning to inquire about the whole-house dehumidifiers available to you.

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It is not uncommon for humidity to rise along with the temperature when summer gets underway. Because excessive levels of humidity can exacerbate the already uncomfortable conditions of the summer season, you may want to dehumidify your home to achieve ideal humidity levels. While your AC does dehumidify the air somewhat as part of its operating cycle, this system is not designed to do so as a primary function.

In cases of excessive humidity, a whole-house dehumidifier may be necessary in order to reign in humidity levels throughout the home. We’ve put together a brief list of signs that you may need a dehumidifier in Fort Collins, CO, which you’ll find below. Give Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning a call today if you think that whole-house dehumidification is right for you.

  • Trouble cooling the house: Because very humid air can retain heat with great success, cooling a very humid home can prove to be too much of a challenge for many whole-house cooling systems. By dehumidifying the air in your home, you can help your AC to function more effectively. This can also cut down on cooling costs.
  • Signs of mold or water damage: Biological pollutants, such as mold, can really thrive in very humid conditions. While a dehumidifier is not going to resolve problems with existing mold in the house, it can certainly help you to reduce the risk of mold developing due to high humidity levels. Plus, you can avoid water staining on your walls and carpeting by sufficiently drying out the air in your home.
  • Poor indoor air quality: In addition to problems with mold, you should know that pollutants such as dust and other allergens can cling to moisture in the air if it is too humid. This can make life in your home very difficult and uncomfortable for those suffering from allergies or respiratory ailments. Alleviating these symptoms is just one more way in which the use of a whole-house dehumidifier can benefit you.
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Having too much or too little humidity in your home can lead to a number of issues for your comfort, the quality of the air in your home, your health, and even the condition of your property itself. If you suspect that the humidity level in your home is anything short of ideal, then you need to contact an IAQ professional immediately. Our staff can determine precisely what your home needs in order to maintain a healthier humidity level in your living space. We install and service both whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and we will make sure that yours is operating optimally. Contact Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning today to take control of the humidity in your Fort Collins, CO home.

Problems with Low Humidity

Living in a home filled with very dry air can dry out your body rapidly. You may find that your throat is often sore, or you may even suffer from frequent nosebleeds. Allergy sufferers may notice flare-ups in symptoms, and your skin will become dry and itchy. The problems don’t stop with those of your body, though. Increased static shocks can put your electronics at risk, paint may chip while wallpaper cracks, and you may even discover wooden floorboards or fixtures splitting. By using a whole-house humidifier in order to inject the right amount of moisture into the air filling your home, you can alleviate and avoid such symptoms and problems.

Effects of Very Humid Air in the Home

Having too much humidity in your home’s air is no better than having very arid air surrounding you. Humid air is more difficult to cool effectively, and will leave your home feeling muggy and uncomfortable. It can put unnecessary strain on your air conditioning system, and biological pollutants, including mold and bacteria, can thrive in humid settings. Wood rot is not uncommon in very humid households, nor is water staining and damage. A whole-house dehumidifier allows you to dry out the air in your home to an acceptable humidity level with great convenience.

Why Use a Whole-House Humidity Control System?

Portable and standalone humidifiers/dehumidifiers may be fine for treating a small dorm room or a specific area of the house. However, they are not ideal for resolving pervasive issues with humidity throughout the entire household. You won’t ever have to fill a whole-house humidifier with water, nor will you have to move your units around from room to room. If you are ready to invest in your comfort and health, schedule your whole-house humidifier and dehumidifier services with a member of our exceptional staff.

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