Combating Bad Air Quality in Colorado

Combating Bad Air Quality in Colorado

May 20, 2021

The fresh mountain air of Colorado is definitely something to behold. And while homeowners in even the more urban areas of Denver or Boulder enjoy fresher air than people in other parts of the country, poor indoor air quality is still a problem that many Colorado homeowners face.

The good news is you’ve got options if you’re looking for ways to remove contaminants in the air such as mold spores, pollen, bacteria, dust, smoke and more 

In this blog, we’ll go over the following ways to combat bad indoor air quality:

1. Keeping a clean home
2. Replacing dirty and used air filters
3. Proper ventilation
4. Investing in an air purification system or humidifier

Let’s dive right in!

Learn more about our indoor air quality services.

Looking to improve the health of your home’s air, increase your comfort and save you money on energy costs? Call Cooper. Our HVAC technicians can  talk you through our many solutions for improving the air quality in your home.

Keep your home clean

While this may sound like an obvious suggestion, the most practical way to combat bad air quality in your home is to keep your home clean. Indoor cleaning can improve air quality by keeping your home free of dust particles, animal dander (if you have pets) and even mold.

1. Vacuuming your carpets and rugs regularly can keep dust and pet allergens out of the air. This can help keep the air free of these particles, reducing any allergic response you might have. We would suggest that you clean regularly with a vacuum that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. A HEPA filter is made out of mesh that captures small contaminants and allergens that pollute your home’s air like:
   • Mold
   • Dust mites
   • Dust
   • Pollen
   • Smoke
   • And more
2. Clean and wash your bedding, curtains and drapes every few weeks. These are areas and materials that can hold onto a lot of dust particles, as well as pet dander if you have animals. You may even want to consider using dust mite-proof bedding to help reduce allergens while you sleep.
3. Keep clutter out of your home. This can be another area that aggressively holds onto dust, pet dander and sometimes even mold. Overall, keeping things clean and tidy can be a sureproof way to combat bad air quality.

Check your filters

One of the easiest ways to improve the air quality in your home is to check and replace your air filters on a regular basis. 

Air filters are responsible for keeping allergens out of the home by filtering the air circulating through the system, collecting any dust, animal dander or mold particles before it is pushed through your home. After time, air filters will become clogged, which can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system and decrease the quality of your indoor air. 

During months when your HVAC system is running longer than usual (summer and winter), you’ll want to check and replace your air filters once every 30 days, otherwise these allergens will clog the filter and reduce its efficiency at catching those particles.

Keep your home ventilated

Even during the cold winter months, as well as the spring, opening up your windows for some ventilation for a few minutes can go a long way to improving the indoor air quality of your home.

Opening those windows lets the fresh air in and helps circulate the musty air out! You can also help ease ventilation issues with a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV). Contact one of our specialists to learn more.

Invest in an air purifier

One of the most powerful ways to get rid of airborne contaminants and increase the air quality of your Colorado home is by installing an air purification system.

An air purification system removes harmful particles from the air in an indoor space. You can use a portable or whole-home system, depending on what your living arrangements are. 

Whole-home systems will do the best at keeping the air in your home healthy. Unlike a portable purifier that keeps a single room clean, a whole-home unit will keep your entire home’s air clean throughout the day. It does this by constantly circulating your home’s air through the filter to trap contaminants in the air, leaving behind only fresh, clean air. Some benefits of a whole-home air purifier are::

• Minimizing the symptoms of respiratory illness by removing airborne irritants
• Less particles and pathogens circulating through your home
• Eliminating odors inside the home

A portable air purifying system is able to provide some of the same benefits, but only for a single room and on a much smaller scale.

There are different types of air purifiers and filters to consider as well. There are many different types of whole-home air purification systems, including those that use:

• HEPA filters
• UV lights
• Activated carbon filters
• Electronic/ionic filters

…or consider a humidifier

Investing in a whole-home humidifier can help keep your home in the EPA-approved ideal humidity range of 30% to 50%, resulting in benefits such as…

• Reduced structural damage to your home:  Low humidity level in your home can cause wooden structures to crack, separate your drywall and/or cause your wallpaper to peel– while high humidity levels can encourage mold growth.Humidifiers can help keep your home’s humidity levels in the ideal 30-50% range and prevent such damage from occurring.
• Decreased energy bills: When there’s moisture in the air, people tend to feel a little warmer which can help you save money on your energy bill. 
• Alleviated health conditions: If you’ve been having sleep or respiratory issues such as sinus infections, sore throats or allergy flare-ups, a humidifier installation could help alleviate your symptoms. 
• Improved skin and hair conditions: Dry air sucks all the moisture out of the air and your body and can cause dry and cracked skin, itchy scalp, dandruff, brittle hair and chapped lips.

Another perk? Most humidifiers require very little maintenance. At most, they may need a water refill once a year. However, if your humidifier is hooked up to your water supply, you won’t even have to worry about a water refill.

Contact one of our HVAC specialists to help you determine what air purifier, filter setup or humidifier is right for your home. One of our specialists can help you determine the perfect system to boost your indoor air quality.

Need a quote to combat bad air quality in Colorado? Call the Cooper Green Team!

Our customers are the core of our business here at Cooper, and so, we focus on providing solutions and services that will solve the pain points our customers are experiencing. We work to make life easier for you! Call us, and we’ll work with you side-by-side to find the right solution for your home.