Why Your Indoor Air Needs More Attention Than You Think
When you hear “air pollution,” you probably picture a smokestack belching chemicals or a tailpipe spitting out dark exhaust. But according to the EPA, that picture is incomplete. You’d be closer to the truth if you imagined a suburban home with a white picket fence, because the air inside the average American home often contains higher levels of certain pollutants than the air outside.
If you’re ready to clean up your air, call Bartlett Heating & Cooling and ask about our indoor air quality services. As a family-owned company serving Marietta since 1989, we offer free quotes on equipment installation and stand behind every product we recommend, so you can address your home’s air quality with confidence.
Common Causes of Indoor Air Pollution
You may be wondering how these contaminants get into the air in the first place. Some of the most common sources of indoor air pollution include:
- Radon gas seeping in from the soil
- Lingering tobacco smoke residue
- Off-gassing from furniture, flooring, and flame-retardant materials
- Vapors from cleaning products
- Dust mites
- Mold and mildew
- Pet dander
- Viruses and bacteria
As homes become more tightly sealed for energy efficiency, and as many of us spend more time indoors, the quality of the air inside our homes matters more than ever.
The Growing Concern Over Indoor Air
Tighter, more energy-efficient homes are great for utility bills, but they also trap more pollutants inside. Without you even knowing it, your duct system could be holding particles that affect you and your family. Each time your HVAC system turns on, it can circulate dust, dust mites, animal dander, pollen, and bacteria throughout your home.
A few numbers help put the issue in perspective:
- The EPA estimates Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors.
- The EPA also reports that concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
- Secondhand smoke is linked to more than 7,000 lung cancer deaths among U.S. nonsmokers each year.
- A 2019 University of Colorado Boulder study found that everyday activities like cooking and cleaning can push indoor air quality to levels comparable to a polluted major city.
- Worldwide, household air pollution, mostly from cooking with solid fuels, is responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths each year.
The Benefits of Improving Your Indoor Air Quality
When Bartlett Heating & Cooling tackles your home’s air quality problems, you and your family can enjoy:
- Better Sleep: By reducing the irritants that inflame your airways (and can contribute to snoring), our IAQ experts can help you sleep easier and wake up better rested.
- Fresher-Smelling Air: Tired of smelling the cigarette your aunt smoked in the kitchen 20 years ago? The right air quality equipment can help you say goodbye to musty odors, chemical smells, and lingering stenches.
- Fewer Allergy and Asthma Symptoms: Mold, dander, and other airborne irritants can worsen allergies and asthma. An air purifier can help remove these particles from your air, while a properly balanced humidity level keeps mold and dust mites in check.
For many Marietta families, these benefits are well worth the investment. And if budget is a concern, our quotes on air quality equipment are always free.
Signs You Have an Indoor Air Quality Problem
A lot of Marietta homeowners have an air quality issue without realizing it. They chalk their symptoms up to high pollen counts or general fatigue.
If you regularly notice any of the following, it’s worth scheduling an air quality analysis:
- Frequent runny noses or allergy symptoms
- Heating and cooling systems that seem to struggle
- Smoking inside the home
- Shedding pets
- Visible mold or mildew
- A household member with a weakened immune system
- Dust clinging to your vents and registers
- Stale or stuffy air
- Nose or skin irritation
- Headaches, nausea, or chronic fatigue
- Stubborn odors that won’t go away
An analysis is also a smart step whenever you’re buying or building a home. If any of the above sound familiar, give us a call, and our experts will work with you to find a solution that fits your home and your needs.
Our Marietta-Area Air Quality Solutions
No two homes have the same air quality needs, which is why Bartlett offers a full range of equipment and services to address the specific issues affecting your indoor air. Here’s a closer look at what we offer.
Dehumidifier Services
Air that’s too damp isn’t good for you or your home. Mold, mildew, and dust mites thrive when indoor humidity stays above 60 percent, and moisture lets contaminants cling to your home’s porous surfaces. In the summer, excess humidity also leaves you feeling sticky and hot.
A whole-home dehumidifier installed in your system will:
- Remove excess moisture from your home
- Help you feel cooler at higher thermostat settings
- Help reduce energy costs
- Make summers less sticky
- Help fight mold, mildew, and dust mites
- Improve overall comfort
Humidifier Service
A home that’s too dry robs your nose and throat of the moisture they need to protect you, which can leave you more vulnerable to irritation and illness. Whole-home humidifiers, which come in several types, add moisture back into your air to solve these problems. It’s one of our most requested indoor air quality services, and it means more comfortable living for your whole family.
Installing a whole-home humidifier will:
- Increase the moisture in your air
- Reduce static electricity
- Help you feel warmer in the winter
- Protect wood furniture and floors from drying out
- Help lower heating costs
- Soothe dry sinuses and irritated throats
High Efficiency Filters
Looking for a way to keep your family healthier? Upgrading your filter is one of the simplest steps you can take. For the highest level of filtration, HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, including many of the tiny particles that carry germs. While HEPA filters are best known for their use in hospitals, residential systems are available too. Because they restrict airflow, though, they can’t go directly into the main return air stream to your furnace.
Instead, they’re installed in a “bypass” loop in the return ductwork. A separate fan pulls a portion of the air through the HEPA filter before returning it to the main airstream. This way, your furnace fan always has adequate airflow, and over time, the HEPA filter cleans all the air in your home. To learn more about upgrading your filtration, contact Bartlett Heating & Cooling.
High-efficiency filters can help with:
- Pet dander
- Dust
- Smoke
- Germs
- Pollen
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers remove allergens, toxins, and pollutants from your air. While a portable unit may be enough for one or two rooms, you’ll need a whole-house air purification system to clean the air throughout your entire home. Keep in mind that whole-home systems require a forced-air HVAC setup to work effectively.
Having Bartlett install a whole-home air purifier will lead to:
- Fewer lingering odors
- Cleaner, healthier air
- Less dust settling on surfaces
Air Quality Testing
Not sure what’s actually in the air you’re breathing? You’re not alone. Many Marietta homeowners assume their air is fine because nothing smells off or looks dirty, but common pollutants like mold spores, allergens, and excess humidity are invisible to the naked eye. Before recommending a filtration, purification, or humidity control solution, our technicians can evaluate your indoor air so any fix targets the actual problem.
An air quality evaluation from Bartlett can help identify:
- Elevated humidity levels
- Signs of mold or mildew growth
- Dust and allergen buildup in your ductwork
- Ventilation or airflow issues affecting air circulation
Germicidal UV Lights
With a UVC air purifier, also called an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system, we put the power of UV light to work inside your HVAC system. According to the EPA, UVGI cleaners use UV lamps to kill or inactivate viruses, bacteria, and mold spores, whether they’re airborne or growing on surfaces.
To keep surfaces clean, the lamp is typically aimed at the air conditioning coil above your furnace. To treat the air itself, it’s placed in the return duct so air passes through the UV zone before reaching the filter or air cleaner. Either way, it’s one more way we can tailor our indoor air quality services to your home’s specific needs.
Installing germicidal UV lights in your HVAC system will:
- Reduce the number of germs circulating in your home
- Help keep your AC coil clean, which supports system efficiency
- Help prevent mold growth inside your equipment
Indoor Air Quality FAQs
Do humidity levels really affect my indoor air quality?
Yes. Homes with excessive humidity can develop mold, mildew, and dust mites, while homes that are too dry can cause static, dry skin, and recurring sinus issues. Keeping your home’s humidity between 30 and 50 percent keeps you in the “comfort zone.” Keep in mind that ideal levels can shift with outdoor temperatures.
Why should I care about my home’s air quality?
Studies show that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. No matter how tidy your house is, your air will still contain pollen, germs, dust, and pet dander. Fortunately, there’s a lot our indoor air quality experts can do to help, including installing an air sanitizer or UV germicidal lights in your HVAC system to significantly reduce these contaminants. We can also recommend upgraded filters and install humidity control systems.
What type of furnace filter should I use in my home?
Start by finding out how thick a filter your system can accommodate. Most standard HVAC systems are designed for 1-inch filters, and in those, we don’t recommend going above MERV 8, since a denser filter can restrict airflow and lower system efficiency. If anyone in your home has respiratory or heart issues, consider upgrading to a thicker, more efficient media filter, which typically requires a specialized filter cabinet.
What’s “sick building syndrome”?
If you’ve researched indoor air quality, you’ve probably seen references to sick building syndrome (SBS). The term describes situations where people in a building experience symptoms like headaches, fatigue, nausea, nose irritation, and watery eyes that seem linked to time spent inside, with symptoms easing soon after they leave. Poor ventilation and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common culprits.
Is there anything I can do to improve my own indoor air quality?
Yes. We recommend that homeowners concerned about the air they breathe take the following steps:
- Use a portable HEPA air purifier in the rooms you use most
- Vacuum, mop, and dust regularly to reduce airborne pollutants
- Choose low-VOC paints, furnishings, and building materials
- Open your windows and air out your home from time to time
- Install a thermostat that includes humidity readings
These steps go a long way, but a professional assessment is still the best way to pinpoint what your home actually needs.
Call Bartlett for Indoor Air Quality Services in Marietta
For households with existing IAQ equipment, we also offer comprehensive maintenance and repair services. If your filtration or humidity control system isn’t working right, give us a call so we can get to the bottom of the problem.
At Bartlett Heating & Cooling, we’ve been helping homeowners with their indoor air quality since 1989. We always take the time to explain your options and outline the costs ahead of time. We stand firmly behind the products we sell, and we’re always willing to come back if there’s an issue with your equipment. We proudly serve Marietta, Smyrna, Atlanta, and the surrounding communities.
