AA Homepage Articles | Healthy Clean Air |

MERV 16 Air Filters and Airborne Viruses: Keep Your Home Safe

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The air we breathe is important to overall health. That’s more apparent now than ever before, and at Aprilaire we’re focused on getting you and your family the information you need to stay healthy during this time.

Healthy Air In The Home With MERV 16 Filters

The air inside your home can be 5x more polluted than the air outside. This is important to consider if you’re in a part of the United States using stay-at-home orders to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

There are a number of ways to improve your indoor air quality, including: better air circulation, regular dusting and cleaning, and properly storing sources of VOCs.

The next area to consider is air filtration. While there are a variety of options for purifying your air, today we’ll look at the effectiveness of MERV 16 filters, which can capture both virus-sized particles and airborne allergy and asthma triggers.

What Exactly is MERV and how does the rating system work?

MERV, otherwise known as Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a measurement scale that rates the effectiveness of filters at trapping airborne particles. The scale ranges from 1-16, with 16 being the most effective.

Here’s an in-depth description of the process used to determine MERV, from the National Air Filtration Association:

“An air filter’s performance is determined by measuring the particle counts upstream and downstream of the air-cleaning device being tested.

A laboratory aerosol generator, which operates much like a paint sprayer, is used to create a challenge aerosol of known particle size in the air stream. This will generate particles covering the 12 required particle size ranges for the test. The challenge aerosol is injected into the test duct and particle counts are taken for each of the size data points.

The filter’s performance, on each of the twelve particle sizes, during the six test cycles (a total of 72 value or calculated value) is determined. For each value or calculated value, the filtration efficiency is stated as a ratio of the downstream-to-upstream particle count. The lowest values over the six test cycles are then used to determine the Composite Minimum Efficiency Curve. Using the lowest measured efficiency avoids the misinterpretation of averaging and provides a “worst case” experience over the entire test.”

Air Filters and Viruses

The size of contaminants and particles are usually described in microns, a metric unit of measure where one micron is one-millionth of a meter:

  • 1 micron = 10-6 m = 1 μm

The particular strain of coronavirus that’s causing COVID-19 (known as SARS-CoV-2) measures between .05 and .2 μm in diameter. (One study found it to be between .07 and .09 μm.)

The diagram below demonstrates that MERV 16 filters trap up to 96% of virus-sized particles*, to help prevent the proliferation of airborne viruses in the home.

1Solid lines represent MERV test data; dashed lines represent calculations for ultra-fine particles

To find out more about these filters and to see how they can be used in your home, check out Aprilaire’s Healthy Home Tips and reach out to speak with an Healthy Air Pro.

*Contaminants removed based on air passing through the filtering system.

excess moisture

Healthy Humidity |

Crawl Space, Basement, Attic – Oh My! Try These Tricks for a Healthy Home

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You may have perfected your home’s décor, layout, and more, but have you perfected your basement, crawl space, or attic environment? If not, that’s okay! We have tips to ensure these infrequently visited spaces in your home are not impacting the health of your home with excess moisture.

For Your Damp Basement/Crawl Space

Basement waterproofing is necessary. Basements with excess moisture promote biological growths, like mold, which can wreak havoc on your indoor air.

How Can Water Get into Your Basement?

Anything from undiverted water to leaky systems to overflowing gutters can cause unwanted water in your basement. When the ground puts pressure on your walls, it forces moisture through the tiny cracks and joints of your home.

How Can Excess Moisture Impact Your Basement?

Excess moisture can jeopardize your home’s structural integrity as it can lead to damage of your home (including your walls, floors, furniture, and precious storage) and cause health annoyances (including allergies or difficulty breathing). The key to ensuring moisture doesn’t find its way into your home is by finding out where the water is coming from and finding a solution (whether that be through interior, exterior, drainage, or sealant remediation).

Ways to Remedy Basements with Excess Moisture

If you’re looking for ways to ensure moisture doesn’t find its way into your basement, these methods can help:

  • Redirect downspout runoffs
  • Regrade the ground around your home so it slopes away from your home’s foundation
  • Ensure your flooring is resistant to harm caused by water and prevent it from penetrating below your floorings’ surface before it becomes difficult to dry or leads to mold
  • Replace your basement’s windows with energy efficient ones that are less prone to condensation or mold growth
  • Check that your basement has no room for leaks, no standing water, or puddles
  • Make sure your basement is free from cracks or gaps
  • Remediate mold and mildew at first sight so it doesn’t spread

For Your Crawl Space

Encapsulation is necessary. Encapsulation is the process of sealing off walls and/or floors to prevent water entry and eliminate the risk of stale, humid air circulating around your home. Doing this will create a water-tight seal so that moisture can’t enter or cause issues.

Healthy Air Is on the Way

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Maintain Healthy Humidity to Solve Future Problems

Your home’s humidity level is essential to the health of your home and family. This is where an Aprilaire dehumidifier comes into play. We have basement capacity units that can meet the demanding moisture removal needs of basements and crawl spaces. Crawl space dehumidifiers and dehumidifiers for basements have great benefits. They can remove anywhere from 70-130 pints of water per day, have a 15-year+ life expectancy with a 5-year warranty, and more.

Think humidity could be an issue in your home? Contact a Healthy Air Professional in your area to learn more.

For Your Attic

Attic insulation is one of the simplest ways to keep a lid on your heating bill. It also works in the opposite way during the summer months by stabilizing your indoor temperature to keep your cooling needs in check. Some homeowners even see about a 10-15% savings.

The cheapest way to insulate your attic is by adding material to the floor. Check out This Old House for more information on your home’s insulation needs and how to do it yourself.

When your Indoor Air Quality is poor, your living environment can suffer. With unwanted odors, stuffiness, excess humidity, lack of air movement, and mold or mildew, your home can feel less like home and more like a hot, humid day outside. High humidity in your home is less than ideal – fostering mold, mildew, and rot, while allowing dust mites, insects, and other pests to thrive.

Healthy Humidity plays a key role in your wellness. A whole-home dehumidifier can bring your humidity to a desired level (as close to 50% as possible), leaving unwanted home annoyances in the dust. Find a Healthy Air Professional near you and take the first step.

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Healthy Humidity |

You Have Mold Growth – Now What?

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We all try our hardest to reduce mold growth or mold exposure in our homes. Try as we might, mold can find its way in through our windows, vents, or heating/cooling systems without our knowledge. We ourselves can even bring it inside on our clothing or shoes – our pets can also be carrying culprits. That said, these uncontrollable factors can make it pretty difficult to avoid mold in our everyday lives but, luckily, there are ways to reduce your exposure to mold.

Mold loves moisture. Without moisture, there’s no mold growth so it’s essential to keep your home dry and free from water. Mold also tends to thrive around leaks in roofs, windows, and pipes. Sometimes, you can even see it on surfaces, appearing like spots of many different colors with a musty smell. It can show on cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, paint, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, and fabric. But, despite our best efforts, it’s possible to still expose your home to mold and fuel growth accidentally. So, if you have mold, you’re going to want to remove it. Here are some tips for mold remediation, removal, and prevention so you can say goodbye to mold in your home.

Best Tips to Prevent Mold Growth

Invest in Healthy Air

First things first, if you’re looking to get ahead of future mold issues, you must invest in Healthy Air. Poor air quality can impact your health in many ways so it’s important to control your home’s humidity, while ensuring proper ventilation, and air purification. Without these solutions, your polluted indoor air can directly impact your home’s susceptibility to mold.

As a general rule of thumb, your home’s humidity should fall below 50%, while ventilation should be present in areas prone to high moisture, like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.

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Build with Mold Resistant Materials

When building or remodeling a home, be sure your materials are resistant to mold. Whether you choose to use mold-resistant drywall or paint, these quick adaptations can help prevent mold and moisture control issues in your home.

Remove ANY Sight of Mold

If you see something, do something. It doesn’t matter what kind of mold you have or how much there is. If you have any mold, it must be removed. Mold poses as a direct threat to your home’s environment and air quality, as well as your family’s health. Plus, mold can spread…just think: when one slice of bread gets moldy, eventually all of them become spotted and spoiled in no time. So, be sure to dry any wet areas immediately to help slow the spread and growth. If you think there’s mold in your HVAC system, it’s best to stop running it so the mold doesn’t spread further into your home.

Best Tips for Mold Removal

 Should You Hire a Mold Inspector?

The CDC actually doesn’t recommend mold inspection. It can not only be costly, but can become a long process. The best thing to do is forego the inspection process and have the mold removed regardless. Again, if you see mold, take the necessary steps to remove it.

Options for Mold Remediation and Removal

There are plenty of options when it comes to mold remediation and removal. If the area you’re looking to treat is less than 10sqft, you should be able to complete the job by yourself. Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household cleaning products, soap and water, or a bleach solution. General rules of thumb when embarking on DIY mold remediation:

  • Use no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water
  • Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners, as the combination can create a poisonous gas
  • Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
  • Open doors and windows while using bleach; ensure proper ventilation
  • Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and protective eyewear during remediation efforts

If, for larger areas, you decide to call in a professional, be sure they’ve dealt with mold in the past. Plus, if you have any health concerns, it’s always best to consult with a pro before beginning cleanup.

Looking for more remediation or removal tips? Let these tips help guide you through the process:

  • If you suspect your carpeting or ceiling tiles are moldy, it’s best to throw them away rather than try to salvage them
  • Don’t paint or caulk in an effort to cover up mold; instead, clean mold and dry the surface prior to making any improvements
  • If you’re unsure how to repair or clean a moldy item, contacting a professional who specializes in furniture repair, restoration, or water damage may be beneficial
  • Be sure you’re protecting yourself and your family from mold during the cleanup process by wearing the recommended material and following the outlined cleanup steps

Healthy Humidity plays a key role in our overall wellness. Just think…without it, your home could become a playground for mold growth. Ensuring your home is filled with Healthy Air through humidification and ventilation efforts can keep your family happy and healthy in your home. Find a Healthy Air Professional near you to find out how you can protect your home from future mold issues and breathe better overall.

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Healthy Humidity |

Energy Saving Tips: Why Add an Aprilaire Dehumidifier for Basement Air

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There’s nothing quite like walking into a nice, cool home after a day in the hot summer sun. But, that luxury can come at the price of skyrocketing electrical bills. In 2019, the typical U.S residential electricity bill was expected to average $137 per month in the summer. As a season notorious for wasting energy, the overworked air conditioners, poor air flow, and ill-prepared windows of summer can cause energy leakage and an increase in your utility bills. If you’re interested in lowering your bills, you may want to invest in an Aprilaire dehumidifier to better your basement air quality. Keep reading for some expert energy saving tips.

Why Your Bills Skyrocket in the Summertime

In general, there are three reasons why your energy bills jump in the summer months:

  • Your Air Conditioner is Working Overtime: Air conditioners have two jobs. One is to cool your air and the other is to dehumidify your air. Essentially, your air conditioner is doing the job of two appliances all by itself.
  • Your Air Conditioner Only Runs Based on Temperature: Having your A/C run based on your home’s humidity is preferred because when your home reaches its ideal temperature, your air conditioner shuts off. During those hours without active cooling, there’s also no active dehumidification. As a result, your indoor Relative Humidity (RH) rises. And, once your A/C kicks back on, it has to climb uphill to try and dehumidify the air again and cool your home at the same time.
  • Excessive Humidity Changes Your Home’s Real-Feel: In hot, humid climates, high humidity prevents our bodies from releasing heat through sweat. This is due to sweat becoming unable to evaporate or evaporating slower. While sweat evaporates, it’s supposed to help transfer our bodies’ heat into the air but, because the heat isn’t transferring as quickly around us, our humid home feels much warmer than it actually is. This feeling causes us to lower our thermostats in search of relief, causing our A/C units to work overtime, repeating the cycle.

What Can You Do?

The best course of action is to pair your air conditioner with an Aprilaire dehumidifier for basement or crawl space usage.

Healthy Air Is on the Way

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Think of your A/C unit and a dehumidifier as a dynamic duo, capable of taking on heat and humidity together more efficiently. These two together will allow your home to maintain a consistent level of humidity while your air conditioner lightens its load and focuses largely on keeping your home cool.

Bonus: Aprilaire dehumidifiers cost about $189 less to run during the summer than a cheaper retail model. Our models also drop Relative Humidity (RH) 3% below the set point to greatly reduce compressor cycling and energy use.

Enjoy These Energy Saving Tips

Looking for more ways to save energy ?

Try these methods:

  • Keep your humidity as close to 50% year-round for the best possible environment.
  • Use a programmatic thermostat to keep your home cool at pertinent points throughout the day. This will prevent your air conditioner from working overtime. As a general rule, aim to keep your home warmer when you’re not home and cooler when you are.
  • Manage humidity by improving drainage, ensuring properly vented laundry, and repairing leaky outdoor faucets, according to Energy Star.

Overall, maintaining Healthy Humidity in the summertime can not only help you save money but can also help improve your overall well-being. It’s also an important aspect of breathing Healthy Air, but beware, too much humidity can be a breeding ground for mold, pests, viruses, and bacteria which can irritate your lungs and heighten allergy and asthma symptoms.

By improving your basement air, you can benefit from overall better health, less stress, better sleep, and happiness for you and your family.

Take the first step with one of our caring Healthy Air Professionals. They can help you choose the right whole-home dehumidifier today. Find a pro in your area.

Healthy Humidity Plays a Key Role in Wellness
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Healthy Humidity |

Fact or Fiction: Do Dust Mites Bite?

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Let’s start off by letting the cat out of the bag: dust mites don’t actually bite! What you might be experiencing (and writing off as dust mite bites) is actually a dust mite allergy, manifesting as a red and itchy rash. Not what you expected, huh?

Now that we’ve cleared that up, you’re probably starting to wonder what dust mites actually are and how they can make their way into your home. We’ll break down all of that, dust mite allergies, remediation efforts, and much more.

What Are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are microscopic mites that live in many areas of your home. They feed on dead skin and pet dander, live mostly in high humidity climates, and can survive by absorbing water from humidity in the atmosphere. That’s why you see older homes, homes located in humid climates, or homes with musty/mildew odors as being more susceptible to dust mites. No matter where your home is located though, you can find them in clothing, mattresses, bedding, carpets, pillows, rugs, pet bedding, furniture, blinds, curtains, and stuffed animals, to name a few. On average, males can live for about a month, while females can live for about 90 days. Since they live off humidity, they can thrive for as long as it is humid. But, in areas with low humidity, they cannot survive.

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Can You Be Allergic to Dust Mites?

Well, since dust mites don’t bite, it’s possible that what you’ve been experiencing is an allergic reaction. Since they thrive in high humidity environments, your allergy or asthma symptoms related to dust mites may become worse during hotter, humid seasons. But, how do you know if you’re allergic in the first place?

Some symptoms may include:

  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Post nasal drip
  • Runny/stuffy nose
  • Itchy, watery eyes
  • Red, itchy skin
  • Itchy throat

Like many allergies, you can find symptom relief with medications like antihistamines, OTC decongestants, or doctor-prescribed allergy medication or shots. For more information, consult with your physician.

How Do You Get Rid of Dust Mites?

Unfortunately, there’s no remedy to get rid of them completely, but you can lessen their presence by doing the following:

  • Target areas where they thrive
    • Wash bedding once a week in hot water
    • Encase bedding, mattresses, and pillows in covers
    • Wash stuffed toys and keep them off beds
  • Declutter to limit where dust can collect
  • Avoid carpeting your home
    • Switch out flooring for wood or synthetic flooring options
  • Vacuum frequently
    • Make sure your vacuum uses a HEPA filter
  • Deep clean carpets and rugs often
  • Dust regularly with a damp rag
  • Use a dehumidifier
    • Since they thrive in high humidity, you should be sure your indoor humidity is as close to 50% as possible
  • Use allergen-capturing filters, like our MERV 16

Healthy Humidity plays a key role in our everyday wellness, especially when it comes to reducing the number of pests that are lurking in our air. See how one of our Healthy Air Professionals can help you manage dust mites in your home.

Healthy Humidity Plays a Key Role in Wellness
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AA Homepage Articles | Healthy Air |

Air Quality Awareness Week: How To Use The EPA’s Recommendations

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The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Air Quality Awareness Week for 2020 will be celebrated May 4-8. This year’s theme is Better Air, Better Health.

For each day, there will be a focus on different aspects of  air quality to raise awareness and encourage people to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily. As we head into the summer months, this is a great time to review how the air outside impacts our lives.

Below, you’ll find the highlights of each day’s topic, along with some questions you may want the answers to. For further information, check on the EPA site during Air Quality Awareness Week.

First, we wanted to include some ways in which Aprilaire is thinking about Air Quality in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Aprilaire’s Plan for Healthy Air Awareness

At Aprilaire, our focus is on the health and wellness of your home environment. We’ve assembled a Healthy Air System to help protect you and your family from viruses and other illnesses. It’s made up of three parts:

  1. Fresh Air Ventilation – Helps dilute and remove contaminants because indoor air can be up to 5 times more polluted than the air outside
  2. Air Filtration – Aprilaire MERV 16 Allergy & Asthma Filters capture up to 96%* of virus-size airborne particles (*Contaminants removed based on air passing through the filtering system)
  3. Humidity Control – Keeping humidity between 30-60% minimizes virus survival rates

We will provide updates as the situation progresses, and we wish all the best for you and your family.

Air Quality Awareness Week

Monday: Wildfires and Smoke

Wildfires produce a lot of air pollution, from smoke to fine particles that can cause several health problems. Recent years have shown that extreme wildfires may become a regular occurrence that we need to learn to live with.

Questions:

  • How can I get myself and my home ready for fire season?
  • How can I protect my family and pets from smoke and ash?
  • How can I stay safe if I need to go outside?

Tuesday: Asthma and Your Health

Air quality is a major concern for individuals fighting asthma, a disease that affects the airways of your lungs. Discover more about the effects of the air we breathe on our overall health through action plans, trigger avoidance, allergen avoidance and more.

Fitting in physical activity may be difficult for asthma and allergy sufferers as we deal with “stay-at-home” orders and a lack of available indoor workout space. Use this day to discover fun, creative ways to stay active in the indoor space you have available.

Questions:

  • How do I know if going outside will impact my asthma?
  • Are there specific questions I should ask my doctor regarding air quality?
  • How can I stay active when unable to go outside?

Wednesday: Where Is Your AQI Coming From?

According to the National Weather Service, “The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you.”

The AQI is calculated by the EPA for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act:

  • ground-level ozone
  • particle pollution or particulate matter
  • carbon monoxide
  • sulfur dioxide
  • nitrogen dioxide

The Air Quality Index is divided into six categories:

Green=Good

Yellow=Moderate

Orange=Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Red=Unhealthy

Purple=Very Unhealthy

Maroon=Hazardous

Questions:

  • Are there any steps I can take when I need to go outside on days with less-than-ideal air quality?
  • Is there anything we can do to improve the air quality in our area?
  • What’s the fastest way to check the AQI? Does it change throughout the day?

Thursday: Air Quality Around the World

The EPA reported that over one-fifth of all U.S. citizens spent significant time abroad in recent years. In order to provide those travelers with air quality data while overseas, the Department of State partnered with the EPA to install and operate state-of-the-art AirNow monitors at U.S. embassies and consulates in over fifty countries around the world.

  • When will it be safe to travel abroad?
  • What resources are there in foreign countries in case of an asthma attack or other medical issue?
  • What should I know about the air quality on airplanes and other transit options?

Friday: Air Quality Resources for Families and Teachers

Throughout Air Quality Awareness Week, the EPA will share air quality resources from lots of different organizations across the country. If you have any activities, videos, or materials for students and teachers, you can send links to lee.debra@epa.gov to be added to the Educational Resources page. You can also tag @airnow in your social media posts and include the hashtag #AQAW2020.

Questions:

    • What are some ways I can show kids the importance of air quality? (Try starting with this simple experiment.)
    • How will I know if my child is impacted by outdoor air quality issues?
    • How do I optimize the air quality inside my home?

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Healthy Clean Air |

What is Offgassing?

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Offgassing occurs when Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOCs) are released into the air we breathe. VOCs can live anywhere in your home in the form of solids or liquids. Common sources, like paints, furniture, carpeting, cleaning supplies, and more, can create some of the most well-known VOCs including formaldehyde, chloroform, acetone, ozone, and more. When these sources offgas, it can impact your family’s health and cause discomfort in your home. So, what can you do?

How to Tell if Something is Offgassing

Sometimes, odor can be a sign that something is offgassing. While it’s not always present or an indicator of offgassing, it’s not uncommon to experience odors. For example, a new car smell—a smell that most of us actually enjoy—is an example of offgassing chemicals from manufacturing glue. The same is true for that ‘clean’ smell we all love after a day of disinfecting. These smells can create long-lasting health problems for you and your family. All VOCs (and people) are different, so it’s possible that you won’t even recognize an odor or even know that something around you is offgassing, but that doesn’t mean VOCs aren’t releasing themselves into the air we breathe.

If you’re wondering if offgassing is a problem in your home, an Indoor Air Quality test can help you identify it. One of our Healthy Air Professionals in your area can also help you discover some IAQ solutions that could work for your home and family. Or you can work to eliminate your exposure to VOCs altogether by making some changes in your home.

What Are the Health Risks of Offgassing?

If you’ve been exposed to offgassing, you may find that your allergy and asthma symptoms are acting up. Since VOCs are known to impact your Indoor Air Quality, these symptoms can worsen due to the polluted air surrounding you. If you’re exposed for a substantial amount of time, you may find yourself experiencing the following:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Eye, nose, and throat irritation
  • Long-term symptoms, including:
    • Vision problems
    • Memory problems
    • Respiratory issues
    • Heart disease
    • Cancer

How to Prevent Offgassing

The best way is to eliminate or lessen your exposure to high VOC products and opt for more natural remedies when cleaning, crafting, shopping, and more. Here are some suggestions:

  • Don’t smoke
  • Avoid products known to offgas and instead, use:
    • Natural cleaning solutions
    • Furniture made with natural materials
    • Low or non-VOC paints

Healthy Air Is on the Way

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You can also make some healthy changes to your home in order to reduce VOCs from releasing into your indoor air and slow offgassing. You can:

  • Bring Fresh Air In: With the air inside our homes being 5 times more polluted than the air outside, bringing in fresh air can help replenish your indoor air. Take a second to run your ventilation or even open up your windows and let all that new air in.
  • Fill Your Home with Houseplants: There are a wealth of houseplants known to boost your home’s air quality. Check out some of our favorites.
  • Install an Air Purifier: Air purifiers and the right air filter can help remove VOCs from the air and boost the amount of Healthy Air circulating in your home.
  • Practice Healthy Humidity: High humidity can actually make items offgas quicker. Investing in a dehumidifier can help you regulate your humidity and slow the offgassing process.

Clean air is Healthy Air, pure and simple. And when it comes to your home, breathing the highest quality air is important for the health of you and your family. Creating a Healthy Home environment is easy when you have the right tools. See how a Healthy Air Professional can help you.

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