Climate Control for a Better Night’s Sleep

Do you toss and turn every night and wake up in the morning unrested? There are many factors that can impact sleep, including the air in your home. Climate control can make a big difference in how well you sleep at night. Here are some ways you can improve your sleep with some adjustments to your HVAC system and air quality in your home.

Cool Down for a Comfortable Sleep

While you may like to snuggle under warm blankets at night, keeping the air cooler around you can help improve your quality of sleep. Setting your temperature at nights lower can help you sleep better. If you have zone or room controls, change the thermostat setting in your bedroom to 60-65 degrees for the ideal sleeping temperatures.

Another way to cool down is to use fans in windows. This can reduce cooling costs and provides refreshing moving air while you sleep. The white noise of the fan can also help many people block out other noises and sleep better.

Check Your Humidity

High humidity can cause all types of problems in your home, but it can also impact your sleep. Heavy, muggy air can make it difficult to breathe easy when you are trying to sleep. Check the level of humidity – typically the best level for indoor air quality is around 40-50% to keep the air comfortable and reduce mold and mildew problems. If it is too high, talk to your local HVAC professionals to have a dehumidifier installed in your home.

Changing the air quality and climate in your home can be the solution to finding a good night’s rest. Try these tips to improve the comfort of the air in your home and you may begin noticing you feel more refreshed each morning.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

4 Ways to Improve the Air Quality in Your Home

Have you noticed your nose gets stuffy when you are at home, but not at other places? Or maybe you have mold that seems to grow quicker than you can clean on walls, windows or in the bathroom? If so, you may have an issue with your air quality in your home, stemming from your HVAC system. Here are four ways to improve your air quality to keep you and your home healthy.

  1. Change your air filter. Check the filter on your HVAC and change it if needed. Most HVAC filters need to be changed monthly to be effective.
  2. Check the humidity in your home. If mold is a problem, have your local HVAC service test the humidity in your home. If it is too high, adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system can help improve the moisture level and decrease mold problems.
  3. Upgrade to a better air filter. The MERV rating on your air filter is important for reducing contaminants. Consider upgrading if you are using an air filter with a MERV rating of 8 or less – the higher, the better.
  4. Have your air ducts cleaned. If there is dirt, mold and other debris in your air ducts, it could be spread throughout your home. Consider having your air ducts cleaned if it has been 2-3 years or more since your last duct cleaning.

Doing a few service items on your HVAC system can make a big difference in your air quality. Make sure to keep up with air filter changes and routine service on your HVAC system to maintain the best quality of air in your home.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

Risks of High Humidity in Your Home

Humidity levels impact many aspects in your home, from comfort to cleaning. When humidity levels spike to levels above 60% on a consistent basis, you could be at risk for problems in your home. Here are some of the risks high humidity can pose to your home and health and what you can do to prevent these problems.

Mold Problems from Humidity

One of the biggest concerns with high humidity is mold growth in your home. This can include the pink molds that grow in your bathroom shower as well as dangerous black molds on windows, walls and closed spaces. Mold is a pain to clean and can pose health risks to your family, especially infants and those with respiratory issues. Reducing humidity can help control mold growth for a healthier home.

Material Damage

Humidity and mold can damage materials in your home. This can include anything made with paper products like books, photo albums and documents. It can also impact wood, which can be damaging to your furniture and home. Door and windows can stick, and wood drawers can swell or warp. Fabrics and upholstery can mildew and stain. Reducing humidity can protect the wood and paper in your home, as well as fabric or upholstery.

Odors

A musty home is usually caused by high humidity. If your home smells musty, it is a sign of too high of moisture and possible mold or mildew problems in the home. Clear out odor and the cause by thorough cleaning and reducing your humidity levels.

If humidity is a problem in your home, talk to your local HVAC service company about adding a whole house dehumidifier to your home. It is worth the investment to prevent the risks to your home and family from high moisture.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

Mildew on My Woodwork: What’s Wrong?

When you notice your wood baseboards or window sills are covered in mildew, it can be alarming. Not only is this unhealthy and bad for your expensive woodwork, it can mean there is a problem with moisture in your home. Mildew growing on surfaces is a sign that you may need to consider a change in your HVAC system.

Mildew flourishes in high-moisture air and unventilated areas. It is normal to have mildew appear in high humidity rooms like your bathroom, especially when it is not properly ventilated. However, it should be easy to control if you have a good HVAC system and air filter. Circulating and filtering the air helps remove moisture and mold spores from the air, keeping mildew at bay. However, if your HVAC system is not working properly, or there is high humidity in your region, you may experience mold and mildew in your home.

Combatting High Humidity

To stop mildew and mold, you must reduce the humidity in your home. Ideally, the humidity in your home should average about 40-50% to keep mold and mildew at bay. If you have been having mildew problems, call your local HVAC service. They can test the humidity in your air and do a complete inspection on your HVAC system. It may need a tune-up, new filter or duct cleaning to improve your air quality. If the humidity in your home is too high, they can recommend a dehumidification system that can be added to your HVAC to lower the moisture content in your air.

Mildew on woodwork and other surfaces should be taken seriously, as you may have mold growing in other areas in your home. Talk to your HVAC service company to find a solution to keep your home mold and mildew free.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
Buford, GA 30519
(770) 475-9528

Is There Too Much Humidity in Your Home?

Moist air can cause issues when it is contained within your home. High humidity can create mold issues and damage to materials in your home. This can lead to health problems for your family and expensive repairs to your property. Monitoring and managing humidity is important, especially in regions of the country that experience high humidity during certain seasons of the year. Here is how to check your humidity levels and what to do if they are too high within your home.

Checking Your Humidity Levels

If you are concerned about the humidity levels in your home, you can use a hygrometer or humidity sensor to check your levels. Your local HVAC service professional can also check them for you. The ideal level in most homes is between 35-45%. However, the temperature outside and time of year can influence these levels. If your levels are reaching 60% or higher, you can be at risk for mold growth in your home.

Managing Humidity Levels

If you have high humidity throughout your home, you can effectively manage by adding a dehumidifier to your air conditioning or HVAC system. This can moderate the humidity and keep it at a safe level in your home. It is worth the investment to avoid health complications in your family due to mold growth. It can also protect your home from moisture and mold damage that can cost you thousands of dollars to repair.

Humidity can be a serious issue in your home if left unchecked. Talk to your local HVAC service company to learn more about humidity testing and dehumidifier options for your home’s heating or cooling system.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

Is The Humidity Too High Inside Your Home?

Certain regions of the country experience higher than normal humidity levels, which can only get worse inside buildings. Once this moist air is confined, it has the potential to cause mold, health problems and even damage to the structure. If you live in an area with high humidity, your home may be in need of a whole house dehumidifier to protect your family’s health and the integrity of your home. 

Signs Of High Humidity In Your Home

There are definite signs your home is experiencing high humidity levels. Some of the signs are obvious, such as mold growth and rot. However, not all the signs are as easy to recognize. Keep an eye out for these signs, which may indicate the presence of excessive humidity levels: 

–        Allergic reactions. Humidity can cause mold spore growth and increase the levels of dust mites in your home. Both of these contaminants can aggravate people who have allergies and asthma, contributing to heightened symptoms and reactions.

–        Stains on walls or ceilings. If you’ve noticed water spots or stains on your walls or ceilings, it may be from excess moisture accumulating in your home. This can cause damage to your home which can be expensive to repair.

–        Mold growth. While all homes can have mold growth, if you have noticed an increased amount in your bathroom or kitchen, humidity levels may be to blame. Are you noticing musty smells or condensation on the windows? If so, your levels of moisture are too high and may be causing excess mold in your home. 

The best solution to high humidity in your home is a whole house dehumidifier. Your local HVAC contractor can test your home’s humidity levels, and offer advice about installing a new dehumidifier in your home to remedy the problem.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
Marietta, GA
(770) 475-9564

Home Dehumidification Systems

Humidity, which is water vapor found in the air, can be damaging to the occupants of the home, as well as the home itself, if found in excessive amounts.  High humidity levels promote the growth of certain types of mold, as well as dust mites, both of which are allergens that impact indoor air quality.  Often homeowners living in homes with high humidity levels suffer from respiratory issues including rhinitis and asthma.  The home itself can be damaged by rot, as well as pests, which are attracted by the moisture.  Relief from high humidity levels is available with the installation of a whole house dehumidification system, which is easily added onto an existing HVAC by a licensed HVAC contractor. 

The first step in determining if a whole house dehumidification system is necessary is to have a professional HVAC company perform an inspection.  During the inspection, the technician will use a hygrometer to measure the relative humidity in the home.  In addition, they will be looking for other signs of excessive humidity including wet stains on the walls and ceilings, musty smells, condensation on windows and mold growth in areas such as the bathrooms.  In addition, they will discuss any breathing issues that the homeowner may be experiencing. 

In the event that excessive humidity is found, the technician will recommend the installation of a whole house dehumidification system, which will remove the humidity from the air inside of the home.  The dehumidification system is easily and cost effectively retrofitted to the existing HVAC system and will provide constant dehumidification, which will improve the indoor air quality of the home.  Speak with a qualified HVAC contractor and determine if a whole house dehumidification system is the right choice for your home!

How to Control Moisture at Home

Moisture is a problem regardless of what area of the country you live in, and solving the problem of excess moisture differs depending on the climate of the area where you live. How you handle problems in these different regions varies, but everyone can learn how to control moisture at their home. Your local home heating and cooling professional can share tips on cutting down on excess moisture and humidity in your home. 

Make sure to fix any leaks in or around your home. If water is getting into the house from outside, fixing the problem might range from simple plumbing solutions to expensive fixes like excavation or landscaping. If you find any water in your basement, check if the gutters on your house are leaking, or that any excess rainwater isn’t being channeled to your house’s foundation. 

Water leaking from pipes in your house, and any standing water around tubs and sinks can offer somewhere for pollutants, mold or other hazards to grow. Make sure to clean up standing or excess water immediately. If you have exhaust fans in your bathroom or kitchen, use them to remove any excess moisture in your homes. 

Turn off appliances like humidifiers if you notice any moisture on windows and other interior surfaces like walls or tile floors. At the same time, use a dehumidifier to cut down on moisture in the air, but make sure that these appliances don’t cause or create any kind of airborne irritants. 

Open doors between the rooms in your home to help increase circulation; this allows heat and warm air to contact any standing cold surfaces. You can help to increase circulation in the air by moving around your furniture and using fans.