Saving Your Indoor Air Quality in Summer Heat
The HEAT is definitely on! Summer is in full swing and I’m definitely feeling it. 90+ almost everyday. WOAH! It got me thinking how this summer heat could be effecting our indoor air quality or if it even does. I found some interesting things regarding this subject.
Apparently the heat does effect the indoor air quality but more as it pertains to the humidity involved in the heat. Too much or too little humidity has a great deal of affect on the indoor air quality.
Too much humidity and the chance of mold and mildew increases immensely. The spores from mold especially can wreak havoc on the indoor air. High humidity also makes it more difficult of the body to keep itself cool. Obviously another downside to high humidity other than poor indoor air quality.
Too little humidity is also not conducive to quality indoor air. Too little moisture in the indoor air can dry out skin, eyes, and nasal passages. These things can irritate allergy symptoms and even make folks susceptible to colds and other respiratory diseases. Yes, I realize that we don’t have too much trouble with low humidity in our neck of the woods. However, if you are using a dehumidifier make sure you don’t have it set to take too much moisture out of your air.
So, what are the best levels of humidity to have in the indoor air in the summertime? Well, OSHA says there is no real level recommended. They say it is a matter of human comfort. However, it is generally recommended in the indoor air quality community to have humidity levels somewhere between 40-65% in the summertime. That is a fairly wide range that will probably accommodate most comfort levels.
So, at least we know that the heat and humidity do have an affect on our indoor air quality. Now it’s up to us to help our indoor air quality as much as we can according to our newly acquired information.
Here’s to summer! And here’s to great indoor air quality!
Source: http://aetinc.biz/newsletters/2010-insights/march-2010, http://www.speedyacservice.com/blog/indoor-air-quality-service/how-to-improve-your-indoor-air-quality-this-summer/