It may feel unusual to think about the health of your home, after we have all spent so much time thinking about our physical health since 2020. However, with how much time we all spend at home, many New Yorkers have been looking into what it takes to keep their living spaces clean, comfortable, and efficient — and the overall health of your home can affect your physical health!
So what are the elements that make up a healthy home? Here is what you should know about the many aspects of a healthy home, from the experts that are so passionate about it that we made it part of our name!
1. Healthy Moisture Levels
When survivalists head out into the wilderness, major consideration is often put into one goal: staying dry. To get wet in a survival situation is to open the door to hypothermia, irreparable equipment damage, and even mold growth. While the stakes might be a little lower in your home, keeping your home’s humidity levels under control and resolving any water infiltration is essential to living in a healthy home.
You no doubt have had to suffer through one of the hot, muggy summer days here in Westchester County - and all that humidity wants to make its way into your home. Plus, many of our everyday activities such as showering, cleaning, and cooking can add even more moisture into your indoor air. High humidity levels can lead to mold growth in your home, often in unseen areas like the crawlspace and attic, which poses a threat to the respiratory health of anyone in your home.
One way to keep moisture levels in your home in a safe range (between 40% and 60%) is with whole home dehumidification, as well as properly air sealing and insulating your home. More on this later!
2. Ideal Indoor Temperatures
In order for mold to grow, it will also need temperatures to be in an ideal range. Temperatures between the mid 70s and high 80s fahrenheit encourage mold growth - which also happen to be ideal temperatures for humans!
By controlling your moisture levels, your home will be at a much lower risk of the damage mold can cause, both to the structure of your home, and to your health.
The Role of Insulation & Air Sealing
There are two ways humidity and unwanted temperatures can infiltrate your home: through the tiny holes and gaps hidden in your home construction, and even through the materials your home is composed of. Through proper air sealing and insulation, you can get an airtight and isolated indoor living space.
LEARN MORE ABOUT INSULATION AND AIR SEALING
3. Controlled Ventilation & Airflow
Once your home has an airtight seal and is properly insulated, it is also important to ventilate your indoor air so that you are not exposed to indoor air contaminants over and over again.
Contaminants like allergens, chemicals, and bacteria or viruses will still make their way into your home through open windows and doors — and once they enter your airtight home, they will end up recirculating your air through your heating and cooling system. Through controlled ventilation, and whole-home ventilation systems, you can ensure the stale and unhealthy air in your home is regularly replaced with fresh, clean air. This can also include additional indoor air quality improvements, like:
Filtration
You likely already have some form of filtration in your home, in the air filter attached to your heating and cooling system. However, upgrading to an independent whole-home air filtration system or upgrading to a HEPA filter can reduce the number of contaminants in your breathing air. With the right filter, you can increase the health of your air without affecting the efficiency of your furnace or AC.
Purification
Depending on the respiratory sensitivities of your family members, and how contaminated your indoor air can become, air purification may offer the benefits you are looking for. Air purification captures, removes, and enables harmful contaminants in your air. This can be done in a number of ways, from UV disinfection, Disinfecting Filtration Systems (DFS), and more. Healthy Home Energy & Consulting offers whole home air purification solutions for your IAQ needs.
Want to Make Your Home Healthier? Schedule an Evaluation!
There is no single solution to a healthier home, but the first step toward finding the customized solution that will improve the comfort, efficiency, and health of your home is schedule a Healthy Home Evaluation with our team of Healthy Home Specialists.
This full scale assessment of your home’s overall performance includes an indoor air quality test, scientific evaluations of your home’s airtight seal and insulation, and much more.
How can you make your home healthier? It all starts with a Healthy Home Evaluation, of course! Schedule yours today at 914-242-9733 or get in touch here.
