How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Southwest Houston

Humidity, mold, and allergens are top three reasons that Southwest Houston area residents are looking for solutions to improve their indoor air quality.

If you or a loved one has health concerns, airborne allergens are a persistent irritation, or there’s moldy smells in the home, it’s a good idea to address your indoor air quality. Portable air purifiers can be a temporary solution. However, many of our customers find that whole-house air purification systems are a cost-effective solution that can make a world of difference.

As an HVAC master technician, I should know because my wife suffers from allergies. This is one of the reasons I’ve tried so many different air purification products. It’s also why I can recommend different solutions to improve indoor air quality that I know work for our coastal climate.

Below we explain factors that affect indoor air quality, so you can pick the air purification solution that works best for your situation.

Houston’s Climate & Your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Our humid subtropical climate from Houston’s Harris County and westward to Fort Bend County including Katy, Cinco Ranch, Richmond, Weston Lakes, and Fulshear means that we frequently have an abundance of rain (averaging about 50 inches per year) and a long growing season.

Flooding and Humidity

For homeowners, the bigger air quality hazard concerns flooding and keeping indoor humidity levels in check. Anyone who has dealt with flooding from our frequent hurricanes and storms knows how quickly mold and mildew can set in.

Seasonal Allergens

Because it does not freeze often, pollen and mold counts here come in waves for much of the year. Baylor College of Medicine researchers reported that pollen counts have grown over the last decade.

Dust, Smoke, and Ozone

Seasonally, Houston gets dust from the Sahara June-August and smoke from agricultural fires in Mexico in the late spring and early summer. This is all in addition to hot summers that cause Ozone Action Days, when ground-level outdoor pollution is such that certain individuals should stay indoors. You can see the outdoor air quality forecast by the EPA and the Texas Air Quality Map & Tracker by the Houston Chronicle.

The reason we talk about outdoor climate first is that it affects the air purification solutions that the best HVAC companies can provide for homeowners.

Choose the Right Size AC System to Fix Humidity Problems

Addressing indoor air quality starts with choosing the right size HVAC system for your home. Air conditioners in our neck of the woods are effective dehumidifiers, so it is important to get the right size.

When Your AC Is Too Big

An air conditioner that is too large will cool the home too quickly and leave too much humidity in the air.

Excess humidity can collect behind walls and in attics. It can cause structural problems and mildew growth if left over time. Homes insulated with foam are especially susceptible to the effects of too much humidity in the air.

We need longer run times in order to effectively remove enough humidity from the indoor air. Variable speed HVAC systems, on the other hand, offer much longer run times to dehumidify a home more effectively.

When an AC Is Too Small

An air conditioner that is too small will not move enough air or remove enough humidity, which also creates comfort issues.

Humidity levels in this case will continue to rise indoors, and the system won’t be able to maintain the desired temperature.

We see this situation when someone DIYs an inexpensive mini split system purchased off the internet to cool their garage. The undersized system runs and runs, and it never feels quite cool enough.

Resolve Indoor Water Leaks Or Flooding Quickly

Any known indoor water leaks or flooding can cause big problems and affect your indoor air quality, too. Large water leaks often require home remediators who are specialists at removing water from carpets, walls, and furniture. Removing drywall is often a part of this fix because mold and mildew grow so quickly and can affect health.

**Don’t start remediating until you know the source of the water leak.**

In addition to removing the water, extra dehumidification may be needed to dry out your home.  To clean the air, you can use a dehumidifier, air purifier, or both to remove humidity and particulates like mold from the air.

ProTip: Have a professional come in and test the home before the remediators get started. Get more than one home remediator or home inspector to take a look at your water leak. The repair estimate can vary considerably.

>> See a case study of a Cinco Ranch’s home that responded to an air purification system we installed to remove mildew from the air after the home was flooded.

Check Your Insulation & Ventilation Systems Are Working Properly

How well your home is insulated and ventilated will affect your indoor air quality. Plugging up leaks around windows and doors can improve your home’s efficiency.

Ensuring any air ducts are working well can also be a factor to improve air quality indoors. We ensure ducts are sealed so they are not drawing or releasing conditioned air into the attic by mistake. This can happen when rodents invade the ductwork or when ducts are very old and become detached or degrade.

The exhaust fans in the bathrooms and vent hoods above ovens without a backdraft damper can allow outdoor air to back into the home. We see many problems with exhaust fans.

They have humidity-sensing exhaust fans now that turn on when the humidity levels are too high, which is a neat innovation.

Indoor Variables Affect Indoor Air Quality

According to the American Lung Association, the average adult takes about 20,000 breaths each day. That’s enough oxygen to fill a swimming pool!  When you add multiple people and pets to the equation, you see why it can get dusty indoors and why frequently changing your indoor air filters is a good idea.

Offgassing from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter from burning candles and gas, pet hair and dander, and dust mites can build up, causing a less than optimal indoor air environment.

The following activities can negatively affect indoor air quality:

  • Cooking activities, especially gas-powered stoves
  • Some types of furniture and building materials
  • Furry pets (dander, fur)
  • Second-hand smoke, vape pens
  • Air fresheners and candles
  • Certain cleaners, paint, glues
  • Carpets and bedding

Fortunately, good cleaning practices, air filtration, air purification, and adequate ventilation can help. If anyone in your household has health conditions such as allergies, asthma, and other respiratory ailments, active air purification may be something that you need.

Installing a whole house air purification system within your central air ductwork is an effective way to clean the air without ozone.

ProTip: If you’re planning to move, you *can* take your whole house air purification system with you. We can show you how.

Need Indoor Air Purification? Terry’s A/C & Heating Has Solutions for Southwest Houston

Indoor air purification can be a puzzle and if you are having issues with frequent illness, allergies, humidity or indoor smells you can’t pinpoint. Contact Licensed HVAC contractor and Houston-area native Rob Terry at Terry’s A/C & Heating at 281-495-7830 for expert advice about indoor air quality solutions for your Southwest Houston home or business.

We believe in what we install because we’ve tried all the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)  products we recommend, so we can advise you on what to expect. If you’re looking for quality AC service, you’ve come to the right place. Give our Richmond, Texas-based, family-owned HVAC company a try.

Image source: Canva.com/Maridav