If you live in a NYC high rise, you’re smart to consider indoor air quality solutions for your home. We know outdoor air in NYC isn’t the greatest. But last summer we experienced extreme conditions: wildfire smoke made the skies turn orange and cast a pall over the city. People living in high rises couldn’t even see out the windows. How much of that pollution made its way indoors?
As it turns out, too much. In the days following the worst outdoor air, NYC indoor air quality readings were 15 times higher than what’s considered safe.
There’s every chance it could happen again this spring or summer when wildfires take hold again. Here’s how to get prepared.
3 indoor air quality solutions for safer air in your home
You’re right to be concerned about the air you breathe. Your family’s health and comfort depend on it. Even in normal conditions, experts say that air quality indoors can be up to 5 times worse than outdoors. The good news is, making the air in your home safer and healthier air is not difficult or expensive when you implement these three indoor air quality solutions together.
STEP 1: Service your HVAC system
All the air in your home passes through your HVAC system. So if you want to improve indoor air quality throughout your NYC space, you need to start by optimizing your heating and air conditioning.
Bring in a professional to inspect your equipment and ductwork. You want to make sure those systems are designed to distribute air properly, control humidity, and provide appropriate airflow and ventilation. Those things are essential for getting rid of airborne contaminants. Your technician may recommend design changes or other improvements to make your system work better and improve your comfort.
Your technician will also clean your system to make sure there are no contaminants being introduced into the air, test the components, and replace any worn or faulty parts to prevent breakdowns.
TIP: Getting a service agreement ensures you get the best price for maintenance and priority service when you need it.
Learn more: Does an HVAC service agreement make sense for you?
STEP 2: Get an HVAC air purifier
HEPA air filters are a step in the right direction. But they only improve air in a small area and they can be noisy and unsightly. HVAC air purification equipment is a better solution to improve indoor air quality throughout your home.
HVAC air purifiers use a range of technologies, including UV light, ions and natural oxidizers to destroy and deactivate harmful airborne particles.
HVAC air purifiers are installed within your HVAC system so they are out of sight and don’t make annoying noise. As air passes through your HVAC ducts, it passes through the HVAC purifier. In fact, in most homes air passes through your HVAC system up to 10 times per hour. So more air gets purified than when you use HEPA filter devices.
Also HVAC air purifier technology actually sends ions out into the air in your space, deactivating not only airborne pollutants but also bacteria and viruses (including COVID) on surfaces.
Learn more: 7 Ways to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution with HVAC Technology
If you live in a New York City high rise, request a consultation with Arista to learn more about HVAC purifiers and how they can help to clean up the air in your space.
STEP 3: Replace HVAC filters regularly
Your HVAC equipment has filters that prevent dust and pollutants from getting into the equipment and your ductwork. Normally, your HVAC technician will change the filters during your regular maintenance visit. But when air quality conditions are bad (like last summer), those filters can get clogged faster than usual.
We recommend checking them more often, ideally one every month or two. If you find them dirty and grimy, you can change them yourself. It’s not difficult for most systems and here’s an article that tells you how to do it.
TIP: Ask your HVAC service technician to get you extra filters so you have them handy when you need them.
Learn more: 5 Reasons to Change HVAC Filters More Often
More advice to improve indoor air quality in your NYC space
Here’s more information to help you improve all aspect of air quality in your home:
Stuffy Air: 5 Ways to Get Fresher Air in a Sealed Building
Dry Air, Indoor Air Quality & Your Health
Mold in Air Ducts? How It Got There & How To Get Rid of It
Now is the best time to make HVAC improvements
Before we get to the time of year when air quality drops due to wildfires, it’s time to take action to protect your home and your family.
Give Arista a call today at 718-937-1400.