While we think of houses as a place where we’re protected from harmful germs and contaminants, that’s not always the case. Because our homes are closed up most of the time, they can become a breeding ground for harmful pollutants and bacteria. Fortunately, air purification systems can help. In this blog, the Bryant® experts at Martens Plumbing & Heating are sharing some of the unexpected ways an air purifier benefits your family’s health. Discover more below, then call us when you’re ready for cleaner air.
Advantages of Having an Air Purifier
Reduces Circulation of Viruses and Bacteria
Exposure to viruses and bacteria is unavoidable. But when your windows are all sealed up, there’s often no way to clear them out of your home. They can circulate through your air as your furnaces and ACs run and easily make you sick.
But with an air purifier, you can stop those contaminants in their tracks. The purifier captures them as they pass through your ductwork and eliminates them outright, helping reduce illnesses and keep you breathing safe, clean air. This is especially important if there are children or elderly family members living in the home.
Alleviates Asthma and Allergy Symptoms
People who suffer from allergies are susceptible to common home air pollutants like dander, dust mites, and pollen. If the levels of these substances get out of control, they can affect air quality and cause asthma symptoms or allergy attacks.
While cleaning and vacuuming can help, this alone may not fully address the problem. However, an air purifier can. They trap these allergy triggers before they affect family members with sensitivities, making your home air more comfortable and healthy for all.
Eliminates Harmful Chemicals
One of the biggest air purifier benefits is combating chemicals. Depending on where you live, you might be exposed to radon and asbestos in your home. These are both harmful substances that can pollute your indoor air. Radon, which occurs naturally from home-building materials, can cause damage to the lungs. Asbestos, which is typically found in older homes, can disintegrate into tiny particles that are also harmful to breathe in.
Purifiers can capture these substances, ensuring they don’t cause health concerns for you now or in the future.
Call Martens Plumbing for an In-Home Consultation Today
Now that you’ve read about the many health-related air purifier benefits, give us a call at 262-363-7146 or contact us online to set up an in-home consultation and free estimate. We can recommend the best indoor air quality systems based on the specific needs of your family.
Home is where we spend most of our time each day, so it’s important that we feel comfortable there. A big part of that is having the ideal humidity level in the house. Martens Plumbing & Heating has expert knowledge on the topic—which we’re sharing below.
Humidity 101
If your home lacks humidity, which often happens during our cold Wisconsin winters, you and your family members can suffer from dry skin, static electricity, and an increased chance of illness.
But in summer, we face the opposite problem. As the weather gets warmer and outdoor humidity rises, occasionally the moisture in our homes can increase to uncomfortable levels. When this happens, you might feel a damp heaviness in the air. You’ll also experience that “sticky” feeling that makes you feel warmer than usual.
Finding the perfect balance doesn’t need to be difficult. The first step is identifying the ideal humidity level for your home.
Balancing Humidity Levels in Your Home
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the ideal humidity level for your home should be between 30 and 50 percent.
But how do you know when you’ve achieved that? In many cases, you’ll notice issues that will indicate a problem. For example, if your air is too dry, you’ll notice that your home’s woodwork is cracking or drying out. Your skin might feel tight and itchy. Static electricity will increase.
On the flip side, if your indoor air has too much moisture, you might notice standing condensation and dampness in the air. It’s also a breeding ground for mold and bacteria and can provide an environment in which dust mites—a strong allergen—will flourish.
If you’re unsure what the humidity level is in your home, you can use a hygrometer—a thermometer that also measures the temperature and moisture in your air.
How to Achieve Your Ideal Humidity Level
Whether your home’s humidity is too high or too low, it’s usually a simple problem to fix. Installing a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier from Martens Plumbing is one solution. You’ll also want to check to make sure that your windows and doors are properly sealed, which ensures humidity isn’t escaping or seeping into places you wouldn’t expect.
Other simple ideas to try include:
- Line-drying laundry instead of running the dryer in the summer
- Covering pots while cooking when possible
- Keeping bedroom and bathroom doors open inside the house to encourage airflow
- Opening windows to help balance indoor humidity levels with those outdoors
Martens Plumbing Can Help
If you find your home’s humidity levels are still less than ideal after trying some of the suggestions above, give the Bryant® experts at Martens Plumbing a call at 262-363-7146. We’ll visit your home and inspect your systems to pinpoint what’s causing your humidity issue. Contact us today for information.
Though spring brings much-needed warmer weather, it’s also been known to cause problems with allergies. Thankfully, the indoor air experts at Martens Plumbing & Heating can help—our air ventilators go a long way to solving both issues with allergies and many other air quality problems. Learn how below, then call us at 262-363-7146 to discuss installation.
Does My Home Make Spring Allergies Worse?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), your indoor air can actually be two to five times more polluted than outside air. And in the spring, with flowers and plants blooming, nature’s allergy triggers can get inside and potentially make things worse. Fortunately, systems like air ventilators and purifiers can help get rid of those pollutants and more, including dust and dirt stuck in your carpets or vents. How? Read on to find out.
How Do Air Ventilators Work?
Air ventilators take your stale, recirculated indoor air and replace it with fresh air from outside. And the best part—it does so while filtering out airborne contaminants and allergens. The key lies in the system’s filter, which traps dust, dirt, pollen, mold, and other irritants before they can affect whoever is inside. The higher the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values), the better the filtration.
Are There Any Other Benefits of Ventilators?
On top of delivering health benefits, air ventilators simply make your home’s air fresher. If you do a lot of cooking or have pets, you won’t have to worry about poor indoor air quality. Plus, these systems are quiet, energy-efficient, and can even help lower your home’s humidity levels when the weather turns warm.
Air ventilators aren’t a total replacement for helping with spring allergies, but when used along with regular vacuuming and cleaning, they are great in spring and year-round.
Want to Know More About Ventilators?
Spring is a great time to get a new air ventilator installed. Just call our Bryant® experts at 262-363-7146 or contact us online today.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. That’s exactly why your home needs better indoor air quality. Martens Plumbing & Heating is here to help—we’re sharing five tips you can use to ensure the air you breathe inside is as clean as possible. Read them over, then call 262-363-7146 with questions.
Change Out Your Air Filter
As part of your HVAC system, air filters are integral to your home’s indoor air quality. Filters capture a large part of the pollutants traveling through your system, preventing them from reaching you and your family. This makes it especially important to keep an eye on them, as clogged filters capture fewer contaminants, block airflow, and put extra stress on your system. Follow your manufacturer’s guidelines on when to change air filters and inspect them every few months to be sure as well.
Get a Whole-Home Air Purifier
These systems are becoming more popular every year in Mukwonago-area homes like yours. Whole-home air purifiers work in tandem with your HVAC systems to capture and eliminate the causes behind poor indoor air quality, including dust, dirt, bacteria, odors, and more. You can also put portable purifiers in each room to help remove airborne pollutants.
Clean Your Carpets and Rugs
Carpets and rugs are great for adding comfort, style, and warmth to your home, but they can also harbor pollutants like dust, dirt, and pet dander. Try vacuuming your carpets and rugs every week to keep your home—and your air—as clean as can be. Also, consider having your carpets deep cleaned once a year.
Install Whole-Home Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
Humidity has more to do with your home comfort than you might think. When the temperature drops, it can result in dry air too. This can lead to problems with dry skin, cracking wooden furniture, and static electricity. Likewise, when the weather gets warm, it can increase your home humidity, causing issues with moisture such as mold and mildew.
Whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers from Martens Plumbing can help bring much-needed moisture balance to your home and keep you comfortable all year long, no matter what the weather might bring.
Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers
These units work wonders for indoor air quality by trading that stale air inside your home for fresh, clean air from the outside—all while keeping your indoor temps stable. Plus, Martens Plumbing can design an HVAC plan that will help ensure these ventilation systems perform in all seasons, increasing air quality and decreasing moisture problems.
For Improved Air Quality in Waukesha County, Contact Martens Plumbing & Heating
Mukwonago-area homeowners know to trust the plumbing and heating professionals who’ve been serving your community since 1956. You can rely on us for the right combination of indoor air quality solutions that will fit your Wisconsin home. Give our Bryant® experts a call at 262-363-7146 or send us a message today.
Maintaining good indoor air quality in your Mukwonago home is a must for both your comfort and your health. The easiest way to care for yours? Change your air filter on a regular basis. The pros at Martens Plumbing & Heating are here to break down everything air filter-related below—call 262-363-7146 with questions.
The Importance of an Air Filter in Your Home
You may not be able to see them, but contaminants like dust, dirt, and even viruses and bacteria float through your home every day. In fact, without any air quality solutions, your indoor air could be up to five times more polluted than the air outside.
That’s where an air filter comes in. It works alongside your heating and cooling systems to capture those pollutants, removing them from circulation. That means fewer chances you have to breathe in those contaminants and get sick.
Why You Need to Change Your Air Filter
A filter goes a long way toward creating a safe, clean environment. But over time, those pollutants can build up within the filter’s fibers. Not only does that make it harder to catch all that dirt and dust, but it can also block airflow and cause problems for your heating and cooling systems.
At Martens Plumbing, we recommend an HVAC filter change every one to three months for best results across the house. Or, if you have a high-efficiency air filter, you can replace it every six to 12 months.
How to Replace the Air Filter in Your Home
Changing your air filter can be done in a few simple steps:
- First, find the right size filter at your local home improvement store and stock up on them—you can find the measurements on your current filter.
- In your home, find where your filter is installed. Most commonly, this is right next to your furnace, but if you have a wall unit, you can find it behind your vent cover.
- Simply slide out the current filter and put in your new one—make sure the arrows point toward your heating and cooling systems.
- Sit back and enjoy cleaner air.
Need Home Air Filter Replacement Help? Trust Martens Plumbing
Whether you need to change your air filter or are looking for more heavy-duty air solutions like purifiers, Martens Plumbing can help. All you have to do is contact us online or give us a call: 262-363-7146.
Springtime means fresh air and warm weather. It also gives you the perfect opportunity to clean the air inside your Mukwonago-area home. The experts at Martens Plumbing & Heating are here to help. Discover how to keep air clean in your house in four easy steps below—and call 262-363-7146 with questions.
1 – Air Out Your Home
Start simple: open your windows to ventilate your house. During the winter, you have to keep your home nearly airtight for warmth and comfort. Unfortunately, this traps airborne contaminants—like dust, dirt, and even certain viruses—inside and increases the chance of you getting sick. By simply opening windows across your house, you can air out the stale, polluted air (and enjoy the nice breeze).
2 – Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum
How do you purify the air in your home from dust and other contaminants? Vacuum everywhere.
It’s likely that you already do this, but spring is the perfect time for a deep clean. In addition to floors and carpets, vacuum your vent covers, ceiling fan blades, and even the insides of your ducts if you can reach them. This will help clear out all kinds of pollutants that sit inside your house and circulate with the air. Not only will your house look clean, but it will also feel clean.
3 – Change Your Air Filter
Your filter works wonders when it comes to keeping your air clean—it captures many of those airborne contaminants as air passes through it. But it needs to be replaced regularly to ensure it works as best it can. Swap your filter out every one to three months for optimal performance (or every six to 12 months if you have a high-efficiency model).
4 – Install Air Quality Products From Martens Plumbing
At Martens Plumbing, we care about your indoor air quality as much as you do. And we have the products to help you breathe cleaner air. Our air purifiers can help you capture and even eliminate airborne pollutants in your home, helping reduce the chance of you getting sick. Or consider a dehumidifier, which can help remove moisture from your air and leave you feeling cooler and more comfortable this summer.
How Do You Keep Your Air Clean at Home? Call Us Today
In addition to installing top-of-the-line Bryant® air quality products for you, our experts are also here to answer your questions and provide guidance. So if you need more advice on how to keep air clean in your home, we’re here for you. Call us now at 262-363-7146 or contact us online for assistance.
Dry air can be one of the worst parts of winter. The good news? Martens Plumbing & Heating can help save your skin this season with a whole-home humidifier. In our blog below, our pros are sharing some of the best ways a humidifier benefits you and your Mukwonago-area home. Read through it, then give us a call to help improve your home comfort: 262-363-7146.
What Does a Humidifier Do?
It helps balance out your home’s humidity levels by adding moisture into the air. While you might think of humidity as a bad thing, it’s actually necessary for both your comfort and health—as long as there isn’t too much. Keeping levels balanced (ideally, humidity should fall between 30 and 50 percent) can help you avoid problems such as frequent colds, dry air, and excessive static electricity.
What Are the Benefits of a Humidifier?
Healthier Skin
Tired of reapplying lotion to your hands every hour so they don’t itch or crack? Try an air humidifier instead. The moisture it releases can help soothe your skin and stop you from spending a fortune on moisturizer.
Better Respiratory Health
Humidity not only helps soothe dry skin, but it can also help you breathe easier. Humid air supports and protects the mucus in your nose, offering a natural way to clear congestion. These systems can also help put an end to bloody noses and even assist in curbing your snoring.
Adds Warmth to Your Home
Humidified air simply feels warmer than dry air does. So, when you run your humidifier, you’re actually helping increase your home’s temperature. And when you feel warmer, you’re less likely to keep turning up the thermostat. Over time, that can lead to reduced energy bills—a bonus benefit of adding a humidifier.
Keeps Your Home Healthy
Just like your skin, wood is easily susceptible to cracking from dry air. Keeping your moisture levels balanced can help prevent your wood furnishings from cracking and shrinking.
Trust Martens Plumbing to Keep Your Home as Comfortable as Possible
Whether it’s finding the best Bryant® humidifier or helping keep your current systems clean and tuned, the experts at Martens Plumbing always have your back. Call us today at 262-363-7146 or contact us online.
Summer is the time for grilled foods and pool parties—and, unfortunately, high humidity. At Martens Plumbing & Heating, we understand the struggle, and we have exactly what you need to conquer that humidity: home dehumidifiers. Discover how a dehumidifier benefits you below, then call us for an in-home consultation and estimate at 262-363-7146.
How Does a Dehumidifier Work?
When a dehumidifier detects too much humidity in your indoor air, it works to remove excess moisture around the house, helping levels fall in the ideal 35 to 50 percent range. These systems are especially effective if your home has problems with:
- Mold
- Musty odors
- Condensation on windows
- Wet stains on walls and ceilings
- General mugginess and discomfort
Simply by removing airborne moisture, home dehumidification systems can help improve both your health and the air in your home.
What Are the Benefits of a Dehumidifier?
Mold Removal and Prevention
Dehumidifiers are one of the best defenses you have against mold—which is one of the last problems you want as a homeowner. These spores thrive in moist and damp air, and when left unchecked, can multiply and cause health problems such as skin rashes, itchy throats and coughing, and asthma attacks. By balancing moisture levels, dehumidifiers reduce mold’s ability to spread, thus helping protect your health at home.
Better Indoor Air Quality
Certain household chores like cooking and cleaning can create harmful contaminants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and release them into your air. These VOCs prosper and live the longest in humid environments. Indoor dehumidifiers can help get rid of those pollutants by removing moisture from the air. In the end, you’ll breathe better—and reduce musty odors and smells throughout the house.
Boosted Home Comfort and Energy-Efficiency
By lowering home humidity levels, dehumidifiers help you feel cooler even without you having to touch your thermostat. Because of that, these systems can help you save on AC energy usage and enhance your comfort at home. And, with less stress on your air conditioner, it may not need as many repairs down the line, helping it last as long as possible.
Do I Need a Dehumidifier?
If you suffer from bad allergies, notice mold growing around the house, or generally feel hot and sticky at home, the answer is probably “yes.” The experts at Martens Plumbing can help you find the best Bryant® dehumidifier for your Mukwonago-area home today—all you have to do is call us at 262-363-7146 or contact us online.
Opening your windows to let in fresh air is a great feeling. However, in winter, homeowners don’t have that option. We have no choice but to shut the windows to stay warm—which also means we don’t get that nice, fresh air circulating through the house. At Martens Plumbing & Heating, we have the solution: install an air ventilator. It’s the secret to keeping your family as healthy as they are comfortable year-round.
What Is an Air Ventilator?
An air ventilator is an air quality system that works in conjunction with your furnace and air conditioner. It reduces airborne dust, bacteria, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your home by trapping and killing them. These systems make it so you can always keep fresh air flowing through your home without having to open a window.
The Benefits of an Air Ventilator
- Improves your overall health. Did you know the air inside your home is actually more polluted than the air outside? Between dust, dirt, pet hair, and bacteria floating around the house, you’re breathing in VOCs that can aggravate allergies, asthma, and illnesses. A ventilator traps all those contaminants and eliminates them, keeping your family as healthy and comfortable as possible.
- Regulates air. When you crack your windows for air in the spring and summer, you’re enabling allergens and outdoor pollutants to come inside and wreak havoc on your sinuses and overall health. With an air ventilator, you don’t have to worry about stale, unhealthy air in your home—it regulates freshness on its own.
- Reduces condensation. Winter and spring bring lots of snow and rain, which can both cause problems with damp conditions. Those conditions and the condensation that comes with them can create mold and mildew in your home, especially in places you may not be able to see. Ventilators can air out that moisture before it causes damage to your house or aggravates allergies and illnesses.
Mukwonago Homeowners Choose Martens Plumbing for Clean, Healthy Air
The quality of your air is crucial to keeping your family safe, healthy, and comfortable. When it comes to indoor air solutions and services, choose the team that understands that importance—Martens Plumbing. We offer air quality solutions for ventilation problems and so much more. Call us today for maximum comfort at 262-363-7146 or visit us online.