The air circulation of a property is directly linked to the comfort of its visitors and residents, especially for those living in the San Francisco Metro Area.
Through experience, GCD Restoration, has found that there are a few things residents and businesses can do to improve the air circulation of their home thus reducing humidity and potential mold growth – all done with no additional expense.
The most basic 3 tips for home improvement everyone can follow
When we think about home improvement, the first thought that comes to mind is that of a dramatic change. However, this does not always have to be the case, especially when it comes to improving the air circulation of your property.
The simples of solutions oftentimes can be the first and only solution you need, and this goes not only for the air quality, but also life in general.
I. Get your air ducts inspected and cleaned
Oftentimes, when there is an issue with air circulation in an enclosed space it’s due to air restrictions. If you have an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) unit, your first goal is to have its air ducts checked for obtrusions like dust and lint accumulation.
Depending on the size of your property and the system itself, this procedure can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours for a full cleaning. Air duct cleaning is not always necessary and there might be something else which you can do for improving air circulation.
You can always schedule a GCD Air Duct Cleaning or Indoor Air Quality Test to determine what should be your next move.
Is it a property-wide or local room issue?
Localizing the issue to a certain area of the property is an important step towards improvement. It’s important to determine if poor air circulation is affecting your entire property or simply one or two rooms.
In case it is a localized issue, you should consider inspecting that particular air vent system for obtrusions. You should always wear protective gear like a mask and glasses to avoid inhaling dust or even mold.
II. Use an additional fan if the area is localized
While this is not a permanent solution, there are affordable options like floor and ceiling fans which can be used easily. While this may cost you up to 50 dollars for a standalone version, it’s better than developing mold issues due to stale air.
If your property does not have an HVAC system in place, it might be a good idea to invest in one, or to improve the overall air circulation of the property. Such system can be quite costly to install, but such an investment may be worthwhile in increasing the overall comfort of any property residents.
III. The easiest solution – crack open a window
Most interior air conditioning systems circulate the interior air, purifying it through a system of filters. It might be a good idea to let in some fresh, outside air in now and again.
The San Francisco climate tends to be more of a Mediterranean rather than Tropical so the overall humidity in the air, especially during the summer, is not that terrible. Using the simplest solution of opening a window may save you quite a lot.
It is also a good idea to check the filters of any air conditioning units you might have. Most standalone units, the ones that sit in the corner, take up while a lot of the lint from carpeting and they require regular cleaning.
However, if you have a window air conditioning, washing it’s filters and having it checked and maintained often will introduce better air flow for that particular part of the property.
This is something you can do yourself saving a few bucks, though professional maintenance is mandatory and should be done at least once a year.
The short end of a long story
Use professional help, it might cost a bit more than personally doing it, but you know that you will get quality results. If you have an HVAC system have it checked for obstacles for proper airflow.
Get an air fan to move the air around, it’s quite affordable and will improve airflow of the property. Situate a couple to create a current, though you should use slower moving speeds to avoid creating a draft.
Use your natural resources and open a window. Invite some fresh air in, it’s free and is the easiest and simplest way to increase air freshness of a property.
A secondhand solution is having your air conditioning units, standalone and otherwise built-in, inspected by professionals. Such a service rarely costs more than $100 but will save you so much trouble.
You can also do it on your own, just wash your air filters with hot tap water and disinfect them to remove any dust mites or bacteria which might have made the filter their home.
If you are still having issues, give GCD Restoration a call!
We’ve built this blog around giving actual, effective and information fathered through our experience. However, we are aware that such issues may be quite complex and time-consuming, so calling a professional team of technicians such as ours, would save you time, money and quite a lot of trouble.