There are many ways to improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your home, such as running a dehumidifier or investing in a good air purifier. But if you want something simpler and more cost-effective, all you need to do is focus on your windows. When used to the best effect, they can easily improve your home’s IAQ. Here’s how they make this possible:
Natural Ventilation
You won’t need to consume energy just to keep the air inside your home clean and fresh. All it takes is opening your windows – and leaving them open – for at least 15 minutes every day. But keep in mind that some windows are just better at providing natural ventilation. Casement windows, for instance, can be opened wide so that indoor air pollutants can escape your home. You can also angle their sashes at about 45 degrees to better direct fresh, cooling breezes inside. Consider adding a few casement windows to your home so you can benefit from increased access to natural ventilation.
Indoor Humidity Control
Indoor air pollutants, such as dust, pet dander, and pollen, can become trapped inside your home. Continued exposure to these particles can lead to allergic reactions and other health risks, which is why it’s important to have operable windows inside your home. But did you know that excess moisture also contributes to poor IAQ? Moisture makes air heavy, which in turn, makes it harder to breathe. Excess indoor moisture also creates a muggy and uncomfortable feeling inside your home.
But what’s worse is that high moisture levels also encourage the growth of mold, which sends its spores into the air you breathe. Well-designed and strategically placed double-hung windows from Renewal by Andersen of Rapid City can help you avoid this. Add them to rooms that generate a considerable amount of moisture, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Open both of their sashes at the same time so that warm, moisture-laden air can escape via the top sash, while cool, fresh air can enter via the bottom sash.
But aside from providing greater natural ventilation, Renewal by Andersen windows also help reduce VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions, which can negatively affect indoor air quality. That’s because our windows are made of Fibrex®, which contains at least 40% reclaimed wood fiber by weight, which is good for the environment. Plus, their color is already blended into the material, so no painting is required. Paint, as you probably already know, emits VOCs when applied to any surface.
Worry-Free Window Installation Service in Lawrence County
Improving your home’s indoor air quality through windows is simple when you choose Renewal by Andersen of Rapid City. We proudly serve homeowners in and around Rapid City and Spearfish, SD. Give us a call at (605) 341-7831, or fill out this contact form to schedule a free window consultation.
