After Your Treatment: Keeping Your Air Fresh

Keep the Fresh Start Going

The dry fog gave your home a clean slate. From the first grocery run and the first muddy paw print, daily life starts adding to the bio-load again: the tiny particles and microbes that build up in the air, on surfaces and in the HVAC system. The habits below slow that down. None of them are hard, and most cost little or nothing.

Keep Humidity at or Below 50%

Humidity is the big one in Central Texas. Damp air helps microbes, dust mites and odors settle in. Aim to keep indoor humidity at or below 50% all year.

• Buy a simple humidity meter (a hygrometer). They are cheap and sit on a shelf. Check a few rooms, including closets and the laundry room.
• Watch the shoulder seasons. Spring and fall days in Austin can be mild but muggy. The AC may not run enough to pull moisture out, so humidity creeps up.
• Run bath fans during showers and for 20 minutes after.
• Use the kitchen range hood when you cook.

Dehumidifier Tips

If your meter reads above 50% often, a dehumidifier can help.

• Choose a refrigerant-style unit sized for real Texas humidity, not just the square footage on the box. Small "mini" units remove very little water.
• Set it to 50% and let it run as needed. It will shut off when the air is dry enough.
• Keep air moving around it with ceiling fans and open doors.
• Rinse the bucket often and clean the filter at least twice a year so the unit doesn't start to smell.
• Consider a whole-home dehumidifier tied into your HVAC. Gold Eagle Services can tell you if one makes sense for your home.

HVAC Fan: On or Circ vs. Auto

On Auto, the fan runs only while the system is heating or cooling. The air sits still the rest of the time.

On On, the fan runs all the time. Circ (or "Circulate"), if your thermostat has it, runs the fan part of every hour even when the system isn't cooling. Both keep air mixing through every room and through your filter.

Many homeowners find Circ is the best balance. If you don't have Circ, try On and watch your humidity meter. If humidity goes up, switch back to Auto and talk with an HVAC pro about your options.

Filters: MERV 8 to 13, on Schedule

• Use a pleated filter rated MERV 8 to 13. Higher ratings catch more fine particles, but check that your system can handle it.
• Change it on schedule, usually every 1 to 3 months. Homes with pets, heavy pollen or construction nearby need the shorter end.
• Cedar season (December through February) and spring pollen are good times to check the filter early.
• Write the change date on the filter's edge so you never have to guess.

Coil Cleaning Each Spring and Fall

Your AC's indoor coil pulls moisture out of the air. Over time it collects dust and grime, and a dirty coil can add odors and bio-load right back into your air. Have the coils cleaned each spring and fall as part of a tune-up. Gold Eagle Services handles coil cleaning and seasonal tune-ups across the Austin area.

Drains and Dry Traps

• Condensate drain line: your AC drips water all summer long. If the drain clogs, water can back up. Ask your HVAC tech to flush it at each tune-up.
• Dry traps: sink, shower and floor drains that rarely get used can dry out and let sewer odors in. Run water in guest baths and unused sinks for a minute every couple of weeks.

Let Your Closets Breathe

Closets often get less airflow than the rest of the house, so they can hold stale, damp air.

• Keep closet registers open. Closing them saves little and leaves the air stagnant.
• Leave closet doors open when you can, or use louvered doors.
• Don't pack closets wall to wall. A little space lets air move.

Floor Registers and Drapes

Heavy drapes or furniture over a floor register can trap cold air in summer. That creates a cool, damp pocket behind the drape or under the couch.

• Keep furniture off and away from registers.
• Use an inexpensive vent deflector to steer air into the room.
• Leave a gap at the bottom of drapes that hang over a register.

Watch What Comes Into the Home

• Wipe or leave shoes at the door.
• Don't store damp items. Let pool towels, camping gear and sports bags dry before putting them away.
• Be picky with used furniture and rugs. Air them out before bringing them in.
• Fix drips and leaks fast. If you have a leak or see visible growth, start with an independent state-licensed professional.
• Keep firewood and potting soil outside or in the garage.

If the house starts to smell closed-up again after a remodel, a new pet or a long pollen season, a repeat dry fog treatment gives it another reset.

Health Questions

A fresher house is not medical care. If someone in your family has health questions, their doctor is the right person to ask.

We're Here When You Need Us

Questions about your home, or ready for another fresh start? Call 512-904-4646 or email IAQ@goldeagleservices.com for a free phone consultation. We're open Monday through Saturday, 7am to 7pm.