Indoor Air Quality

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for Your Health

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. Because we spend the majority of our time indoors, especially during the colder months in Willoughby, OH, maintaining good indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential to protecting your health and well-being. At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we help local families improve their home environments with proven solutions that make a real difference.

Poor indoor air quality can be caused by a combination of factors, including inadequate ventilation, high humidity levels, airborne allergens, and pollutants from household cleaners or building materials. When these contaminants accumulate indoors, they can lead to a variety of health issues, such as:

• Allergy and asthma flare-ups from dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and pollen
• Respiratory problems like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath
• Frequent headaches and fatigue caused by chemical pollutants or carbon monoxide exposure
• Dry skin and sinus irritation due to low humidity in the winter months

These symptoms can be especially harmful to young children, seniors, and anyone with preexisting respiratory conditions.

At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we offer a range of indoor air quality solutions including air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, UV germicidal lights, and ventilation systems. Our team will assess your home’s current air quality and recommend systems that target your specific concerns. Whether you want to reduce allergens, balance humidity, or filter out airborne bacteria and viruses, we provide customized solutions designed to improve both comfort and health.

Investing in better indoor air quality doesn’t just protect your family’s health—it also helps your HVAC system run more efficiently, reducing energy use and extending the life of your equipment.

Solutions to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Your home should be a safe haven, but poor indoor air quality can lead to health concerns like allergies, respiratory issues, and chronic discomfort. Fortunately, there are proven solutions to significantly improve the air you breathe. At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we help homeowners in Willoughby, OH identify the sources of indoor pollutants and implement customized strategies to create a cleaner, healthier indoor environment.

1. Air Purifiers

Whole-home air purifiers are effective at capturing airborne contaminants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and even bacteria and viruses. These systems work in conjunction with your HVAC unit to continuously filter your air, reducing allergens and improving overall air clarity.

2. High-Efficiency HVAC Filters

Standard air filters only catch large particles, but high-efficiency filters, including HEPA options, are designed to trap smaller particulates that can cause respiratory irritation. Upgrading your filter and replacing it regularly helps maintain cleaner air and extends the life of your HVAC system.

3. Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Maintaining balanced indoor humidity is essential for comfort and health. Humidifiers add moisture to dry winter air, helping to alleviate dry skin, sore throats, and static electricity. Dehumidifiers, on the other hand, remove excess moisture that can lead to mold and mildew growth, especially during Ohio’s humid summers.

4. Ventilation Systems

Proper ventilation is key to reducing indoor air pollution. Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) bring in fresh outdoor air while maintaining temperature control and energy efficiency. These systems help reduce indoor humidity, remove stale air, and replenish oxygen levels.

5. UV Germicidal Lights

Installed inside your HVAC system, UV lights kill bacteria, mold spores, and viruses as air circulates through your system. This is an excellent solution for homes looking to reduce biological contaminants and improve overall sanitation.

At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we take a personalized approach to indoor air quality, helping you select and install the right solutions for your family’s health and comfort.

How Humidity Control Enhances Your Comfort

Humidity plays a major role in how comfortable your home feels year-round. In Willoughby, OH, where seasonal weather can bring both dry winters and humid summers, maintaining proper indoor humidity levels is essential. At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we help homeowners manage their indoor climate with expert humidity control solutions that improve both comfort and air quality.

Why Humidity Control Matters

Relative humidity (RH) refers to the amount of moisture in the air. Ideally, indoor RH should be between 30% and 50%. When humidity falls outside this range, it can lead to a variety of problems affecting your health, home, and HVAC system.

Low Humidity (Common in Winter):

• Dry skin, eyes, and throat
• Increased susceptibility to colds and respiratory issues
• Damage to wood furniture, flooring, and musical instruments
• Static electricity and discomfort

High Humidity (Common in Summer):

• Sticky, uncomfortable air
• Higher risk of mold and mildew growth
• Increased dust mite populations
• Reduced HVAC efficiency and increased cooling costs

How We Help

Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers that integrate seamlessly with your HVAC system. These systems automatically monitor and adjust indoor humidity levels, providing consistent comfort and better protection for your home’s structure and contents.

Our humidifiers add moisture to dry indoor air, making it easier to breathe and improving overall warmth and comfort in the winter months. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture, reducing the burden on your air conditioner and improving cooling efficiency during the summer.

By maintaining balanced humidity levels, your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard, which means better energy efficiency and longer equipment lifespan. Proper humidity control also supports better indoor air quality, helping to minimize allergens, dust, and bacteria.

At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we provide personalized recommendations to ensure your home maintains optimal humidity throughout every season.

Professional Indoor Air Quality Testing Services

The air inside your home may look clean, but it can contain a variety of unseen pollutants that impact your health and comfort. From allergens and mold spores to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and humidity imbalances, indoor air quality (IAQ) problems often go unnoticed until symptoms arise. At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we offer professional indoor air quality testing services in Willoughby, OH to help you identify these hidden issues and create a healthier indoor environment for your family.

Why Test Your Indoor Air?

Poor indoor air quality can contribute to a range of health problems, including allergies, asthma, respiratory irritation, headaches, and fatigue. Long-term exposure to certain contaminants, such as carbon monoxide or VOCs, can pose serious health risks. Testing your air allows you to take proactive steps to eliminate harmful pollutants before they impact your well-being.

What Our Testing Covers

Our comprehensive indoor air quality testing evaluates key indicators that affect your home’s environment, including:

• Particulate matter (dust, pollen, pet dander)
• Biological contaminants (mold spores, bacteria)
• Chemical pollutants (formaldehyde, VOCs)
• Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels
• Humidity and ventilation effectiveness

We use professional-grade tools and proven testing methods to deliver accurate, detailed results. After the assessment, we’ll walk you through the findings and provide clear, actionable recommendations based on your unique home and concerns.

Solutions You Can Trust

Depending on the test results, we may recommend solutions such as air purifiers, upgraded HVAC filters, UV germicidal lights, humidity control systems, or ventilation improvements. Our goal is to create a plan that targets the root of the problem, not just the symptoms.

With the expert guidance of Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, you can take control of your indoor environment and breathe easier knowing your air is clean, healthy, and safe.

Call Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today to schedule your professional indoor air quality testing in Willoughby, OH and get the answers you need to improve your home’s air.

Create a Healthier Home Environment Today

Your home should be a place where you feel safe, comfortable, and healthy. At Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we help homeowners in Willoughby, OH achieve better indoor living conditions with customized HVAC and indoor air quality solutions. From reducing allergens and pollutants to balancing humidity levels and improving ventilation, we offer everything you need to create a cleaner, more breathable environment.

Indoor air pollution can come from everyday sources like cooking fumes, cleaning products, pet dander, and outdoor contaminants that enter through windows or your HVAC system. Left unchecked, these pollutants can contribute to health problems such as allergies, asthma, respiratory irritation, and fatigue.

We provide a range of effective solutions, including whole-home air purifiers, high-efficiency filters, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs). Our team also offers professional indoor air quality testing to identify hidden issues and tailor our recommendations to your home’s specific needs.

With expert service, trusted products, and a commitment to your comfort, Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling makes it easy to protect your home and your family from indoor air hazards.

Call Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today to take the first step toward a healthier, more comfortable home environment in Willoughby, OH.