Indoor Air Quality in Galveston, TX

Four factors stack on each other: sustained humidity above 80% fueling year-round mold growth, salt air from the Gulf infiltrating through every gap in the building envelope, post-hurricane moisture trapped in walls and flooring, and modern sealed construction that traps all of it inside. The EPA estimates indoor air can be 2-5x more polluted than outdoor air — in coastal humid climates, that multiplier is higher.

Not well enough for Galveston. Standard AC brings indoor humidity down to 60-65% on high-humidity days — still above the 45-50% range where mold growth slows dramatically. A whole-home dehumidifier integrated with your HVAC maintains proper levels regardless of outdoor conditions.

A layered approach works best: UV-C lights on the evaporator coil to prevent mold at the source, HEPA or electronic filtration to capture airborne particles including salt, and a whole-home dehumidifier if your AC can't maintain humidity below 55%. This addresses the specific threats — mold, salt, and humidity — that make coastal air quality worse.

Hidden mold is extremely common in Galveston homes. Colonies grow behind drywall, inside wall cavities, on the evaporator coil and drain pan, in ductwork joints, and under carpet padding — all locations you can't see. The spores circulate through your HVAC system every time the blower runs.

It can. Impact windows, spray foam, and weatherstripping reduce natural air exchange, trapping contaminants inside. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) solves this — bringing in filtered fresh air while exhausting stale air and pre-conditioning incoming air to remove moisture.