How much time do you spend in your home? The answer varies from person to person, but everyone should come home to a house full of clean air. Air conditioners provide us with a comfortable quality of life, but they can bring unwanted impacts to our health. Dust, mold, pollen and bacteria build up over time if they aren’t properly neutralized. A decreased chance of respiratory infections and a lower risk of developing chronic ailments can all be attributed to the availability of clean, healthy air to breathe.
What are the impacts of unhealthy indoor air? Symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, headaches, and respiratory congestion can all be attributed to indoor air pollution. Additionally, unhealthy indoor air can exacerbate some pre-existing conditions. The good news is that there are a range of options to choose from that will help your HVAC system produce cleaner air.
Three ways to improve your home’s air quality:
- The easiest way to help your HVAC system is to regularly replace your air filters. You’ve probably heard that 1,000 times, but how often do you actually replace your filters? Each house
varies, but a good rule of thumb is to replace your air filters at the start of every month. Your filter works to stop pollutants from entering the HVAC system, but they lose effectiveness over
time and need to be replaced.
Left unchanged, dirty old air filters begin to restrict the air flow causing your home to feel less comfortable and cost you more money to operate. Reduced airflow increases the run time of the unit trying to reach your set point and causes the blower to draw more current to operate.
Pro Tip: Buy your filters from us so you don’t pay outrageous prices from stores like Walmart or Lowe’s. We can even provide a case (12 filters) so you have one for the start of each month for a year.
- The next way to improve your home’s air quality is to have your HVAC system regularly serviced. Having a technician come to your house and clean your system will do wonders. Cleaning the
evaporator coil, blower wheel, and air handler cabinet are key to producing fresh air. Even new systems need to be regularly serviced to ensure they maintain their effectiveness and
efficiency.
Pro Tip: Schedule your preventative maintenance before summer begins so you know your system is clean when you need it most.
- Last but not least, you can invest in indoor air quality equipment to improve your home’s indoor environment. There are plenty of options available, some that only require a wall plug and
others that can be installed into your duct work. Some equipment works to capture air born particles through ionization, while others work to control the humidity in your house. There’s no
shortage of quality options created for every budget. Having a technician lay out your options and explain the benefits of each will help you decide what’s best for your situation.
Pro Tip: Our website has a page for indoor air quality products. Find it under the “Services” tab.
No matter what your budget is, how old your HVAC system is, or what time of the year it is, you can always do something to improve the quality of air entering (inside) your home. Your HVAC system is designed to make you comfortable, but it needs help. Consistently replacing your filters, having your system cleaned, and investing in IAQ equipment will help your HVAC system help you. Do not hesitate to call us if you’re interested in learning more about what Speir Heating and Air can do for you.