According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be up to seven times more polluted than outdoor air. That’s right, the air you think is clean and comfortable inside your own home could actually be much dirtier than the stuff you breathe in when you walk out your door. Crazy to think about, right? So, what can you do to reduce the levels of harmful toxins, chemicals and other airborne allergens inside your house? You actually have quite a few options and we’re going to break them down for you below!It all starts with regular HVAC maintenance. Why? Well, because your home’s heating and cooling systems play a large role when it comes to the quality of the air circulating through your home. After all, each of these systems has a filter, or multiple filters, where air passes through before it’s sent out of the vents and into the living spaces. Is it starting to make some sense now?
Air Conditioners & Indoor Air Quality
As we mentioned above, your air conditioner works by pulling air through the system, through one or multiple air filters and then over the condenser coils where it is cooled before it enters your home. The filter plays a vital role in eliminating toxins, bacteria, pet dander, and a number of other airborne allergens commonly found in homes.
What does this mean for you? It means that if your filter isn’t doing its job properly, you and your family members could end up breathing in dirty, polluted air and that can make everyone sick.
So, how do you make sure your filter is doing its job? It’s quite simple. It comes down to scheduling regular hvac maintenance as well as cleaning or changing your filters at least once a month. Not only will this help keep toxins out of the air, it will keep your system running at peak performance so you can forget about those costly repairs, too!
Separate Indoor Air Quality Systems
Air conditioning systems alone are typically not enough to keep the air in your home pristine. Your best bet is to pair your hvac system with a dedicated indoor air quality system for best results.
Here are a few of the options available to you:
1” Electronic Filter (GOOD): This filter is normally used when there is a space issue and no other filter will work. It must have 110 volts AC supply for power but has a very low 2-watt power usage. Features: low airflow resistance; ease of maintenance.
Media Air Cleaner (BETTER): Media cleaners don’t just filter the air; they also clean it. These filters substantially enhance filtration efficiency and dirt-holding capacity. Other features: low-pressure drop; minimal maintenance.
Electronic Air Cleaner (BEST): Removes up to 99.98% of unwanted airborne particles without hampering airflow. This filter traps particles as small as .1 microns in size, reducing allergy/asthma triggers. Other features: excellent system protection; minimal maintenance.
But that’s not all. See below to learn about Energy Recovery Ventilators and how they can aid in the process of cleaning up your home’s air.
Energy Recovery Ventilators
According to the EPA, sources of indoor pollution release gas and contaminants into the air, and improper contaminant dilution can exacerbate health concerns. Tightly constructed for energy efficiency, today’s buildings do not efficiently release these pollutants.
An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) exchanges polluted indoor air with fresh outdoor air. In the process, your ERV system cleans and filters outdoor air before releasing it into your home or business. ERV systems are an ideal replacement for open doors and windows, which may not be feasible due to weather conditions, security problems or outdoor noise.
To get in touch with a Prestige Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling team member, or to request an indoor air quality assessment for your home or business, contact us at 630.801.8600 today!