Maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial for a healthy living environment. Poor IAQ can lead to a range of health issues, from minor irritations like allergies and headaches to more severe conditions such as respiratory diseases and even cancer.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlights indoor air pollution as a leading environmental health risk in the U.S., affecting millions of homes. With various pollutants like dust, pollen, microbial growth, radon, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) lurking in the air, it’s essential to take proactive steps to ensure the air in your home is clean and safe.
Let’s explore how you can maintain good IAQ and protect your family’s health.
IAQ Testing
The EPA recommends air quality testing every other year to ensure a healthy living environment. IAQ testing can identify issues with carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), and more. You can have IAQ tests performed as part of a home energy audit, which should be conducted every few years.
Professional HVAC Maintenance
Schedule HVAC maintenance twice yearly: once in spring to prepare your air conditioner for the summer, and once after summer to assess its performance and ensure it’s ready for the next season. This helps maintain good indoor air quality (IAQ), among other benefits. During HVAC maintenance, your technician will clean all your equipment, especially the evaporator coil in your air conditioner or heat pump, which is prone to biological growth when dirty. Additionally, schedule a duct inspection once a year and have your ducts professionally cleaned as needed.
Homeowner HVAC Maintenance
Regularly checking and replacing your HVAC filters is essential for maintaining good IAQ. The type of filter you need depends on your HVAC system. For central HVAC systems, check the air filters once a month and replace them when dust begins to cake up. For mini-split systems, clean the filter for each indoor unit every two weeks and replace it once a year.
It’s also important to understand the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating of your filters. MERV measures the filtration effectiveness of a filter. Choose a filter with the highest rating your system supports.
In addition to regular HVAC filters, consider the type and frequency of other filters used in your system. For example, carbon filters should be changed every three months, while high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters should be replaced once a year. Also, our ultraviolet (UV) lamps come with a two-year warranty, ensuring they remain effective in maintaining optimal indoor air quality!
Understanding the specific needs of your HVAC system will help you maintain optimal indoor air quality. Contact us today to learn more about our advanced filtration solutions and take the first step towards a healthier home environment!
Whole-House Air Purification
According to the EPA, source control and deep dusting at least once a week are essential for good IAQ. Consider a whole-home air purifier to combat ambient air pollution. Most air cleaners have a pleated air filter for mechanical filtration and active carbon for absorptive filtration. True HEPA filters can trap 99.97% of all PM down to 0.3 microns in size and a significant portion of fine PM. Activated carbon absorbs gases and chemicals, while UV lamps neutralize bacteria, viruses, microbial growth, fungal spores, and dust mite eggs.
Ventilation and Whole-House Fan
Ventilation is crucial in both summer and winter to ensure enough fresh air and reduce indoor air pollution concentration. This is particularly important in modern homes with a tight building envelope for energy efficiency. A whole-house fan can help, whether you have a ducted or ductless HVAC system. Use it to bring fresh air into the home without bringing in allergens or pests, and it can also reduce reliance on your AC.
Your Local IAQ Pros
If you need help maintaining your air quality, Plumbing & Cooling Nerds is here for you. Our company serves Southwest Florida, with offices in Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Naples. We perform home energy audits, test air quality, clean ducts, and install and service air purifiers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and whole-house fans. Our technicians install, maintain, and repair ductwork and all ducted and ductless heating and cooling technologies, too.
Call us today or contact us online to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment.
