Since the Covid-19 outbreak, many of us spend more time than usual indoors or at home. Indoors, we rely on the air cycling through our HVAC systems. Although we tend to think of HVAC systems in terms of heating and cooling, we also depend on them as means of air quality control. In this post, we share tips to improve indoor air quality in your home.
Air Quality Matters
Poor indoor air quality can cause health issues like headaches, allergy symptoms, asthma symptoms, fatigue, rashes and difficulty concentrating, as well as eye, nose, throat and lung irritations.
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Our heating and cooling systems are responsible for both filtering AND cycling air throughout our homes. As a result, inadequate HVAC maintenance is a major contributor to poor indoor air quality. To help keep air quality-related health issues at bay, consider the following:
- Filters––change or clean reusable HVAC filters often. If you live in a home with pets or in an area prone to contaminants like dust or pollen, you’ll want to perform this task even more frequently. Air filters trap contaminants and keep them from reentering your home, but a dirty air filter can impede airflow. This causes your unit to run less efficiently and prevents ongoing air filtration. HEPA filters are specially designed to help improve air quality.
- Clean Air Ducts––as air travels through air ducts, pollutants like dust, pollen and bacteria can be deposited along the way and build up over time. Insect or rodent infestations can lead to odors and decreased air quality. Additionally, if moisture enters ductwork, mold and mildew can cause health concerns. Having air ducts cleaned frequently helps avoids all of these problems.
- Clean Coils––dirty coils inside of your unit will impede system efficiency. This not only costs you money and eventually leads to breakdowns, it also prevents air from properly cycling through your system and the filters you have in place.
Work with Kinkaid!
The best way to keep up with HVAC maintenance is to work with a professional. Annual tune-ups and inspections help keep your system clean and efficient. A qualified technician can also advise on how often to clean or replace air filters, depending on your situation.
Kinkaid proudly serves Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia and Chester Counties. We offer residential and commercial installation, maintenance and repairs on all makes and models of HVAC equipment. Contact us today to get started!
