Keeping the air in your home clean is essential for your family’s health and safety, and your HVAC system plays a big role in making that happen. This may be surprising since we typically only associate HVAC units with heating and cooling, but they’re also crucial to filtering and circulating fresh air throughout your home.
However, to manage your air quality effectively, your HVAC system has to be in optimal condition. Today’s post will walk you through the importance of indoor air quality and HVAC maintenance, how they’re connected, and what you can do to stay on top of both.
Understanding Indoor Air Quality
Maintaining clean indoor air quality is extremely important to you and your family’s health. When common pollutants (such as dust, mold spores, pet dander, or VOCs) get highly concentrated in the air, it can trigger allergic reactions, aggravate other respiratory issues, cause fatigue, and more.
A well-functioning HVAC plays a key role in preventing this buildup by filtering out harmful substances and circulating fresh air throughout your home. HVAC filters capture airborne particles like dust, pollen, and even bacteria, ensuring that cleaner air enters your living space. They also help maintain proper ventilation, preventing stale air from accumulating.
Indoor Air Quality & HVAC Maintenance: What’s the Connection?
Taking good care of your HVAC system is key to helping it take good care of your indoor air quality. Let’s take a look at how different parts of typical HVAC maintenance can support clean air quality in your home.
Filter Replacements
Clogged or old filters can trap dirt, allergens, and other pollutants, restricting airflow and allowing contaminants to circulate through the house. When you use high-quality filters and change them on schedule (about every 3 months), your HVAC system will be able to effectively filter out harmful particles and provide clean, fresh air throughout your home.
Duct Cleaning
Over time, dust and debris can accumulate in your air ducts, significantly reducing your indoor air quality. Regular duct cleaning prevents these contaminants from building up, making your air cleaner and allowing it to flow more efficiently through your system.
System Inspections
Annual inspections are a vital step to maintaining a healthy HVAC system and, consequently, healthy air quality. During these checkups, HVAC techs can identify and resolve any moisture issues, confirm that your unit is ventilating and circulating air properly to prevent stagnant air, and catch any other complications early on, saving you from costly repairs down the line.
Coil and Component Cleaning
Dirty coils are famous for collecting and spreading contaminants like dust, allergens, and bacteria. By keeping the coils and other parts of your unit clean, you remove these pollutants and improve system efficiency and airflow. Clean evaporator coils also reduce humidity levels, reducing the risk of mold growth and creating a more comfortable home environment.
Keeping Up High Indoor Air Quality: Additional Tips
Along with scheduling annual HVAC maintenance and staying on top of cleaning and repairs, there are a few other simple things you can do to maintain clean air quality all year round:
- Set up air purifiers throughout your home to aid your HVAC systems.
- Take off your shoes when you come inside and clean your home regularly to reduce indoor pollutants.
- Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels, which should ideally be between 30–50%. Purchase a dehumidifier to control your indoor humidity if necessary.
Bell Cow: Your Go-To for Indoor Air Quality & HVAC Needs
High indoor air quality and HVAC maintenance are absolutely essential to creating a healthy, comfortable environment in your home. You can have both when you choose Bell Cow.
Our techs are skilled, prompt, and knowledgeable, and you won’t find more personal service anywhere. Whether you’re due for a yearly tune-up, a replacement, or any other HVAC service, we’ll be there to make sure you and your family stay safe and comfortable. Schedule an appointment or talk with a team member to get started.