It’s not uncommon for homeowners to think that the quality of air inside their homes is better than the air outside. However, that’s not always the case.
Unfortunately, there are a number of harmful contaminants and pollutants circulating throughout our homes that can cause a variety of issues such as headaches, allergies, respiratory problems, and more.
The good news? There are several ways to improve the quality of your indoor air and eliminate some of the most stubborn indoor air pollutants.
In this blog, we’ll go over the following ways to keep your air clean and help you breathe a little easier:
- Changing your air filters regularly
- Installing UV lights in your HVAC system
- Investing in an air scrubber
- Increasing the ventilation in your home
Ready to breathe cleaner, healthier air? Schedule a review of your home’s indoor air quality with one of our skilled technicians today. For a free consultation, give us a call today at 336-281-0047 or request an appointment online.
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Change your air filters regularly
Air filters are the first line of defense against unhealthy air contaminants that could be circulating throughout your home. They also play a major role in ensuring your HVAC system is operating as efficiently as possible. So, it’s vital that you check your filters regularly to ensure they’re not dirty.
HVAC filters remove a variety of impurities from the air that aren’t always visible to the naked eye. These include dust, pet dander, bacteria, hair, odors, and more. By removing these contaminants, you improve the air you breathe and protect your HVAC system from damage.
There are a number of types of air filters, each with different strengths. Here are some of the most common:
- Flat-panel filters should be changed every 3 months or so. These are most commonly used and are the most affordable. They’re disposable, easy to install, but aren’t the highest quality.
- Pleated filters use dense screens of cotton or plastic fibers to remove particles from the air. These provide more surface area for filtration and catch more debris than flat-panel filters.
- Electrostatic filters are electrostatically charged to trap smaller particles like pollen, smoke, or bacteria.
- High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters consistently remove at least 99.97% of particles in the air. These types of filters need to be changed about once a year.
Depending on your individual concerns and budget, the experts at Aspire can help you choose the right air filter for your home’s HVAC system.
Install UV lights in your HVAC system
Humidity in the air can increase the growth of dangerous contaminants like mold, bacteria, fungi, and mildew. To combat these types of impurities, you can install ultraviolet lights (UV) lights.
The use of UV lights remove contaminants by emitting a light that destroys the DNA makeup of ontaminants. Using UV lights is especially effective during warmer months, when mold spores have the potential to form on your air conditioner’s evaporator coils. UV lights reduce your risk of breathing in potentially harmful air and ensure there aren’t toxic impurities circulating throughout your home.
Call an HVAC professional to install UV lights into your HVAC system. A technician will install the UV lights in locations like your ductwork or evaporator coil to eliminate any microbial contaminants before they make their way into your air.
Invest in an air scrubber
Air scrubbers are air purification systems that don’t just treat the air, they help clean surfaces of your home including countertops, bathrooms, kitchens, and doorknobs. They’re designed to fit into your existing HVAC system and are installed in your air duct system.
When you turn on your air conditioner, fan, or furnace, the air flows through the air scrubber. After filtration, a strong UV germicidal lamp inside the scrubber kills 99.9% of harmful contaminants in your home.
If you have pets, air scrubbers are a great investment because they do an excellent job at removing pet dander, hair, and odors, as well as dust mites.
Air scrubbers don’t have any parts that require regular replacement or maintenance, making them easy to maintain. They’re designed to live inside your existing HVAC system indefinitely, so once the installation is complete, you can forget it’s there.
Increase the ventilation in your home
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, proper ventilation helps remove or dilute indoor airborne pollutants coming from indoor sources by ensuring pollutants and allergens are carried outside.
The simplest way to improve your home’s air circulation is by opening doors and windows to the outdoors frequently. Another way to increase your ventilation is by installing a ventilation system. The system first filters incoming air for airborne pollutants like dust and pollen. After filtering, the system pushes the now fresh, clean air throughout your home.
Concerned about your home’s indoor air quality?
Request a repair
Call Aspire Heating & Cooling at 336-281-0047 or request an appointment online.
We’ll dispatch one of our skilled technicians to discuss your indoor air quality options. We offer convenient, 24/7 service with no overtime fees. Visit our indoor air quality page for more information about what to expect when you hire us.