How Can HVAC Spring Cleaning Improve Indoor Air Quality?
In Seattle, like many large cities, it is common to see dirt and dust in the air outdoors. Occasionally, there might even be air quality warnings or updates. While there is little that you can do to change the quality of the air outdoors, there are several steps you can take to improve the quality of the air inside your home.
You might be surprised to learn that the air quality inside of your home can be worse than the air quality outdoors. Since most people spend upwards of 80% of their life indoors, poor air quality can significantly impact their health and well-being. But you can improve indoor air quality with a few adjustments, including spring cleaning for your HVAC system.
What Are Common Indoor Air Pollutants?
There are several indoor pollution sources that release particles and gases into the air of your home. Some of these can include fuel-burning combustion appliances and tobacco products. Newly installed flooring, deteriorated asbestos, furniture made with pressed wood products, and certain carpets and upholstery can release pollutants that affect your home’s indoor air quality. Excess moisture, products used in household cleaning, and outdoor sources, including radon, pollution, and pesticides, negatively impact indoor air quality.
How Does Your HVAC System Keep Your Indoor Air Clean?
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The system is essential to maintaining good indoor air quality.
When an HVAC system is poorly maintained, it can harm the air quality by spreading bacteria, dust, allergens, and other harmful substances. It can excessively heat or cool the air, causing thermal discomfort. If it is improperly calibrated, it can remove too much humidity from the air, leading to discomfort and respiratory issues. On the reverse side, excessive moisture can contribute to mold growth. Here are some ways an HVAC spring cleaning can improve indoor air quality.
Replacing or Cleaning Dirty Filters
Having HVAC filters checked and replaced is one of the most important elements in maintaining your HVAC system. A dirty air filter increases the risk of indoor air pollution.
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), common effects of indoor air pollution include fatigue, increased asthma attacks, frequent allergy attacks, congestion, and shortness of breath. Dirty filters are not effective at removing pollutants. They can allow dust and other particles to build up inside your residence. This decreases indoor air quality and can make your home uncomfortable to live in.
A clean air filter leads to better air circulation, ensuring the freshest and most breathable indoor air for your family. During a professional HVAC spring cleaning, talk to our HVAC technician about how often the filters should be cleaned or replaced. We can suggest the best filters for indoor air quality based on the HVAC system you have installed.
Duct Cleaning
The ductwork of your HVAC system is what supplies cold or warm air throughout your home. It is essential in regulating your home’s temperature and keeping things comfortable. However, ductwork can collect dust, dirt, and other debris that can negatively impact the indoor air quality of your home.
Dirty air ducts circulate bacteria, allergens, and viruses throughout the air. This can worsen the symptoms of someone already prone to allergies. Having your ductwork cleaned by a professional in the spring can help eliminate these issues.
If you don’t have your ductwork cleaned annually, the ducts can develop biological growth, resulting in foul-smelling odors in your home. Not only does this impact indoor air quality, but it lowers your comfort level.
Insects and rodents might make their way into your ductwork, causing some challenging health issues. Many pests carry diseases that could be transmitted to you and your family.
Did you know that dirty ductwork and the resulting indoor air pollution could make you or your family fatigued? Your body can get tired from fighting off the infections and bacteria circulating through your home through dirty air ducts. This can put undue stress on your body, impacting your general health. Having your ductwork cleaned by our professionals at Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning will not only contribute to cleaner indoor air but will also play a role in making your home feel more comfortable.
Complete System Maintenance
Professional HVAC spring cleaning is more than just cleaning. It is also maintenance. Maintenance ensures that your system is working at peak performance, and this has an impact on indoor air quality.
As our HVAC tech checks your system for issues, they also clean the system. They will remove dust and debris from the furnace cabinet. When examining the condition of your blower fan, our technician will clean it.
Newer furnaces and air conditioners are designed to not require extensive cleaning. However, if you have pets with fur or live in an area where there is a lot of dust and debris, this can collect on the blower fan. As your blower fan operates, contaminants can spread through your home.
When our technician reviews your air conditioner or your heat pump, we will look at the condition of your evaporator and condenser coil. When your AC or your heat pump cools your home, it also removes humidity from inside your home. This humidity is directed to the condensate drain. Mold and bacteria can build up in these drains, negatively impacting indoor air quality.
If you smell abnormal odors when you run your HVAC system, this could mean that it is circulating mold spores and bacteria. During a professional spring cleaning, these issues will be addressed and corrected.
Products Designed to Improve Indoor Air Quality
During annual spring cleaning, our HVAC tech may notice that your system needs a little help addressing indoor air quality issues. They may recommend adding indoor air quality products to your existing system, such as air purifiers, humidifiers, or dehumidifiers.
Humidifiers improve air quality by adding moisture to the air. This can remove static electricity, improve dry and itchy skin, and even minimize the occurrence of nose bleeds. A dehumidifier can enhance the air quality in humid areas by removing excess humidity. This will help reduce dust mites, mold spores, and other viruses and bacteria that thrive in humid areas. As an added bonus, a dehumidifier might minimize insect infestations in your home.
A quality air purifier can remove viruses and bacteria before they get a chance to spread. Our technician may recommend an air purifier during the annual spring cleaning if you mention concerns with allergens or if someone in your home is immunocompromised.
Working With Seattle’s Best HVAC and Electrical Company
At Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning, customer satisfaction and comfort are our primary goals. We are committed to ensuring our customers feel comfortable in their homes year-round. We are proud to have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and to be Angie’s List Super Service Award winners for 13 years straight.
Our services include 24/7 HVAC repair. We offer HVAC installation and maintenance. We can install your boiler, heat pump, or water heater. We offer all types of residential electrical work and are proud to give free energy analysis and consultations. Contact Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning today, and let us show you how we can help you improve your home comfort.
