The Role of HVAC in Indoor Air Quality
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is a growing environmental health concern throughout the United States. Energy-efficient building envelopes often result in higher pollution concentration levels. There’s also greater awareness of the impact ventilation, heating, and cooling can have. Let’s explore the role your HVAC system can play in improving and degrading your IAQ.
Blower
Many U.S. homes have forced-air furnaces and central air conditioners. These systems have a blower or a more robust air handler to distribute conditioned air. There’s a common misconception that this approach affects IAQ in a negative way. That isn’t the case. What is true is that forcing air through a home can worsen existing problems. If you’re losing the battle against dust, your HVAC system will make it worse by disturbing the accumulation. Another issue is the dust and other grime that builds up on HVAC equipment. It’s one of the reasons it’s so important to schedule seasonal tune-ups.
Heating and Cooling Equipment
In the case of evaporator coils in ACs and heat pumps, that buildup can be microbial in nature. Even dust buildup left unattended can introduce significant particulate matter to your home. The concerns are even greater with fuel-burning furnaces and boilers. Such systems create toxic gases as a byproduct of the combustion process. A well-functioning system keeps the toxic gases separate from the conditioned air and vents them out of the house. Have a technician clean and calibrate all combustion equipment every year. They can also inspect the exhaust system and test your carbon monoxide detectors.
Ductwork
Even with regular dusting and HVAC tune-ups, dust will settle on your HVAC equipment and in your ducts. Dust in ducts is problematic because it absorbs gases and chemicals. It then extends the life of those pollutants and continues to release them into your home over time. We recommend scheduling an annual camera inspection of your ducts. You can book that appointment alongside one for a seasonal tune-up. We can show you what’s built up in there. If it’s enough that you want us to remove it, we’ll use a high-powered vacuum to do so.
HVAC Filter
An HVAC filter serves a couple of purposes. The filter helps to keep the equipment and ducts clean. It also improves IAQ. The problem is that many homeowners opt for inferior products. Most experts recommend a premium pleated filter that you won’t have to swap out as often. Check it at least once a month, and replace it as needed rather than on a set schedule.
Also consider the filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value. MERV is a scale that ranges from 1 to 16 and indicates how effective the filter is. Many homeowners still use MERV 1-4 filters. Most modern systems support MERV 8-13 filters, which can make a significant difference in the IAQ in your home.
Humidity Control
Relative humidity (RH) measures water vapor levels in the air within the context of temperature. Ideally, you should maintain a 50% or less RH in summer and a 30% or greater RH in winter. Depending on the area, it may not be possible to achieve those levels through heating and cooling alone. To avoid dry air in winter, you can use a furnace humidifier or other type of whole-house humidifier. To avoid humid air in summer, a whole-house dehumidifier is the best solution.
Air Purification
The need to avoid creating too much pressure in the system limits the air purification an HVAC filter can provide. For superior filtration, you can install an in-duct air scrubber. These systems are on the return side of the system, which means pressure is much less of a concern. Many of these systems can trap over 99% of the pollution that passes through the ducts.
Local Indoor Air Quality Specialists in Belleville
BELOMAN has been helping homeowners in Belleville, IL breathe easier for over 60 years. Our team cleans ductwork and specializes in HVAC filters, whole-home air scrubbers, UV lights, and humidity control. We install and service furnaces, boilers, and ACs. Our company also has licensed plumbers on staff. We perform plumbing video inspections, installations, maintenance, and repairs. Our plumbers clean drains, perform backflow testing, and pipe and repipe gas, water, and sewer lines. We also install faucets, tank and tankless water heaters, garbage disposals, and sump pumps.
For answers to your questions about our products and indoor air quality services or to schedule an appointment, contact BELOMAN today!
