Blog Layout
3 HVAC Tips for Better Indoor Air Quality
Admin • Jun 10, 2019
You want to be comfortable inside your home, which means a good temperature and healthy, clean air. Unfortunately, neglecting your HVAC system can reduce the efficiency of the system and allow irritants to invade your indoor air. Luckily, you can prevent these complications in a lot of ways, so check out these three HVAC tips for better indoor air quality.
1. Keep the Filter Clean
How often you need to clean your filter depends on a few factors. First, the type of filter matters. Some inexpensive fiberglass filters may only last about 30 days. On the other hand, a high-end filter may not need changing for six months or longer.
If you keep your filter clean but still have irritants in the living area, consider switching to a HEPA filter. HEPA filters clean more because they can trap particles as small as 0.3 micron. On average, these filters remove about 99.97 percent of the microns in the air.
2. Clean Your Ducts
Keeping the filter clean is not enough. Eventually, dust and other irritants will collect in the ducts and blow into your living space each time you use the system. Cleaning ducts is not too difficult, but you need special tools to clean the entire system, which is why most homeowners prefer to high a professional.
Use a professional for cleaning because they can also spot and repair damaged ducts, which can affect the efficiency of your system. If your system causes moisture to build inside the ducts, you may also develop mold and mildew, which can make the air smelly and lead to breathing and skin reactions.
Not just dust and allergens can get inside your ducts. Pests can get inside there too. Their fecal matter sends unpleasant smells and potentially dangerous chemicals through the vents. As the animals die in the vents, the problem worsens. A good cleaning can spot and remove any pest infestations.
3. Choose a System With Special Features
If you are in the market for a new system, consider special features. Some HVAC systems actually have air purifiers. This may be a great feature if you have allergies or breathing complications, or if you have a lot of allergens in the air from pets.
In dry climates, low humidity is a problem. Not having enough humidity in your indoor air may cause a sore throat, itchy skin, or dry eyes. It can also cause damage to items, such as causing small cracks in your wooden cabinets as the wood becomes too dry. If this is your problem, look about getting a HVAC system that humidifies the air.
On the other hand, in areas with too much humidity, excess moisture can cause swelling of wood and mold growth. For this reason, some HVAC systems will remove moisture from the air so the indoor air is less humid.
If you have not cleaned your system in a long time, it probably expels irritants into your living spaces, which can make life uncomfortable. A few quick repairs may fix the problem, but in some cases, getting a new system is your best choice. For more information about HVAC systems and indoor air quality, contact us
at I.C.E. Heating & Cooling. We are happy to answer all of your questions and concerns.
Air balancing will help deliver the correct amount of hot or cold air to every room in your home. Learn a few tips about balancing the temperature.
Fredericksburg, VA, and the surrounding area can get hot and humid in the summer. In order to stay comfortable in your home during the hottest and most humid months of the year, you might need to run your air conditioner all day and night. Since much warmer temperatures are right around the corner, you need to make sure your air conditioner runs at optimum capacity. If the AC does not work properly, this could be due to a number of reasons. Some problems will require air conditioning repair, but other situations may call for a complete replacement. Knowing when to either make repairs to your air conditioner or replace it is often a difficult decision. To help you with this, here are five things you should know about AC replacement. 1. Know How Long Air Conditioners Last One of the first things to figure out is how long you have had your air conditioner. If your AC unit is older, a replacement is likely necessary. Most air conditioners last between 10 and 15 years . Not only do older air conditioners require frequent repairs, but also they are not as energy-efficient, which are the main reasons to replace your old one. Another reason to replace it sooner rather than later is that not having reliable AC in the hot and humid weather could be detrimental to your health. 2. Know the Signs for AC Replacement Besides knowing how old your air conditioner is, other telltale signs that AC replacement might be near include: It makes strange sounds. It does not blow out cold air right away or any air at all. It blows out foul-smelling air or has a burning smell. If you notice leakage around your unit, the refrigerant likely has a leak. Refrigerant contains Freon, which is considered a toxic substance. Exposure to refrigerant can cause health issues, such as respiratory problems, dizziness, headaches, and even organ damage. 3. Know the Cost of AC Replacement Like most home appliances, air conditioners vary in cost, which usually depends on the brand, size, and type of unit. If you replace your central air conditioning system, the price could cost anywhere between $3,350 and $5,912. The national average is $4,631. If you simply replace your window unit, the price could be as little as $234. A brand-new ductless mini split air conditioner ranges in price from $660 to $4,500. 4. Know How a New AC Unit Can Help You Save Money Even though you may have to pay a lot of money upfront when you replace your air conditioner, a new one will save you money in the long run. This is especially true if you get a new air conditioner with a higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating than the one you currently have. Depending on the SEER rating of your old air conditioner compared the new one, you have a huge potential to use less electricity and reduce your energy bill. In some instances, new energy-efficient air conditioners can save you up to $300 a year on energy costs. To save the most amount of money possible, make sure you get the right size air conditioner for your home. Additionally, if you install a new central air conditioner, a programmable thermostat can also help you save money. 5. Know Who to Contact about AC Replacement If you need to replace your air conditioner, call the professionals at I.C.E. Heating & Cooling, L.L.C. Along with air conditioning repair, our HVAC company can help you with all of your air conditioning needs, including installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. We are also always happy to answer your questions about your AC needs as well.
Regular wear and poor maintenance can cause your furnace to become less effective overtime. Learn four signs your furnace may need repairs or replacement.
