During spring and fall, pollen, mold spores, and other airborne irritants are at their peak. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, the right filter can help reduce allergens in your home. But it’s also important to understand that HVAC filters have limitations, and you may need additional equipment to improve indoor air quality.
Your HVAC System and Indoor Air Quality
As your HVAC system runs, it’s constantly circulating air throughout your home. Air is pulled through a filter to remove dust, pollen, and other particles before being redistributed throughout your home. This means your HVAC system can help reduce allergens when properly maintained.
The air filter inside your HVAC system plays a critical role in the size and concentration of airborne contaminants that are removed from your air. This essential first line of defense is great for removing allergens to reduce your allergy symptoms. There are different types of HVAC filters, each with a MERV rating.
The higher the rating, the better the filtering capability. Basic filters capture larger particles, such as dust and lint. However, higher-rated filters will trap pollen, pet dander, and other smaller particles. While higher-rated filters do come at a premium price, they’re great if you suffer from seasonal allergies. However, HVAC systems are limited in terms of the density of filters they can handle. More on this in our next section.
HEPA Filtration
The highest-rated filters will block airflow through the system, so they don’t work directly within your HVAC unit. The best solution is generally to add an air purifier that is compatible with a HEPA filter. For better indoor air quality, these HEPA filtration systems are added to your ductwork to treat air after it has gone through your HVAC system’s separate filter. HEPA filters have the ability to capture 99.97% of airborne contaminants 0.3 microns in size or larger. This helps them address very fine particles that standard HVAC filters may miss.
Whole-Home Air Purifiers
While having a good HVAC filter is a great first step in reducing indoor allergens, it’s important to realize it won’t remove everything. Very fine particles and odors can still pass through standard HVAC air filters. Whole-home air purifiers can be a great upgrade to reduce the allergens in your home further. These whole-home devices are installed directly inside your HVAC system and treat the air that moves throughout your ductwork.
Some air purification systems include UV germicidal lighting. They can disrupt the DNA of bacteria and mold spores. This prevents them from reproducing and contributing to indoor air quality issues. While whole-home air purification systems can make a tremendous difference in your indoor air quality, there are several other steps to consider.
Duct Cleaning
If you have a ducted HVAC system, allergens and debris can build up inside the ductwork over time. As air circulates through the system, those particles can spread throughout your home, reducing indoor air quality. Duct cleaning can help address issues such as mold growth inside your ductwork, dust home home improvement work, or pest infestations in your vents.
If you notice unusual odors coming from your vents, it could indicate a problem inside your ducting that cleaning may help resolve. Homes that have recently undergone renovation can benefit from duct cleaning because during the process, fine particles such as drywall dust often settle in the duct system. Removing these materials helps improve air quality and prevents debris from continuing to circulate through your home.
Other Tips for Boosting Air Quality
Apart from investing in indoor air quality services, there are some other things that you can do as a homeowner to boost your indoor air quality. Start by keeping your windows and doors closed on high pollen days.
Any time that you’re cooking on the stove or taking a hot shower, you should be running an exhaust fan. This will help remove excess humidity and particles from the air, improving air quality. Washing your bedding frequently is also a good idea. It can remove lint and dander, which may irritate your allergy symptoms. Using a HEPA-filter vacuum is perfect for removing many of the smaller contaminants that build up in carpets and upholstery.
Expert Indoor Air Quality Services
Chillicothe Comfort Heating & Air offers expert indoor air quality services for Chillicothe, OH, and the surrounding areas. We can also assist with all your HVAC installation, replacement, maintenance, and repair needs.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced HVAC technicians.