Air pollution in the home is among the top health risks facing Americans. A new year is an excellent opportunity to make indoor air quality resolutions to protect your family’s health.
Select Household Cleaning Products With Care
Many households inadvertently undermine their air quality through the products they choose. Avoid chemical deodorizers, and don’t choose household cleaners that contain toxic substances. When selecting furnishings, consider volatile organic compounds. Items like furniture and drapes can off-gas VOCs for months or even years. Also, be careful with what you store in the home. Keep solvents and other chemicals in an outside storage area.
Take Care With Houseplants
Houseplants are a great way to liven up a home with a bit of nature. Some studies even suggest they can reduce anxiety and alleviate depression. That said, houseplants are also one of the most common sources of mold spores in a home. You should select your plants with care. Add them in moderation, and be careful not to overwater them.
Improve Your Building Envelope
A home’s building envelope is the physical barrier that separates the indoor and outdoor spaces. It includes the roof, foundation, windows, doors, and much more. A building envelope affects comfort, energy efficiency, and air quality. If your home has a loose seal, sealing it, replacing old insulation, and adding more insulation can make a dramatic difference.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
If you don’t yet have a programmable or smart thermostat, it’s time to upgrade. Scheduling can lower cooling and heating costs by up to 10% and minimize the HVAC impact on your air quality. You may also want to consider a smart thermostat that supports remote sensors. They provide a more accurate temperature reading and make thermostat location unimportant. You can also add IAQ sensors, including for RH, particulate matter, gases, and much more.
Schedule Seasonal HVAC Tune-Ups
It’s important to have your HVAC equipment cleaned each season. Schedule a cooling tune-up in the spring and a heating tune-up in the fall. This will eliminate dust, grime, and microbial growth that can negatively affect your IAQ. It’s particularly important if you have any fuel-burning equipment. Those systems create toxic gases as a byproduct. In a malfunctioning system, these gases can seep into your air supply.
Choose the Right HVAC Filter and Change It Regularly
Opt for a thick, pleated HVAC filter. Cheaper filters are often thin and saturate easily. Consider the minimum efficiency reporting value of the filter you choose. The MERV scale, which ranges from 1 to 16, measures filter effectiveness. Inexpensive filters often have a MERV 1–4 rating. Most modern HVAC systems can handle up to MERV 13. A MERV-13 filter can trap a substantial amount of the particles that would otherwise move through the system. Check your filter at least once a month, and replace it when you see dust accumulating on the surface.
Inspect Your Ductwork
You should have an HVAC technician inspect your ductwork at least every other year. If you haven’t scheduled this in a while or ever, the new year is an excellent time to do so. Standard seasonal maintenance does not include a duct camera inspection, but you can schedule both services for the same appointment.
Duct Cleaning
One reason to schedule regular duct inspections is dust accumulation. It happens even in the cleanest homes and can impact airflow over time. The other issue with dust buildup is that it sponges up gases and chemicals and continues to release them into the air. That extends the life of those pollutants and can significantly reduce air quality in the home.
Duct Sealing
Another reason we recommend regular duct inspections is air leakage. Duct leakage is a problem for energy efficiency because it can let up to 40% of your cooling and heating escape. When that air escapes, ambient air replaces it. That air is often pollutant-rich and may be notably humid or dry depending on the season. To correct this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends aerosol-based duct sealing. Through this process, we restore the seals in the ducts by spraying in a non-toxic aerosol.
Duct Repair and Replacement
If the ducts are in poor condition, additional repairs may be necessary. That can include manual sealing, insulating the ducts, and replacing duct walls and mounting hardware. If the ducts are older than 25 years, it may be more cost-effective to redesign and replace the ductwork.
Improve Ventilation
Tight building envelopes are excellent for energy efficiency but can exacerbate IAQ issues. Many homes rely heavily on passive ventilation, which may lead to higher pollutant concentration levels. If you have inadequate ventilation, consider a mechanical ventilation system. There are whole-house fans that can provide ample fresh air. There are also advanced fans that you can run throughout the winter. Heat recovery ventilators make this possible by extracting heat before exhausting stale air and using it to preheat fresh air. Energy recovery ventilators function similarly but also add moisture to the incoming air to avoid dryness.
Install a Whole-House Air Purifier
The best way to reduce pollution in the home is with an in-duct air purifier. Traditional air purifiers have mechanical and absorbent filtration. Often, they’ll have a high-efficiency particulate air filter. HEPA filters trap more than 99% of particulates. Manufacturers will typically pair that filter with activated carbon to absorb odors, gases, and airborne chemicals.
Boost Air Purification With an In-Duct UV Germicidal Light
If you want to reduce the presence of pathogens in the home, add an in-duct ultraviolet light. These lamps give off UV-C, which will neutralize more than 99% of the bacteria and viruses that move through your ducts. There are also products like the REME HALO, which has a UV light. It also emits hydrogen peroxide particles to neutralize pollution beyond your ducts.
Control Humidity Levels in the Home
Relative humidity plays an integral role in IAQ. You shouldn’t allow an RH lower than 30% or higher than 60%. Many people prefer an RH between 40% and 50% for comfort and sleep. A humidifier helps maintain 30% or higher in winter. A dehumidifier helps maintain 60% or lower in summer.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Have ceiling fans in all rooms where they’re practical, and keep them dusted. They not only improve comfort and energy efficiency but help to alleviate pollution through air movement. Just be sure to use the appropriate settings for the season. Set them to the lowest speed and clockwise direction in winter. Set them to the highest speed and counterclockwise direction in summer.
Enhance Indoor Air Quality for Your San Antonio Home
Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating has been helping homeowners in San Antonio, TX breathe easier since 1965 with our indoor air quality services. Our NATE-certified technicians install and service all ducted and ductless cooling and heating technologies. We offer same-day service and are available 24/7 for emergencies. Our company offers a maintenance plan that can save you money while keeping your HVAC equipment serviced on schedule. Our technicians inspect, install, repair, seal, clean, and insulate ductwork. We insulate homes and specialize in mechanical ventilation systems, air purifiers, germicidal lights, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers. Call today or contact us online with any questions about our products and services or to schedule an appointment.
