Duct Cleaning and Other Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

The average person in Stafford, VA, spends most of their time inside. While you can’t control how clean the air is at your office or the grocery store, you can maintain healthy air quality inside your home. Since indoor air often contains more harmful pollutants than outdoor air, you must focus on improving your indoor air quality (IAQ).

Duct Cleaning

Think of your HVAC system’s ducts as arteries. Their purpose is to move cool or warm air freely from your air conditioner or heater into your living spaces. Dirty ducts inhibit energy-efficient operation, straining your HVAC system and increasing the risk of breakdowns. They also allow particle pollutants like dust to continue recirculating inside your house. Ideally, you should schedule a duct cleaning service every two to five years to keep the ducts clean.

Air Purification

Think of an air purifier as an added layer of protection to your HVAC system’s air filter. While an HVAC filter removes many particle pollutants, it doesn’t eliminate them all. The tiniest contaminants can still pass through and recirculate in your house. An air purifier can work alongside your HVAC system to trap and kill most of them, including pathogens like the common cold surrogate. Air purifiers effectively reduce pollen, smoke, dander bacteria and more.

Ventilation

Modern homes in Stafford, VA, contain tight thermal envelopes to keep conditioned air inside and outdoor air where it belongs. While this helps homeowners boost energy efficiency and save money, it can lead to stale indoor air without proper ventilation. Energy Recovery Ventilators exhaust stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air while minimizing energy loss. They utilize the outgoing air’s thermal energy to pre-condition the air they bring inside.

Humidification

An overly moist or dry home is bad for many reasons. Whether it encourages microbial growth or damages wooden furniture, poor humidity control is something every homeowner should rectify. A humidifier can add moisture to your house when the air is excessively dry, helping you reduce static electricity, save on energy costs and protect your wooden furniture. You should aim for a humidity level between 40% and 60%. A humidifier can help you achieve this during the winter. Conversely, a dehumidifier can help you achieve this during the summer.

UV Lamps

The indoor coil in your air conditioner helps cool your house. The coil and drain pan can develop microbial growth and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Keeping the indoor coil clean improves airflow and efficiency. It also helps maintain good indoor air quality. UV lamps kill any microbial and bacteria that can grow in the moist environment of your indoor coils. As a result, they can keep your AC system running efficiently and ensure the air is clean. This is a small investment that can have a significant impact on your indoor air quality.

Regular Filter Changes

As noted, the filter in your HVAC system works well to trap most particle pollutants that circulate around your house. But it can only do so effectively if you check it every month and change it as needed. If you live with someone who suffers from allergies or asthma, it’s even more critical to frequently change your HVAC system’s filter. By completing this simple task, you’ll improve your indoor air quality, reduce strain on your HVAC system and enjoy lower energy bills.

Winter is when people spend even more time inside their homes. Ensure your indoor air quality is clean and healthy enough to breathe by investing in the right IAQ solutions for your unique needs. Contact Brennan’s Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule a duct cleaning service or to learn about the air-cleaning technologies we offer.

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