Did you know that your air conditioning system can help reduce indoor air pollution by keeping the air in your home dry, cool and clean?
You may be surprised to find that mold, pollen, pet dander and bacteria are common sources of indoor air pollution. According to health professionals, high levels of these pollutants can cause a wide variety of health issues. In fact, asthma and other respiratory problems can actually be directly linked to poor air quality in your home.
Energy efficient homes have become the focus of builders, but unfortunately there is an unpredicted downside to this effort to reduce energy costs. These better built efficiently sealed homes don’t allow for proper ventilation and actually traps the pollutants and contaminants inside the home resulting in poor air quality.
Don’t despair, there are effective ways to improve your air quality to make a comfortable and healthy environment for your family. The components of your air conditioning system assist in keeping the air in your home clean. This is how it works:
*Dehumidification – Humidity and moisture can be the root of all evil when it comes to poor air quality in your home. Mold and mildew, bacteria, and even insects and dust mites, which are a major source of allergens, love moist humid environments.
Have your A/C technician inspect the air handler in your unit to make sure it’s properly working. This is crucial because the air handler on your A/C unit can usually keep the humidity levels at a healthy 40 to 50%, which helps to diminish the growth of these allergens. A supplemental whole house dehumidifier is an excellent and very effective addition.
*Air Filtration – Don’t under estimate the importance of changing and cleaning your air filters on a regular basis. This can hinder the pollutants that have adverse health affects. Consult with your technician to make sure you are using the best filter for your system.
*UV Treatment- Another way to combat bacteria and allergens is to have an UV treatment added to your HVAC system. This treatment exposes air passing through it to ultraviolet light that kills a variety of indoor air pollutants.
*Drain Maintenance – Keep these contaminants to a minimum by regularly cleaning the condensate pans that are used to collect water from your indoor air. If not properly maintained, they may overflow and cause water damage and become a favorite place for mold and mildew to grow.
Regularly scheduled maintenance of your A/C system will allow it’s components to protect the air quality in your home and keep your family free from these pollutants to keep them healthy and comfortable throughout the year.
