Indoor Air Quality and Maintaining Your HVAC System
The kids are back in school and the routine of a lot of our lives is returning to a somewhat “normal” status. Thinking about that today made me think of other routines that should be “normal.” I talk a lot about ways to help us keep our indoor breathing atmosphere as healthy as possible. I’ve even reminded us to be sure to change the filters on our HVAC systems on a “routine” basis. That’s all very good. However, I’ve neglected to remind us about regular HVAC system maintenance. It is so very important! I did some research and others definitely back me up on this. I even found some information to jump start our thinking on the subject and to trigger some excellent points to bring up with our HVAC professionals. Take a look:
“HVAC systems must be properly designed, installed, and maintained to ensure good operation. The following recommendations may improve the ventilation in your home:
- Follow a regular maintenance schedule for the HVAC system. Regularly service the filters and humidifiers.
- Install special high efficiency filters in the HVAC system.
- Consult with an HVAC contractor to ensure your system is properly designed for your home.
- Use exhaust fans in potential problem areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and hobby rooms, to exhaust contaminants generated inside the home.
Residents can supply additional make-up air to the inside of the home by using mechanical fans when outdoor temperatures are favorable in the spring and autumn. When temperatures are severe during the summer and winter, air-to-air heat exchangers may be installed to supply make-up air. These units exhaust stale, warm air from the house and transfer the heat in that air to fresh air being supplied from the outside. In air-conditioned houses during the summer months, heat is transferred from the incoming warm air to the outgoing air, causing a reduction in the energy required for air conditioning.
Homeowners also can install fans that supply outdoor air directly to the return side of the HVAC system. These fans are usually installed with a timing mechanism or manual control to regulate the amount of outdoor air supplied to the structure. This type of system works effectively to supply make-up air, but it also increases the cost of operating the HVAC system since the air is not cooled or heated before it enters the home.”
Source: http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/airquality.htm
Such good information and so many things I don’t know that I would have thought of on my own. I hope you found it helpful. If we can help you further improve your indoor air quality or if you need a recommendation for a great HVAC professional contact us today.
Mr. B’s Air Duct Cleaning
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