Indoor air pollution and poor indoor air quality are much more common and more serious problems than many people realize. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), numerous studies have shown that indoor air usually contains anywhere from three to five times the level of certain harmful pollutants than outdoor air does.
There are a few different reasons for this. The first is that virtually every building contains a wide variety of things that release pollution into the air. The other main reason is that all of the various pollutants get trapped inside and end up accumulating.
HVAC systems can also further contribute to air quality issues, as they spread the pollutants and any allergens present throughout the building. Nonetheless, your HVAC system can also be your first line of defense in preventing most issues and helping to improve indoor air quality.
Common Indoor Air Quality Issues
Some indoor air quality issues are mostly unavoidable. For instance, allergens like dust, pollen and mold spores can get inside every time people go in and out of the house and then get spread around whenever the HVAC system runs. There are also other allergens that originate within the house like pet dander and dead dust mites.
Chemical pollutants are incredibly common and can be a much bigger concern due to the potential health risks they pose both in the short and long term. A wide variety of everyday items contain various chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that continually get released into the air. This includes things like dryer sheets and fabric softeners, cleaning products and many electronic devices. Many building materials like paint, varnish, adhesives, flooring and carpet also release VOCs for years after they were installed.
Even something as seemingly harmless as cooking food on your stove or in the oven contributes to various pollutants being released into the house. If you have an attached garage, exhaust fumes from your vehicle and chemical fumes from things like pesticides and fertilizer can also infiltrate your home and get spread around.
The Impact Standard HVAC Filters Have on Indoor Air Quality
All central HVAC systems have an air filter that traps and filters out some particles from the air flowing through it. While some people think that this filter is specifically there to help combat indoor air quality issues, this really isn’t the case. What it actually does is keep dust and other large particles from getting sucked into your indoor HVAC equipment. The filter is still important, as dust and debris would otherwise clog things up. That means you could end up with a major drop in performance or issues that could lead to the equipment breaking down.
Standard air filters do help a bit with allergens by reducing the amount of dust the HVAC system blows around. They can also filter out some types of pollen. Nonetheless, most allergens and especially other pollutants are so small that they just flow through the filter unimpeded.
If anyone in your household has respiratory issues like asthma or suffers from allergies, you want to make sure you use an air filter with a higher MERV rating. MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value and is the most common scale used to measure how effective an air filter is.
Most basic residential filters are around MERV 6 and aren’t really effective for trapping anything other than dust and hair. Filters that are rated from MERV 10 to MERV 12 are much more efficient and will do a far better job at reducing the amount of allergens in the home. The only thing is that you normally need to replace a higher-efficiency filter more often, as it will trap much more debris and thus get clogged more quickly.
HVAC Upgrades and Services for Improving Indoor Air Quality
While using a standard filter with a higher MERV rating can help a bit to overcome some indoor air quality issues, there are other options that are much more effective. This includes things like investing in a whole-home filtration or air purification system and having your ductwork cleaned regularly.
Determining which option or options will best suit your home isn’t always easy, as different homes have different air quality issues or different needs. This is where having a professional air quality test performed is beneficial.
An air quality test involves using specialized equipment to measure the concentration of various airborne allergens and contaminants in the home. The equipment can test for things like pollen, pet dander, mold spores, exhaust fumes and more. Based on the results of the test, you’ll then receive recommendations on the solutions that will work best for tackling your home’s specific air quality concerns.
Whole-Home Air Filtration
Most whole-home air filters are designed to take the place of the HVAC system’s standard filter to provide a much more efficient level of air filtration. One of the most common options is what’s typically referred to as a media filter. These filters are typically between 4 and 6 inches thick, meaning they contain many times more pleated filter media than standard one-inch filters.
This allows them to perform far better without any restriction in airflow. The highest standard filter you can get is MERV 12, whereas most media filters are at least MERV 14 or 15. There are even whole-home HEPA filters that range from MERV 17 to 20 and provide the highest level of filtration available.
Another option is an electronic air cleaner. This type of filter essentially produces a static electric field. As particles pass through this field, they get charged and end up sticking to special plates in the air cleaner.
Whole-Home Air Purification Systems
Air purification is a slightly different concept from air filtration. While many whole-home purification systems contain a highly efficient filter, they also use additional methods to tackle other air quality concerns. For instance, many systems contain UV lights that destroy germs and mold. Some also produce ionizing agents that transform chemical pollutants into harmless substances or have a carbon filter that traps and eliminates odors.
Air Duct Cleaning
Air duct cleaning is another effective option for ensuring your HVAC system doesn’t further contribute to air quality issues. You’d be surprised to see just how much dust and debris builds up in air ducts over time. Most ductwork systems are also filled with substantial amounts of other allergens like pollen and pet hair.
Another concern is that dirty ducts can attract pests like cockroaches. Having your ducts cleaned every few years will get rid of all this buildup, ensuring your HVAC system blows clean air instead of constantly circulating dust and allergens around your house.
Contact Us Today
For more than 70 years, Childers Air Plumbing & Electric has been providing expert HVAC services to residential and commercial customers in Beckley and throughout the surrounding areas. If you’re sick of dealing with poor indoor air quality, our experts are ready to help.
We specialize in air quality testing and offer a range of effective solutions for combating the full range of air quality issues, including air purification systems, UV lights, duct cleaning, humidifiers and dehumidifiers. To schedule an air quality test or any other IAQ service, contact us today.
