How’s the indoor air quality in your home? Clean air means healthy air for you and your family. One way to keep your family healthy inside the home is to improve indoor air quality by using the right heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The factors affecting your home’s indoor air quality include high humidity levels, dust, poor ventilation, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in many household products.

Choosing the right HVAC system suitable for your home with smart HVAC installation is important to ensure a long-lasting, efficient system. The right HVAC unit can help reduce and control indoor contaminants brought upon by biological growth due to high humidity levels, pet dander, accumulated dust, paints, adhesives, etc.

This article will further discuss how the right HVAC unit can improve your home’s indoor air quality.

It Increases Air Circulation

Proper airflow or ventilation keeps indoor air fresh and clean. The filtration system of the right HVAC unit filters the air to improve air circulation. Family members with asthma or allergies can greatly benefit from increased air circulation because it resolves common indoor air quality issues, such as uneven temperature and humid and polluted air.

The blower of an HVAC unit helps circulate the air inside a room. Turning on the fan blower allows the air to circulate throughout the home and even the indoor temperature. Turning on the blower can be chilly, but it will help resolve ventilation problems.

Aside from your HVAC, you can bring fresh air inside your home by opening doors and windows for short periods each day. Open the room’s front and back doors and windows to let fresh air come in and trap contaminated air to come out passively.

It Filters Airborne Contaminants

Airborne contaminants pose a health risk to your family. They can cause respiratory problems, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma attack, and infection. Therefore, choosing the right HVAC unit with a high-quality air filter is vital.

To clean indoor air, HVAC units have filters to collect air particulates, including allergens, dust, and debris. There are different air filters for HVAC units, such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), reusable, flat-panel fiberglass, and pleated media air filters.

  • HEPA Filters

HEPA filters provide the highest indoor air protection level, catching 99.97% of airborne particles. A HEPA filter usually has a 17 to 20 minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) rating that can capture up to 0.3 microns particle size.

  • Reusable Air Filters

Reusable air filters have a one to four MERV rating and trap larger airborne particulates like dust, pollen, animal dander, dust mites, and carpet Fibers. They’re washable and keep more garbage out of landfills.

  • Flat Panel Fiberglass Filters

Fiberglass air filters refer to flat, disposable panels made of fiberglass. This air filter has a porous, fibrous material wherein the air passes through freely as it traps larger air contaminants to improve indoor air quality.

  • Pleated Filters

Pleated filters generate higher indoor air quality because they have a greater surface area and filtration media that can trap smaller debris than non-pleated filters.

After a month or two, filters eventually become dirty and require cleaning. You need to replace the air filters of your HVAC unit when you observe the vents having a weak airflow. Neglecting to do so impedes your HVAC unit from performing its job properly and may cause dirt build-up and clogging.

It Controls Moisture And Humidity

Uncontrolled moisture inside the home can cause damage to the ceilings, walls, and furnishings. Too high moisture and humidity levels trigger mold and other biological growth that can affect indoor air quality and your family’s health.

The right HVAC unit can help control moisture entry into your home. It prevents condensation that causes mold and moisture-related problems. Moreover, your home will feel cooler with the removal of excess humidity from your home because of less water vapor that holds heat.

Aside from your air conditioning unit or heat pump, adding a dehumidifier to remove air humidity pays off, allowing your HVAC unit to rest and concentrate on cooling your home. Dehumidifiers can help resolve humidity and moisture issues in damp crawlspaces, attic, and upstairs rooms.

It Prevents Mold Growth

Molds grow in humid, damp, and wet conditions. Because mold needs water to grow, it’s important to keep your carpets, walls, floors, and ceilings dry.

Mold tends to release spores into the air that humans can breathe, causing allergic reactions, such as skin rash, runny nose, sneezing, and red eyes. Some people also experience chest pains and difficulty of breathing. To prevent these health problems, installing the right HVAC unit is important in every home.

Choosing the right HVAC unit can help improve indoor air quality by preventing mold growth. The ideal temperature for mold to grow inside the home is 77°F to 86°F. So, you need to set your indoor temperature low, especially during summer months, at 70°F to deactivate and combat mold.

Aside from installing the right HVAC unit to help prevent mold growth, adding an air purifier is also a good idea. Air purifiers trap mold spores from indoor air, preventing their spread throughout your home. Choose an air purifier with a HEPA filter to effectively remove mold spores.

Choosing The Right HVAC Unit

HVAC units come in various brands, features, and capabilities. But what are the things you need to remember when choosing HVAC units for your home?

The room size and the climate in your area are just some of the essential considerations when selecting the right HVAC units for your home. Because not all HVAC units are the same, it’s crucial to check the features and quality of your prospective HVAC unit. You may consult an HVAC professional to determine the best HVAC unit suitable for your home.

Conclusion

Choosing the right HVAC unit for your home provides fresh, clean indoor air. Improve indoor air quality by considering your heating and air conditioning units’ filter type, features, and mechanism. It’s crucial to keep your HVAC system in good condition through regular cleaning and preventive maintenance to provide your family with fresh, clean air.