Heating & Cooling Systems' Air Quality

Indoor air is often 10 times more polluted than outdoor air according to Environmental Protection Agency. This means people suffering from asthma and other air-borne respiratory problems are more likely to get it from breathing in pollutants such as paints, carpet fibers, bathroom pesticides and other toxic chemicals that are inside their homes. Furthermore, particles from fireplaces, smoke as well as radon and asbestos are other causes for poor indoor air-quality.

Strategies for Improving Indoor Air Quality

However, there are certain strategies for improving indoor air quality particularly during those seasons when IAQ is compromised. The first strategy is to eliminate the sources of pollution and reducing their emissions of pollutants. In fact, source control option is an easy and inexpensive way to ensure well-being of people living in a house. This is done by removing carpets and replacing them with hardwood floors or tiles, keeping the carpets clean, removing hazardous chemicals from bathrooms and kitchens and storing them outside, replacing wood-burning fireplace with gas or electric alternative and so on. Improved ventilation is another strategy for improving indoor air quality.

By increasing the amount of outdoor air flowing inside the home, you are not only diluting the concentrations of pollutants inside but pushing stale odor outside. The third strategy is to to use mechanical air cleaners that filter air pollutants concentrated at one place. They are not recommended as a single solution which means they are more effective when combined with other solutions.

Professional Advice

Experts in air quality management will tell you about many techniques to improve your indoor air quality as well. They will recommend replacing air filter in your furnace or air conditioner when the heating or cooling season begins. A clean filter is useful in capturing air contaminants and building up a dust cake for easy removal. Another technique often recommended by professionals is adding dedicated outdoor air opening in the duct-work. This will allow fresh air to enter the house while using exhaust fans or fireplace.

Sometimes, easy strategies like above will only work up to a certain period, You may want to add sophisticated technologies that are costly to implement but provide substantial improvement to the quality of indoor air. One such technologies is installing an energy recovery ventilator or ERV that provides fresh air continuously while conserving heat and water vapor. Other techniques include using heat pump water heater to increase energy efficiency and installing radiant hydronic heating system in place of forced air system.

Concerned about the air quality inside your McAllen home? Take action and call All Valley Plumbing & AC Co. today at (956) 686-6656.