The Role of HVAC in Indoor Air Quality: Tips for a Healthier Home

Due to the increasing amount of time spent indoors, the need for a cleaner home environment is more important than ever. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system plays an important role in creating and sustaining a healthy indoor environment.

Reason for Poor Indoor Air Quality

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that insufficient ventilation, pollutants—such as mildew, dust mites, pet dander, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and —all contribute to poor indoor air quality. 

Other possible causes include mold and bacteria growth due to a lack of ventilation and improperly maintained HVAC systems.

Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Systems

The phrase “indoor air quality” (IAQ) describes the standard of cleanliness and safety of the air inside a building. Some of the factors that influence it are air pollution, airflow, and humidity. The HVAC system plays a crucial role in managing these factors that lower air quality.

Here is how your HVAC system supports healthier indoor air quality:

1. Filtration and Removal of Airborne Contaminants

The air filter in your HVAC system is the first line of defense against contaminants in the air. Filters must be cleaned or replaced regularly to keep pollutants like dust, pollen, and pet hair from building up. Even smaller particles can be caught by high-efficiency filters.

2. Ventilation for Air Exchange

Good ventilation is needed to bring in fresh air from the outside and remove pollution inside. The HVAC system makes this exchange possible by controlling the airflow. For the best performance, ventilation parts like air pipes and vents must be maintained regularly.

3. Controlling the Humidity

Too much humidity can cause mold to grow and worsen breathing problems. Low humidity, on the other hand, can make you feel uncomfortable and dry. HVAC systems, especially those with humidifiers and dehumidifiers built-in, help keep humidity levels at the right level, making the inside of a building healthy and more comfortable.

4. Controlling the Temperature

One of the most important jobs of HVAC systems is to keep the temperature in check. Maintaining a comfortable temperature not only makes people feel better but also affects their ability to focus and improve their overall health. Mold and mildew can only grow in certain temperature ranges, so keeping the temperature stable stops them from growing.

8 Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality 

1. Regular Maintenance

Make sure that all of your HVAC system’s parts, like filters, coils, and pipes, are clean and working at their best by setting up regular maintenance. If you do not take care of your systems, they can become breeding grounds for contaminants that can worsen the air quality.

2. Use Good Air Filters

Spend money on air filters that can catch smaller particles. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) screens are known for catching allergens, viruses, and other microscopic pollutants.

3. Proper Ventilation

Ensure your HVAC system lets enough airflow through your home. Suppose your system lets you use the “ventilation” setting to bring fresh air from outside regularly. 

4. Control Humidity Levels

Monitor and change the humidity levels inside. To keep the humidity level in a healthy range, use dehumidifiers in damp places and humidifiers in dry places.

5. Check and Clean the Ducts

Dust, mold, and other particles can build up in the ductwork over time, making the air quality worse. Regularly check and clean the ducts to make sure that clean air flows smoothly.

6. Use UV Air Purifiers

Ultraviolet (UV) air purifiers can be put into HVAC systems to eliminate mold, germs, and viruses. This technology adds another line of defense against germs spread through the air.

7. Seal the Leaks

Fix any holes or leaks in the walls and floors. Make sure your home is well sealed so that outside pollutants do not get in. Fill in cracks and holes in doors, windows, and other places where bugs could get in.

8. Clean With Eco-Friendly Goods:

The cleaning products you use can affect the quality of the air inside your home. Choose cleaning products that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are good for the environment to cut down on chemical pollution.

Services We Offer

Zilka Heating and Cooling has services that will work and help you improve the quality of the air inside your home. We are experts at making homes comfortable.

Installing or Replacing Indoor Air Quality System

Our licensed experts know how to work with systems that improve the quality of the air inside homes. We are experts at adding new equipment to older homes, as well as building new ones and remodeling old ones.

First, we figure out what your specific IAQ needs are. We find any pollutants, allergens, or problems like too much humidity that might be affecting the air inside your home. After that, we choose the IAQ products that meet your needs based on the assessment and suggestions. Air purifiers, ventilation systems, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers are some examples of this.

Repairing of Indoor Air Quality System

If your system starts making a weird noise or does not work right, our team will quickly figure out what is wrong and fix it. We check all parts visually, including the filters, ducts, and ventilation systems. We also check for damage, signs of wear, or a buildup of dust and dirt.

If specific components are identified as faulty, we replace them. This may include sensors, motors, or other essential parts. We offer 24-hour emergency repair services. So, call us anytime you need a repair service.

Maintenance of Indoor Air Quality System

Maintaining your indoor air quality system is one of the important factors in keeping the indoor air clean. At Zilka Heating and Cooling, we work together to provide you with a detailed maintenance plan. Our team conducts tests to ensure that sensors and controls are functioning correctly. 

You can be a part of our Zilka Comfort Club, which provides cost-saving services on repairs or part replacements.

Getting and keeping good indoor air quality requires making smart choices about how you live and ensuring your HVAC systems work right. Maintaining your HVAC system regularly and ensuring it filters, ventilates, and controls humidity are all important parts of improving the quality of the air you breathe. 

Schedule Service Today

Zilka Heating and Cooling goes all the way to provide you and your West Bloomfield, MI, home with clean indoor air so you can have the best health inside your home. Call us today at (947) 207-9689 or request service online.