We spend so much of our time indoors, it follows that the air quality in our work and living spaces should be nothing short of excellent. Read on to learn the importance of fresh Desoto air, how your HVAC system helps regulate air quality and what you can do to improve the indoor air in your home or business.
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Is Indoor Air Cleaner Than Outdoor Air?
With modern air filters, dehumidifiers and air purification systems, it’s easy to assume that the air inside of our homes is much cleaner than outdoor air. On the contrary, it can be shocking to find out that even in large, industrial cities, indoor air is often more polluted than the air outside.
That’s because contaminants build up over time, and in buildings with poor ventilation and little fresh air coming in, they have nowhere to go. While air pollutants can enter a home or business from the outdoors, many find their sources inside of the building to begin with. This includes contaminants like cooking gases, dander, mold spores and pet hair. Fortunately, there are several things property owners can do to minimize the presence of harmful contaminants and improve the indoor air quality in their spaces.
What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?
An important first step toward improving indoor air quality is understanding what affects it. Sources that release gases or particles indoors are a primary cause behind contamination. Poor ventilation is another factor, as this means polluted air has nowhere to escape to, and there is no influx of fresh air to help dilute contaminants. High temperatures and high levels of humidity may also adversely affect indoor air quality. Common indoor contaminants that decrease the overall quality of the air you breathe include the following:
- Dust
- Pet hair
- Dander
- Cooking gases
- Mold and mildew
- Bacteria
- Carbon monoxide
- Chemical fumes and pesticides
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
There are several strategies that can help improve Desoto air quality, including source control, increasing ventilation and installing air purification systems in your home or business. Let’s look at each of these more closely.
Source Control
This method involves keeping contaminants out of your home or eliminating them as quickly as possible. For pet owners, this may involve regular grooming, sweeping and vacuuming to eliminate pet hair. As cooking gases are a common contaminant, running the fan above the stove while you cook can help carry gas particles outdoors, rather than allowing them to circulate throughout the building. Be sure to allow for appropriate ventilation when working with cleaners or chemicals, and remove any mold or mildew as quickly as possible.
Improve Ventilation
One of the most effective and fastest ways to improve air quality is to improve ventilation. This includes allowing fresh outdoor air inside. This can be as simple as opening a door and window to create a cross-breeze, or it can involve reaching out to Desoto air experts to help install or improve existing ventilation.
Install Air Cleaning Systems
An advanced air cleaning system works similar to basic HVAC ventilation filters, but they are far more efficient. Made from high-quality materials, advanced air cleaning systems can filter out even miniscule contaminants like dust and dander. This is a great option for those who struggle with severe allergies or other respiratory challenges.
Invest in UV Lighting
UV lights are known to reduce or even eliminate certain biological contaminants, including mold spores, viruses and bacteria.
Add a Dehumidifier
Spaces that are constantly moist or humid are prone to mold and mildew growth. For those living in humid climates, installing a high-quality dehumidifier can help prevent these issues in the home.
Change HVAC Air Filters
Our HVAC units circulate air throughout our spaces, which makes HVAC air filters our first line of defense against contaminants. Air filters should be swapped out (or cleaned, if reusable) every 30–90 days. The optimal frequency of filter changes depends on your location and lifestyle factors like the number of pets in the home. A professional HVAC technician can evaluate your situation and recommend the best course of action.
A visual inspection can also help determine whether it’s time to change filters. Simply hold the filter up to the light. If little or no light passes through, you have a clogged filter on your hands, which means contaminants are left swirling around in the air you breathe.
Schedule Professional Air Duct Cleaning
As air travels through the air ducts in your home, it can carry airborne pollutants along with it. These pollutants build up over time, leading to unpleasant odors, decreased air quality and issues like mold and mildew growth. An annual air duct cleaning from an HVAC pro will help ensure all that clean air gets to travel through clean air ducts before making its way into your lungs.
Keep Up with Regular HVAC Maintenance
Diligent HVAC cleaning and maintenance is a great way to ensure the indoor air quality in your home or business is as good as it can be. Our team recommends scheduling a visit from a Desoto HVAC company twice a year — once in the spring to get your unit ready for the summer, and once in the fall to ensure everything is in working order for the colder months.
A professional HVAC tune-up includes a top-to-bottom cleaning and inspection of your unit. That means any loose or worn parts can be identified before they cause problems. A qualified HVAC technician will change air filters and note down any causes for concern. The team at Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating offers indoor air quality evaluations and expert advice based on your location, home and lifestyle.
Best HVAC Company in Desoto, TX
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating has been in the business for over 50 years. Our team of pro HVAC technicians proudly serves Desoto, TX, and the surrounding areas with affordable, reliable residential HVAC, commercial HVAC and plumbing services. Give us a call at 972-388-3310 or visit us online today to get started.
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.