You’d never dream of drinking a glass of water that was visibly filthy, would you? Or eating a piece of food that you knew was covered with dust or dirt? You’d likely be disgusted by the concept of introducing these decidedly unappetizing foreign contaminants into your system. Yet it’s likely that the air you’re breathing in your own home contains unhealthy levels of dust, pet dander, and other pollutants. So why are you so comfortable with that?
Many of the same people who invest in high-end vacuum cleaners and water filters and who meticulously wash their vegetables before consuming them also seem to neglect the added indoor air quality HVAC maintenance provides.
In the following blog post, we’ll discuss the crucial role of preventive HVAC maintenance on the quality of the air you breathe. In turn, we’ll also discuss the importance this has for creating a healthy living space for you and your loved ones.
What’s in the Air We Breathe?
When we refer to “air quality,” we refer to the levels of dust, dirt, allergens, and other substances that make air unhealthy to breathe. Good air quality usually means that levels of these contaminants are low, while any location with high concentrations of any one of them is said to have poor air quality.
Many variables can contribute to your indoor air quality. The quality of the air in the surrounding environment is, unsurprisingly, a major factor. The air in a rural area is likely to be far cleaner than that of a major city, where pollutants created by vehicles, industry, construction, and other related factors tend to be in higher concentrations.
The indoor environment also plays a large role in the air quality inside a building. The method by which you cook your food matters a great deal. For instance, gas stoves generate a great deal more pollutants than their electric counterparts. Our furry friends are also a factor, as pet dander can enter the indoor atmosphere and affect the health of inhabitants.
How It Impacts Your Health
Of course, to understand what makes air “healthy” or “unhealthy,” we have to define what we mean by those terms. The fact is that air quality has health impacts in both the short and long term.
In the short term, humans can experience allergy symptoms due to poor air quality. Pet dander, for example, can trigger itchy, watery eyes, as well as frequent coughing and sneezing. Dust and pollen can have a similar effect.
Long-term health problems caused by air pollution can be far more serious. Studies have shown that poor air quality can contribute to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
The Role Your HVAC System Plays
The acronym HVAC stands for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,” and essentially refers to your entire home heating and cooling system. In most homes, this is several systems combined. However, it’s likely that both your furnace and air conditioner make use of the same network of ducts to transport air throughout your home.
Whether it’s been heated or cooled, the air that moves through your HVAC system has the potential to accumulate dust, dirt, and other harmful debris. To combat this, your HVAC system has filters in place to trap the particles as the air circulates throughout the ductwork.
Of course, the more you use your system, the more particles are carried through it. As a result, the filters will eventually become clogged with an excess of dust and debris. Ultimately, unless cleaned or replaced, they will no longer be able to do their jobs effectively, and the indoor air quality in your home will suffer as a result.
How To Tell If Your HVAC System Needs Repairs
Occasionally, problems with your HVAC system will present themselves in an obvious manner. For example, you may hear a loud clunking sound when a fan belt snaps. Or you may notice a buildup of ice on the outside unit of your air conditioner, the result of a coolant leak.
Sometimes issues with the heating or cooling also directly impact the comfort levels in the home. One common problem is that certain areas of the home don’t reach the desired temperature. Hot or cold spots can be a telltale indication that there’s a problem with the ventilation in the building.
In many cases, however, the signs of a worn-out HVAC system will tend to be more subtle. You may simply notice your energy bill steadily creeping upward as the system becomes less efficient over time. Or inhabitants of the home may experience an increase in allergies and illness. This can also be a key indicator that your HVAC system needs work.
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance
Many homeowners only contact their local HVAC technicians when their systems are having problems, but there’s a better way. Instead, you should regularly invest in preventive maintenance to ensure these problems don’t arise in the first place.
How much indoor air quality is affected by HVAC systems cannot be overstated, and this is largely tied to the effectiveness of the filtration system. This is why it’s crucial to invest in occasional cleanings and repairs for your system. Regular maintenance of your systems will have a major impact on both the health and comfort of your home.
Once you contact an HVAC professional to perform a checkup for you, they’ll work their way through a checklist of tasks. This will include either cleaning the filters or changing them entirely, as well as inspecting all the mechanical elements and electrical connections. They’ll also check the ductwork for leaks, which can dramatically reduce the efficiency of the HVAC system.
When looking for the right person to perform the job, it’s best to use a contractor from a local company like All Weather Heating & Cooling in Ohio. It’s also a great idea to choose a company that includes a safety inspection that tests for carbon monoxide leaks and other major health hazards. Do some research to discover who is qualified to perform the job in your area.