The quality of the air inside your suburban Chicago home is not something you may think about every day, but it’s important for the health of your family, particularly if you have allergies. According to the EPA, the concentrations of some pollutants are two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
Common Indoor Contaminants
Several indoor contaminants are commonly found in many homes.
Dust
Dust consists of carpet fibers, skin cells, dirt, and other small debris. Dust can lead to dust mites, which are a common allergen.
Pet Dander
Pet dander consists of skin cells, fur, and saliva and can trigger allergic reactions.
Pollen
Pollen, one of the most common allergens, can come into your home from the outside.
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate into the air. They can come from furniture, paint, building materials, solvents, cleaning products, and more. They can be very harmful.
Moisture
Moisture can create mold and mildew which can trigger allergies.
Cooking fumes
Cooking can release fumes that contain grease and smoke.
Who Is Vulnerable to Contaminants?
Obviously, anyone with allergies to specific contaminants is vulnerable, but, in fact, everyone is vulnerable to poor indoor air quality. Elderly people, small children, and people with respiratory diseases like asthma are particularly vulnerable.
But anyone can experience symptoms from poor indoor air quality, which include:
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Dizziness
- Congestion
- Headaches
Long term exposure to some contaminants can even lead to more serious conditions including cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.
How Your HVAC System Impacts Your Indoor Air Quality
When your HVAC system is clean and working properly, it circulates the air in your home and filters out pollutants, keeping your air clean. However, when your filters or ductwork are dirty, your HVAC system is circulating pollutants instead of filtering them out.
Additionally, if your HVAC system is not well maintained, moisture can form in your ductwork and cause mold that can be circulated through the air in your home.
Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Air Filters
It’s important to use the right size filters in your HVAC system, and to change them monthly. This will also keep your HVAC running at maximum efficiency and extend its life.
Humidifiers (In the Winter)
Humidifiers emit steam or water vapor into your home to help moisten the air you breathe and offer a host of benefits, such as softer, healthier skin, alleviated flu symptoms, decreased overall risk of illness, and reduced allergy symptoms.
De-Humidifiers (In the Summer)
A whole house de-humidifier can regulate moisture levels in your home, preventing the growth of mold and mildew.
Air Handlers
Air handlers aid in maintaining consistent temperatures in all rooms of your house and improve overall air quality by filtering airborne particles.
UV Air Purifiers
UV air filters use UV light to inactivate air pollutants like mold, bacteria, and viruses.
Ventilation Systems
Whole house ventilation systems bring in fresh outdoor air and remove stale indoor air.
Clean Vents and Ducts
Dust and debris can collect in your ducts and vents which restricts airflow and has a substantial negative impact on your HVAC system’s efficiency and your indoor air quality. You can clean your vents by vacuuming debris from the vent covers or washing them with soap and water.
Cleaning ducts is a more involved process. You need a high-powered vacuum to remove dust and a brush to scrape away debris, which makes duct cleaning a job that’s generally best to leave to professional HVAC technicians. TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical can handle the job for you.
Get an HVAC Tune Up
The best way to ensure that your HVAC system is working properly and clean is to have your system professionally inspected, cleaned, and serviced. You should do so before summer and again before winter.
An inspection, cleaning, and servicing will include (but not be limited to) the following:
- A filter check
- Air flow adjustments
- Leak check
- Cleaning and adjustments of all components
- Drain inspections
- Lubrication of parts
- Cycle check
- Thermostat inspection
- Wiring test and adjustment
- Sensor check
Consider Upgrading Your HVAC System
Newer HVAC systems are designed to improve indoor air quality providing better ventilation and filtration. Newer HVAC systems are also more efficient and can reduce your energy bills.
You also may want to consider a heat pump. Heat pumps work by redistributing air rather than heating or cooling it using energy. In the winter, the heat pump captures warm air from the outside to transfer it in. In the summer, the heat pump captures warm air from the inside and transfers it out.
These systems don’t create ashes, smoke, or other harmful debris that you need to clean from your air, making them ideal for keeping your home safe and comfortable. They also don’t contain hot surfaces that can burn you or your family.
Additionally, these systems dehumidify your home. This is great for the summer when the air becomes heavy with moisture.
Heat pumps can be ducted or ductless. Ducted heat pumps distribute air via ducts, while ductless heat pumps use wall mounted units, called mini-splits, to distribute the air. When you use mini-splits, you don’t have to worry about pollutants from ductwork since your system won’t use ducts. Additionally, each mini-split has it’s own filter, providing even more protection from pollutants.
TR Miller Is Your Indoor Air Quality Partner
TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical can evaluate your indoor air quality and recommend the best course of action to improve it. Our family-owned business has been serving homeowners in suburban Chicago for three generations. We are proud members of the local community and treat all of our customers like friends, offering dedicated customer service.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We are here to serve your needs.
