Not Cool; Delaying AC Repairs Could Diminish Indoor Air Quality

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 19, 2014

A sneezing and wheezing air conditioning system could cause the same symptoms for you and your family! Thats because there is a direct link between a central air conditioning system, indoor air quality and the health of homeowners and their families.

May brings both National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, plus hotter weather for much of the country, so its an ideal time to consider how the AC system is affecting the air inside the home. In fact, one out of six people who suffer from allergies do so because of the direct relationship to the fungi and bacteria in their homes air duct system.

What you cant see may hurt you, said Dave Moody, director of marketing for Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Among other things, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system acts as a filter and air ventilator, so delaying AC repairs may allow bad air to circulate throughout your home.

Indoor air can contain unhealthful concentrations of microbes, mildew, viruses, bacteria, dust, pollen, allergens and dirt as well as chemical vapors from paints, carpets, furniture and cleaning solvents. During the season, our AC repair service technicians reach about 2,000 homes a day, and we see the issue of poor indoor quality everywhere, Moody said.

Moody cites five ways a homeowners heating and air conditioning system could be affecting their indoor air quality and one general safety concern related to the AC system:

1)Poor filtration, whether its from an ineffective HVAC air filter or a dirty and clogged air filter, poor air filtration can allow harmful or irritating particles to circulate throughout the home. On the other hand, the result of good air filtration is cleaner, purer air. It can also help reduce dust inside the home and could even help extend the life of your HVAC system. The top-of-the-line air filter technology today is a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Air) filter, which removes 99.97% of the contaminants in the air.

2) Moisture control. Maintaining the proper amount of humidity inside a home promotes comfortable living. However, balancing humidity can be tricky. Too little moisture can make the homes occupants vulnerable to infection, while too much can create a breeding grounds for microbes, mildew or dust mites. Keeping the humidity levels between 45-50% inhibits the growth of microbes. A well-designed AC system will efficiently and consistently control the humidity throughout the home. In many instances, a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier will help correct indoor humidity challenges. These are easier to use than portable units and effectively maintain a proper level of moisture throughout the home, instead of in a single room.

3) Leaking air ducts are big contributors to poor indoor air quality, by pulling untreated and contaminated air from inside walls and attics. In addition, dirty ducts can breed microbes and bacteria. A Precision Tune-Up for the A/C system from Service Experts includes an inspection of the homes air ducts to be sure they are sealed and sized properly, and are clean. We have had customers who spent a lot of money for a top-of-the-line HVAC system, but the homes air ducts weren't sized properly and they are still leaking 25% of their cool air into the attic or basement, said Moody. A new furnace or air conditioner is only as good as the duct system its tied to.

4) Dirty air ducts can breed microbes and bacteria, and air duct cleaning isnt something a homeowner should attempt to tackle on their own. Germicidal lights can be an effective solution for keeping air ducts (and the air in your home) germ free from living organisms like spores, viruses and bacteria are a concern. As the highest UV light intensity on the market, an ultraviolet germicidal light also helps to reduce concentrations of bioaerosols as well as deter such harmful contaminants as mold, mildew, bacteria and viruses from forming.

Read more from the original source:
Not Cool; Delaying AC Repairs Could Diminish Indoor Air Quality