How to Enhance Indoor Air Quality with Advanced HVAC Solutions

In the United States, 131.2 million people currently live in areas that have unhealthy ozone or particle pollution levels. Worse still, around 66 million tons of pollution is emitted into the air every year in the United States. Over time, poor air quality can lead to negative health consequences. 

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is important for your family’s overall health and comfort. If you live in an area that has significant air pollution, the right indoor air quality services can help improve the air quality inside your house.

A typical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can be updated with advanced HVAC solutions that can filter harmful contaminants out of your home. Depending on your HVAC system and goals, there are a variety of options that you can choose from.

Understanding Indoor Air Quality

Before exploring different indoor air quality solutions, it is important to understand what indoor air quality means. Indoor air quality refers to the air condition inside enclosed spaces, like homes and buildings.

The average American spends around 90% of their time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor air pollution is often two to five times higher than it is outside. A range of different factors impact how polluted your indoor air is and how much it impacts your family’s well-being.

Common Indoor Pollutants

Before you decide if you need an ionic pro air purifier or a UV air purifier, you first need to consider the types of pollutants that are present. The average household contains some level of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold, bacteria, and viruses.

Particulate matter includes things like pollen, pet dander, and dust. While you can close your windows to keep out pollen on high-pollen days, it’s difficult to reduce pet dander if you have a pet. For many homes, the best option is to invest in indoor air quality solutions.

Besides particulate matter, there can also be VOCs inside your home. These come from household items, like pesticides, paint, wood burning, moth repellents, and cleaning products. High levels can result in breathing issues, cancer, problems with your central nervous system, and organ damage.

Bacteria, viruses, and mold thrive in indoor environments. In particular, biological contaminants like mold and mildew love any location that has high humidity levels. 

Finally, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide can both have a negative impact on your health. Carbon dioxide is produced when you burn wood and other materials, while carbon monoxide is produced during incomplete combustion of these materials.

Health Implications

Depending on the gas or pollutant involved, you may experience a range of different side effects. In the short term, your loved ones may suffer from headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. Over the long run, poor IAQ can cause cardiovascular and respiratory problems.

Factors Affecting IAQ

There are a few common factors that can impact your IAQ. For example, building materials, paint, and furnishings can release VOCs. Because of low ventilation rates and fresh materials, new houses typically have higher levels of VOCs. 

There are several ways to improve your indoor air quality (IAQ). Activities like painting, sanding, or other hobbies that generate pollutants can negatively affect the air you breathe. On the other hand, increasing ventilation by opening windows can help reduce indoor pollution and promote fresher, cleaner air.

Humidity levels can also affect your indoor air. For instance, high levels of humidity can cause mold to grow. Because of this, you should strive to keep your indoor humidity level between 30% and 50%.

Advanced HVAC Solutions for Enhancing IAQ

Fortunately, you can quickly remedy common air pollution issues by searching for an indoor air quality service near you. From installing advanced filters to getting a whole house air purifier with UV light, there are multiple IAQ solutions that can purify and filter the air your loved ones breathe.

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters

A true HEPA filter air purifier is one of the best options for improving air quality. At a minimum, this type of filter can remove 99.97% of dust, smoke, and pollen particles from the air. Because they can restrict airflow slightly while they filter the air, you should talk to an indoor air quality specialist about how compatible the HEPA filter is with your existing HVAC system.

Ultraviolet Air Purifiers 

With a UV light air purifier, you can effectively destroy bacteria. However, a UV air purifier won’t filter out smoke, dust, or pollen. Instead, it’s more useful in schools, medical clinics, and similar places.

Activated Carbon Filters

With an activated carbon filter air purifier, you can effectively remove VOCs and gases. Besides freshening your indoor air, an activated carbon air purifier can also absorb foul odors in the air.

Ionic Air Purifiers

An ionic pro air purifier is incredibly effective at removing smoke particles from the air. However, an ionic air purifier won’t remove gaseous pollutants or large pollen particles from the air. These purifiers function by charging particles in the air so that they are attracted to objects in the room instead of remaining in the air.

Humidity Control Systems

Depending on your situation, you may want a humidifier or dehumidifier to add or remove excess moisture from the air. Besides reducing dust levels, humidity control systems may be able to alleviate respiratory problems and dry skin as well.

Smart HVAC Systems

With smart HVAC systems, you can get an integrated solution that comes with high-tech sensors, remote monitoring, and superior filtration. Plus, the system can make automated adjustments to match the changing air quality.

Benefits of Implementing Advanced HVAC Solutions

While the benefits can vary between different indoor air quality solutions, there are a few key advantages you can expect from the best IAQ options.

• Health Benefits: Cleaner air means fewer allergy symptoms, decreased chances of respiratory infections, fewer asthma attacks, and better overall health.
• Comfort Enhancements: With the right humidity control solutions and air filters, you can balance your humidity levels, stabilize your home’s temperature, and get rid of foul odors.
• Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings: When you work with our team, we can help you find IAQ solutions that lower your utility bill and optimize your HVAC system’s performance.

Practical Steps for Homeowners

After finding the best indoor air quality service in your area, the next step is getting a professional IAQ evaluation. During the assessment, one of our team members will identify the pollutants in your home.

Then, we can review the best system upgrades for your situation. We will work with you to determine the UV air purifier, HEPA air purifier, or other device that matches your unique needs. 

No matter what system you get, you need ongoing maintenance and monitoring. This may involve regular filter replacements, scheduled maintenance appointments, and duct cleaning. We’ll also install IAQ monitors so that you can track how effective your system is at improving air quality.

Discover the Best IAQ Solutions for Your Home

Whether you need an activated carbon air purifier or the latest HEPA filters, our team of expert technicians can help you find advanced HVAC solutions. After an assessment, we’ll determine the best indoor air quality services for your unique needs. 

Learn more about the long-term benefits of IAQ upgrades by reaching out to our team members today.