If we’ve learned anything in the past three years, it’s that the air we breathe is as important as any other health concern. The quality of the air that we breathe can drastically affect health–be it bringing in pollutants that irritate the respiratory system, or bacteria that can cause great damage to our overall health.
When you think about it, every moment you spend in your home is affected by your air conditioner, whether that’s a good or bad thing. Besides just keeping everyone comfortable at home, your HVAC system can play a major role in your health depending on your HVAC system’s own health and how efficiently it works. Fresh, clean air is important!
How HVAC helps keep you healthy
According to the EPA, Americans spend about 90% of our time indoors. During this time, we are obviously away from outdoor air (be that good or bad, depending on where you live) and are completely subject to the quality of our indoor air, which can be positively or negatively impacted by our HVAC systems. That being said, how does your HVAC system keep you healthy?
Filtering
There are tons of options for different types and levels of filtering. HVAC filters are capable of filtering out not only pollen and dust that can aggravate allergies, asthma, COPD, and more. However, filters are also powerful enough to filter out more harmful things, such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which are chemical gasses that are given off by some fabrics found in carpets and some furniture. Some VOCs are even considered carcinogenic, meaning they are linked to cancer. Luckily enough, your HVAC system is powerful enough to capture and filter out these potentially harmful VOCs.
Regulates humidity levels
Humidity is not an inherently bad thing–in fact, humidity is good! However, you need to strike a fine balance to get humidity’s full benefits. Luckily, a well-functioning HVAC system will properly regular humidity so that you don’t experience the mal effects of improper humidity levels.
Low humidity can cause not only dry skin and dry eye but can also negatively affect already sensitive respiratory issues. The drier air can also make it easier for viral or bacterial infections to flourish.
High humidity can also cause irritation to sensitive respiratory tracts, but bring the different threat of mold which can set up shop in your air ducts, thus causing a different host of problems.
Sustains air quality
Most importantly, HVAC systems maintain good quality within your home. Through filters and humidity control, running a well-functioning and efficient HVAC system can help clean up the air in your home and maintain it as such. In order to do this, HVAC systems need to be maintained! This means replacing air filters at least every 3 months, dusting and vacuuming the home regularly to avoid the system pulling the contaminants into it and sign up for regular preventative maintenance and check-ups with knowledgeable technicians.
How can it make me sick?
A poorly maintained or dirty HVAC system won’t directly make you ill, but the effects of it could further worsen conditions if in the right setting.
Dirty air ducts
Air ducts run through our entire home, carrying conditioned air and sometimes dust, dirt, and other debris. If air ducts are not cleaned, they could be a great breeding ground for the dust to build up, and if not taken care of, can leak into your home and release airborne irritants which can worsen asthma, allergies, and COPD.
Low humidity
Poorly regulated humidity or prolonged use of a heater can lower the humidity levels drastically in your home. Dry air and subsequently cause headaches and migraines, which can obviously put a damper on health, mood, and overall happiness, especially over a prolonged period of time.
Call us
Wondering how to make your HVAC system more clean, efficient, and healthy? Need help with anything air quality? Please, don’t hesitate in giving us a call here at Tri-Point Refrigeration. We’re happy to hear from you and are excited to help you along the way.
For a direct line to any of our employees ready on the line to help you, please call…(512) 651-4565 for our Austin, Texas community (806) 686-0050 for our Lubbock, Texas community. Or check out our website at https://www.tripointrefrigeration.com