7 Air Pollutant Questions To Ask Your Air Conditioning Service Provider | Mohave Valley, AZ

Better indoor air quality is essential for your home’s comfort and the well-being of your family. Hence, it is understandable why you could have many questions about this topic. To ensure that your family doesn’t suffer sick building syndrome (SBS), Allergies, and other respiratory complications such as bronchitis and asthma, you should leave nothing to chance when it comes to improving indoor air quality. One of the most important steps in this process is having a regular air conditioning service. This way, you can ensure that things like ducts and filters are cleaned, there is an improved airflow, and your AC unit can properly regulate indoor humidity. Even you could have many questions, such as:

What are the Major Indoor Air Pollutants?

There are about seven indoor air pollutants. Regardless, you should do everything you can to keep them at bay. They include;

Biological pollutants: There are many biological air pollutants, such as viruses, animal dander, dust mites, viruses, mold, and pollen.

Carbon monoxide: This is a colorless and odorless, albeit toxic gas. Because you cannot see, smell, or even taste it, it could kill you even before you notice. It mainly comes from incomplete combustion in the HVAC system or furnace. To prevent this, ensure you have a regular air conditioning service. This includes cleaning the burners, unclogging the flue, and discovering cracked heat exchangers.

Asbestos: this is a mineral fiber naturally occurring in soil and rock. It is widely used in various manufactured goods. A high concentration of asbestos in the air will most likely arise after someone disturbs materials containing asbestos.

Pesticides: The materials/chemicals used to kill or control pests like bacteria, fungi, rodents, and insects in your home are inherently toxic.

Secondhand smoke: The mixture of smoke emanating from burning tobacco products and smoke produced by smokers can also lower your indoor air quality. Unfortunately, this can result in issues like cardiovascular diseases, infant death syndrome, and lung cancer.

Indoor Particulate matter: The complex mixture of liquid and/or solid particles suspended in the air also impacts your home’s indoor air quality.

How Can You Check the Indoor Air Quality?

To check the IAQ at your home, you can buy an indoor air quality monitoring device and have an air conditioning service provider install it. The always-on electronic gadgets continuously test and report your home’s air pollution levels.

What Measures Can You Take to Enhance the Indoor Air Quality?

As mentioned above, ensuring an air conditioning service is among the most important ways of ensuring better indoor air quality. Others are;

Checking the static pressure in the air ducts: Static pressure is the resistance to airflow at your home. High static pressure means your unit will not pump enough air at home, reducing airflow. This is among the leading causes of poor IAQ. If the professional determines the ducts have a static pressure higher or lower than recommended, they will take the required steps to resolve the issue.

Regularly changing the air filters: An air filter is a component of your air conditioner that traps any contaminants and pollutants such as dust, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and hairs from reaching your indoor space. However, they get clogged with time, something that has a significant impact on your IAQ. Thus, ensure you wash or change the filters every 1-3 months.

Clean the ductwork: Poorly maintained or even installed ductwork can easily transfer contaminants from one space to the next and subsequently in your entire house. Hence, ensure that your ducts are inspected during the air conditioning service. If they are dirty or you cannot recall when you last had them cleaned, then you should have a professional clean them.

Control the Indoor Humidity: Moist and humid conditions breed mildew and mold that triggers respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies. If your unit cannot regulate the humidity properly, you should consider installing a dehumidifier or a humidifier.

What are the Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality?

There are many sources of indoor air quality issues. The main causes in the indoor environment include ventilation system issues, humidity problems, inadequate temperatures, and poor air circulation. Contaminants that can cause poor indoor air quality are as discussed above. An insufficient outdoor air intake can also cause poor indoor air quality. Investigating these causes, it becomes clear that regular air conditioning services can address most of them.

What are the Signs of Bad IAQ?

Have you noticed an increased headache, fatigue, coughing, and sneezing cases at your home? These indicate that you have a poor IAQ. Other signs include irritation and dryness of the throat, eyes, skin, and nose, sinus congestion, nausea, hypersensitivity to allergens, sick-building syndrome, and shortness of breath. Whenever you notice either, begin by checking the air filters. Call an air conditioning service provider and have your HVAC system ducts, evaporators, and other parts checked for mold growth and other contaminants.

Are Air Purifiers Any Good?

Air purifiers can help you improve indoor air quality. Depending on your model, they will have a huge pricing range and impact the IAQ. EPA-reviewed studies have improved cardiovascular health and allergy and asthma symptoms in homes where air purifiers are installed. Hence, you should have an air conditioning service provider install and maintain one at your home and maintain it.

Can an Air Purifier Kill Virus?

Most air purifiers effectively remove over 99% of airborne viruses. Humans cause most airborne diseases at home and work. Sneezing or coughing releases tiny droplets of water or mucus that carry viruses or bacteria, and they enter the air and enter your lungs. An air conditioning service provider installing air purifiers will effectively eliminate such transmissions.

Do you still have any questions about indoor air quality? At Pitzer’s One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Mohave County, we’re ready to clear your doubts. Call us for more information on improving your IAQ.

See our previous blog on this topic here.