More than 25 million Americans suffer from asthma, nearly 2 million of whom ended up in the emergency room in 2015 alone.

Whether you suffer from asthma or not, the quality of the air you breathe has a big impact on your life. Effective HVAC equipment will keep the air in your home clean and help keep you healthy.

Let’s look at some effective air quality solutions for your home.

HVAC Indoor Air Quality Solutions

HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Quality HVAC systems will maintain the temperature and quality of the air in your home all year, regardless of the weather conditions or season.

Beyond heating and air conditioning, there are several components to a good HVAC system that will keep your air clean:

  • Ventilation
  • Air cleaner
  • Humidifier and/or dehumidifier

Why Ventilation is Important

The ventilation component of HVAC improves indoor air quality by swapping it with fresh air from outside the home. Without proper ventilation, the air gets recirculated and your HVAC has to work harder to clean it. Or alternatively, some allergens may not be fully removed.

When the air exhausts outside your home, outside air circulates back in. HVAC systems filter the incoming air to remove dust, dirt, and other allergens so you get clean, fresh air in your home.

Air Cleaners

Air cleaners can be built into your HVAC system or they can be smaller portable systems that you can use in problem areas as needed. These air cleaners capture dust and dirt but they also filter other allergens such as:

  • Pollen
  • Pet dander
  • Smoke
  • Bacteria

High-quality air cleaners even filter out some airborne pathogens, like common cold viruses.

Make sure you get an air cleaner with both a high-efficiency collector and a high circulation rate to get the best results. A high-efficiency collector with a low circulation rate, or vice-versa, may not remove all the allergens from the air.

Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Humidifiers and dehumidifiers maintain the humidity in your home regardless of the weather or temperature outside. The need for either or both will vary, depending on where you live.

Whole-house humidification systems will connect to your HVAC system and maintain the humidity of the air throughout your home. Portable systems are ideal for smaller areas, particularly if you have problem spots such as a damp basement, for example.

ExtraTips for Keeping Your Air Clean

While your HVAC system is the most important part of indoor air quality solutions, there are some things you can do to help.

First, don’t locate your HVAC equipment in a garage or other space where it can bring contaminants into your home. Remember that it’s pulling in the air around it and the cleaner the air it starts with, the cleaner the air you breathe.

Store cleaners, paint, pesticides, and other chemicals and solvents outside of your living space. These can be especially strong sources of allergens.

Open windows to increase ventilation when you’re cleaning or using other high-polluting products. But keep in mind that opening windows can bring other allergens in from outside so limit the amount of time they’re open.

Proper HVAC Maintenance is Important

Maintaining your HVAC system will help ensure the air in your home is as clean and allergen-free as possible. Change your filters every month and watch for signs of problems. More dust than normal or strange smells throughout the house are signs that your HVAC system may need maintenance.

If you’re in the Franklin area, Sewell Electric Company can help you find the right air quality solutions. We’ll stop by your home to assess it and give you a fair quote. We guarantee our team of experts will provide top-notch service so contact us today.