Ventilation Maintenance and Healthy Air

You may wonder why your ventilation needs maintenance when all you need to do to ventilate your home is open a window or a door. But ventilation maintenance is a bit more involved than that. Read on to find out how.

Understand the ‘V’ in HVAC

First, the type of HVAC system you install in your house is crucial to the quality of your air. A system that’s too big for your home short cycles, switching on and off too frequently. Because of this, air doesn’t circulate well, and the system can’t remove excess humidity. This can lead to the growth of mold. On the other hand, an HVAC system that’s too small will strain to heat and cool your home. This can shorten its working life. A system whose filters aren’t changed or cleaned regularly puts contaminants into the air and into the HVAC system itself. This can damage it.

Enjoy the Benefits of Duct Inspection and Cleaning

Another way to help maintain ventilation in your home is to have a technician check your ductwork. In a traditional HVAC system, ducts transport cooled or heated air into the rooms of your home via vents in the floor. These ducts can develop leaks that allow the air to escape but suck in pollutants.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) advises homeowners to have their ducts cleaned at least once every five years to reduce allergens and eliminate unpleasant odors. If your ducts aren’t cleaned, air pollutants can circulate in the air you breathe when you’re at home.

Go Beyond Opening Windows

Opening doors and windows allows fresh air to circulate around the rooms of your home. You can help this circulation by installing exhaust fans in rooms that usually get a lot of humidity, such as your bathroom, mudroom and kitchen.

Clean Your Home Regularly

Cleaning your home by wiping down, dusting, mopping and vacuuming also removes pollutants that can get into the air. Make sure to use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter with your vacuum. This type of filter removes pollen, bacteria, aerosols and viruses from the air. These pollutants have diameters that are as small as 0.3 micrometers; a micrometer equals one-millionth of a meter.

Don’t Smoke Indoors

If you or someone in your household smokes, make sure it’s done outdoors. Smoking ruins the health of your indoor air and can irritate the respiratory systems of people sensitive to smoke.

Invest in an Air Purifier

Another way to support the health of your indoor air is to buy an air purifier. Air purifiers should also come with HEPA filters as well as activated carbon filters. These filters scrub bad smells and chemical vapors from your air.

Call Us to Learn More About Your Home’s Air Quality

The ventilation part of your HVAC system contributes to the quality of your indoor air and needs maintenance. If you’re interested in duct cleaning and other ways to keep your air fresh and clean in Temecula, CA, call our professionals at ProFlo Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing.