SPOTLIGHT ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY PRODUCTS

A tightly-sealed home prevents excess strain on your HVAC system, but such a sealed environment can negatively impact your indoor air quality. The quality of your indoor air affects not only the function and efficiency of your HVAC system, but your health and comfort while at home as well. Central heating and cooling systems utilize an air filter to screen particles out of incoming air, such as dust, pollen, animal dander, and other airborne pollutants. However, these filters are only the most basic tool in your arsenal to fight poor-quality indoor air. There are a number of additional air quality products you can add to your home’s HVAC system for cleaner, healthier indoor air throughout the year.

ElectronicAir Cleaners

Electronic air cleaners are designed to fit into your HVAC system as a permanent addition. These air cleaners function using the same basic principles as a standard air filter to screen particles from the air, but utilize one added feature: electrostatic charge. By creating an electrostatic charge and running it across its filter medium, electronic air cleaners attract dirt, dust, and other charged particulates to the filter, where they effectively become stuck to the filter medium. This medium is reusable—every so often, you’ll need to remove the filter medium and wash it, then you can simply replace it and restart your electronic air cleaner for continued operation.

UV Lamps

Ultraviolet (UV) light is comprised of energetic photons. Since 1903, scientists have known that exposing bacteria and viruses to concentrated UV light will kill them, and UV lights have been used to sanitize hospital and health care facility air for decades. Today, you can gain the same benefits at home by installing a UV lamp in your HVAC system—all that’s required is a small hole cut in your duct work above the air handler, through which the lamp is fitted so it can illuminate air as it moves through your HVAC system and into your duct work for distribution to the living areas of your home. UV lamp maintenance is minimal, with most bulbs lasting an average of one full year before requiring replacement.

Humidifiers

Not all indoor air quality products focus on cleansing your indoor air. While clean air is important, factors such as humidity can also affect your health and comfort, as well as the longevity of your belongings and even the finishes in your home. Air that is too dry can cause static electricity to build up, as well as irritate the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat. Dry air can also damage your home’s finishes over time, causing them to crack or peel. Whole-home humidifiers are installed as part of your home’s heating system, adding humidity to the air after your furnace heats it. During the summer, you should turn off the power and water to your humidifier to keep it in good shape. Additionally, the humidifier’s evaporative pad should be changed periodically to ensure it stays clean and mold-free to keep your home’s air clean as well.

Your Columbus-area HVAC service can help you make the right choice when it comes to purchasing, installing, and maintaining products to improve your indoor air quality. Please look through our websiteto learn more about the products and services we offer, or take a look at our blog for more home heating, cooling, and air quality tips.