HVAC Indoor Air Quality
Indoor humidity in San Antonio, TX

The quality of the air inside and outside of your San Antonio, TX home can affect your health. Outside, the air can be contaminated with things like pollution and pollen. Many people spend more time indoors to avoid exposure. However, indoor air quality can be contaminated as well. Common irritants include pet dander, dust, mold spores and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Comparing indoor and outdoor air quality can help you make educated decisions to protect your well-being and prevent health issues.

Considering Your Exposure

Most people spend approximately 90% of their day indoors. Because of this, indoor air quality (IAQ) is extremely important. When a home lacks proper ventilation, this can increase exposure to contaminants. Some people are especially vulnerable to things like allergy symptoms and asthma attacks.

The number of outdoor pollutants that you’re exposed to will depend on where you live, the current weather conditions and the amount of time you’re spending outside. It’s common for people living in urban areas to be exposed to high levels of pollution from industrial buildings and automobiles.

The Impact of Air Quality on Your Health

Poor indoor and outdoor air quality can lead to temporary and long-term health consequences. If your home has a high prevalence of particulate matter, you may experience sneezing, coughing, eye irritation and shortness of breath. These symptoms should go away when your indoor air quality improves. However, long-term exposure to these contaminants can lead to cardiovascular issues, mental health problems and an increased risk of asthma.

Outdoor air pollution has been linked to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, reduced lung function, asthma flares and premature mortality. The quality of the air we breathe has a direct impact on how we feel and how healthy we are.

How Do You Monitor Air Quality?

There are different ways you can monitor the quality of the air inside your home and outside. There are air quality monitors that can report the level of volatile organic compounds in the air, CO2 levels, particulate matter presence and even humidity. You can use these devices in your home, allowing you to make changes based on the data you collect.

You can find information on the quality of the air outside using websites and apps that report data from satellite imaging, weather stations and air quality indices. When outdoor air quality is poor, you can head inside to an area with optimal indoor air quality to limit your exposure.

Controlling Air Quality

There are several things you can do to improve indoor air quality. For starters, make sure that you are encouraging proper airflow throughout your home to minimize the number of pollutants that accumulate. You can do this using exhaust fans and ventilation equipment.

Air purification devices can remove particulate matter from your indoor air using high-quality filters. For example, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can remove as much as 99.97% of the particulate matter in your indoor air.

Choose greener materials for your home to reduce exposure to volatile organic compounds. Avoid chemical-based cleaning products and air fresheners. If you are having renovations done, opt for materials and paints that have low VOC emissions.

Keep up with household cleaning and maintenance to reduce the prevalence of dust, dust mites and pet dander.

There are global standards that have the potential to improve air quality outside. This includes regulatory policies where government agencies set emission standards, encourage the use of green energy and support the use of public transportation to cut down on emissions produced by automobiles.

Considering Your Ductwork and HVAC System

Your HVAC system is a very important part of maintaining healthy indoor air quality. Not only does your HVAC system keep your indoor temperature comfortable, but it can also help you control humidity. High levels of relative humidity can lead to a high presence of particulate matter. Your HVAC system also has a filter, which will remove large particulate matter from the air that’s circulating through your system.

You should schedule a routine inspection and maintenance for your HVAC system once per year. This is an opportunity for a knowledgeable professional to spot potential problems and complete repairs. Not catching issues early can lead to catastrophic malfunctions that leave you without use of your heating or cooling equipment.

Make sure that you change the filter in your HVAC system once every 30 to 90 days. The exact time frame depends on the type of filter you’re using, the recommendation provided by the manufacturer and how often you run your heating and cooling equipment. When choosing a filter, refer to the minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV for short. The higher the MERV rating, the more effective a filter is at removing particulate matter. However, MERV filters with a high rating are restrictive. Make sure you’re not using a filter that will impede airflow through your system. This can lead to HVAC strain and malfunctions.

Have a professional routinely inspect your ductwork as well. This series of ducting moves conditioned air throughout your home. If there are cracks or damage present, this allows particulate matter to enter your ducting and circulate. This diminishes indoor air quality. Repairs can be made to your ductwork, and replacement may be necessary periodically. You can schedule a duct sealing every three to five years. This process repairs small holes and cracks in your ductwork using specialized sealants.

Sealing Gaps and Cracks

Maintaining a tight home envelope allows you to keep polluted outdoor air from coming inside. Even newer homes have small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and their foundation. These areas should be sealed with caulk, expanding spray foam or weatherstripping. Not only does this protect your indoor air quality, but it also makes your HVAC system more efficient due to decreased heat loss.

Controlling Humidity

We mentioned that running your HVAC system can help control relative humidity in your home. It’s important that your indoor humidity level is always between 35% and 50%. High humidity allows more particulate matter to be held in the air, but it can also promote the growth of mold. Low levels of humidity can irritate your sinuses and skin.

Rather than using a portable humidifier or dehumidifier to address a small amount of square footage at one time, consider whole-house equipment. These units can be installed onto your HVAC system, adding or removing moisture from the air passing through your system, into your ducts and out vents and registers. Just make sure you’re having this equipment routinely inspected and maintained to ensure it is working properly. They may have filters that need to be changed periodically. Make sure the drain line for your dehumidifier is clear and moving water away from your home.

Air Authority, A Riteway Service Company is dedicated to helping homeowners in the San Antonio area maintain healthy indoor air quality. We can install whole-home air purification and filtration equipment, repair and seal your ducts and install insulation to promote a tight home envelope. Contact our team at Air Authority, A Riteway Service Company today to schedule an appointment in the San Antonio area.

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