Indoor air pollution can be a big problem for people with allergies or asthma. Even those without health issues can have respiratory problems if indoor air pollution gets bad enough. Dust, mites, pet dander, mold, and other pollutants can get trapped in your home, causing the air quality to go down. This is why air conditioners have air filters to keep your air clean, but those filters wear out and get dirty, so it is important to stay on top of indoor air quality.
If you want to learn more about indoor air pollution, air filters, or which air filters are best for people living with asthma or allergies, your HVAC service professional can help. In St. Louis and the surrounding areas, get in touch with the heating & air conditioning professionals at Galmiche & Sons to learn more, and find out how well your unit is cleaning the air before feeding it back into your home.
Causes of Summer Indoor Air Pollution
There are a few things that can cause an increase in indoor air pollution over the warmer summer months.
- For one, if you have pets, you will find they shed more in the spring and summer, which can mean a lot more pet dander in the air.
- Seasonal allergies can be another issue. If you open the windows to enjoy the warm weather, you are also bringing in pollen and other pollutants.
- Beyond that, the biggest issue in the summer is increased humidity. With more humid weather comes dampness in your home. This promotes the growth of mold, dust mites, and bacteria. These can cause issues for anyone but are especially dangerous for those with existing respiratory problems.
What You Can Do Right Now to Reduce Air Pollution in Your Home
The easiest and most important thing you can do to combat indoor air pollution is to change the air filters in your air conditioner regularly. You can do this yourself, or have a service professional do it for you. For those with allergies, you might want to replace the air filters as often as once a month. This can go a long way towards keeping indoor air pollution under control.
Another thing you can do is take steps to keep your HVAC system from becoming too dirty. One of the best DIY air conditioner tips out there is to clean your unit regularly. Any debris or buildup on the system is going to increase indoor air pollution and keep your air conditioner from cleaning the air effectively. Another option is to use UV lights in your ductwork, which will kill off mold and other pollutants, reducing indoor air pollution.
Air Purification Systems
For those with respiratory problems or allergies, you might need a more powerful solution. Installing an air purifier in your air conditioner can help reduce indoor air pollution quite well. A high-quality air purifier treats the air as it goes through your HVAC system, using electrical charges to trap particles onto collector plates. Additionally, there are other systems available that use UV light, additional filters, and oxidation to reduce pollutants.
To learn more about installing an air purification system in your air conditioner, get in touch with the heating & air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons in St. Louis today.
