5 Ways Your HVAC System can Prevent Sickness
We recommend taking care of your HVAC system for so many reasons, but did you know one of the reasons is to prevent sickness? Believe it or not, your house may be making you sick! Here are five ways you can care for your HVAC system (and your family!) to prevent sickness this winter and spring.
- Change your air filter regularly
Changing your air filter on a regular basis is one of the easiest ways you can take care of your HVAC system and your family’s health Not only does a clean air filter help your HVAC system keep working properly, efficiently and safely, but a clean air filter helps keep your HVAC system and ductwork clean. When your air filter is dirty, it restricts airflow and causes your HVAC system to work harder. When it’s working harder, it is also harder to trap airborne pollutants from your home’s indoor air – pollutants like viruses, allergens, dust mites, dead skin, mold, pet dander and more. We recommend investing in a high-quality air filter and replacing it once a month for optimal efficiency and filtration. If you use a washable air filter, clean it once a month during times of heavy use.
- Clean your air vents and grilles
When your air vents and grilles are clean, you have better airflow and cleaner air moving throughout your house. Simply turn off your HVAC system and walk around your home to see which vents and grilles need to be cleaned. You might see a dusty grille or an air vent with pet hair on it. Whatever the case may be, remove the dirty vent cover or grille and use a vacuum, soft cloth, duster or brush to clean it. If you wash it with soap and water, be sure you completely dry it afterward before putting it back in place.
- Consider a professional duct cleaning
Just like dirty air filters, vents or grilles, dirty air ducts lower the indoor air quality of your home and prevent your HVAC system from running most efficiently. To ensure proper duct cleaning and no damage is done to your air ducts, we recommend hiring a professional HVAC service like Keith Air Conditioning to perform this service instead of trying to do it yourself. Check out this blog post for more on how our duct cleaning works.
- Consider an air purifier
Air purifiers help improve indoor air quality by neutralizing viruses, bacteria, mold spores, pollen, smoke, pet dander and chemical odors. With those pollutants neutralized, you have clean air to breathe. Check out the selection of air purifiers at a home improvement store to see which is right for your home, or you can even have one installed in your home by an HVAC professional.
- Schedule a maintenance appointment
Make sure your HVAC system is working properly, efficiently and safely with regularly-scheduled maintenance appointments. Our HVAC technician will thoroughly clean the unit and inspect it to make sure no repairs are needed. A clean unit helps with clean air in your home.
Preventing illness in your home has a lot to do with taking good care of your HVAC system, so your indoor air quality is as clean and healthy as it can be. Check out the “Care for Your Air” guide from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for even more information on indoor air quality.
Keith Air Conditioning can assess your home’s indoor air quality, talk with you about air filters and air purifiers, service your HVAC system and perform duct cleaning if needed. Contact us at 251-517-4437 to get started today.