While many of us can’t wait for the hot summer season to arrive so that we can spend more time outdoors, it’s important to prep your HVAC system to deal with the difference in temperature. If you or another member of your household suffers from allergies, you know how detrimental hot weather can be to your indoor air quality.
High Humidity Levels
One of the very first ways that hot weather can affect your home is by increasing the humidity level. Homes that are poorly insulated cannot adequately keep out the humid air, which will provide the perfect environment for mold and mildew to thrive. Many unwanted airborne contaminants, like dust mites, are more active during hot, humid temperatures.
This can increase your frequency of experiencing allergy flare-ups while relaxing at home. It’s also vital to note that high humidity levels make it harder for your body to naturally sweat and cool itself down. This will leave you feeling hot and stuffy and likely result in you turning the temperature down on your thermostat to help compensate for your condition.
One of the absolute best ways to combat high indoor humidity is by investing in a whole-home dehumidification system. This device gets installed right in your return ductwork and actively works alongside your air conditioner to pull excess humidity out of the air traveling through your ductwork.
These systems are extremely convenient because you can set your desired relative indoor humidity level, and the system will automatically kick on when necessary to remove excess moisture when the indoor humidity level gets higher than your setting. Even better, they come with a built-in drain system so that you don’t have to worry about emptying compartments like with portable dehumidifiers.
Higher Pollen Count
Pollen is just one of many airborne allergens that can aggravate your allergy symptoms and cause unwanted flare-ups. As pollen infiltrates your home through open doors and windows, on your pet’s fur, and even on your clothing, it can reduce your indoor air quality level. One of the best ways to help combat these unwanted airborne allergens is to invest in a quality HVAC filter.
All filters have a MERV rating, which signifies their ability to remove airborne contaminants. The higher the rating, the better the filtration. Filters are typically available from a rating as low as one all the way up to 20 or more. Most HVAC professionals recommend purchasing a filter with a rating between 10 and 13 if you routinely suffer from allergy flare-ups while indoors.
Anything higher than 13 is typically reserved for industrial and commercial equipment that is more powerful. If you try running that type of filter in your residential cooling system, it will drastically reduce its operating efficiency and put a massive strain on its internal components.
Because your air conditioning system will be running often throughout the summer months, it’s routinely circulating air that’s contaminated with particles like dust, bacteria, and mold. Routinely changing your HVAC filter every one to three months is an absolute necessity to ensure you’re removing unwanted particles while still allowing your air conditioner to operate efficiently.
More VOC Emissions
Volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs for short, are gases that are released from man-made products like furniture, cleaning solutions, and even paint. Heat is well known to increase the off-gassing process from these products, leading to a higher VOC level in your home. Some VOC compounds can be harmful to your respiratory health, as they can contaminate the air that you breathe. So, you want to take measures to quickly remove them from your living environment.
One of the best ways to handle VOC off-gassing during the summer months is to procure an extended media filter along with an activated carbon filter. You’ll want to have an activated carbon filter that will actively absorb VOCs to remove them from your air. Extended media filters get installed in your return ducting so that they can treat all the air traveling through it before it reaches your indoor air handler unit.
Poor Airflow
When temperatures outside are sweltering, many of us close off our doors and windows to run our air conditioning systems. While this is great for remaining comfortable, it’s not so great for your indoor air quality. Any contaminants inside your home will be trapped indoors. Without fresh outside air coming into your home, the particles aren’t being properly diluted. This leads to an influx in the concentration of these unwanted airborne contaminants.
One of the most effective systems for dealing with all types of airborne contaminants is UV germicidal lighting. These come in two different forms, which are coil sanitizing and air sanitizing. Both use a UV light that shines into the air to disrupt the DNA of unwanted airborne particles. This renders them unable to reproduce and eventually causes them to die off. This device is great for minimizing the amount of bacteria, viruses, dust mites, mold spores, and other particulate airborne matter in your home.
Other Tips for Great Summertime Indoor Air Quality
Apart from the methods we went over above to boost your indoor air quality during summer, there are many other measures you can take to further enhance air quality. One simple tip is to ensure you’re always running your exhaust fans in your kitchens and bathrooms.
Whenever you’re cooking on the stove, it’s not just steam that comes out of your pot. Any oils and compounds you’re cooking with will vaporize into the air. Without proper ventilation to the outdoors, those unwanted compounds can remain in your environment and reduce air quality levels. The same holds true for your bathroom, as steam from the shower can include soap and other unwanted contaminants.
Your ductwork is constantly circulating air with airborne contaminants in it. Unfortunately, some of those contaminants, like dust mites or pet dander, can accumulate inside your ductwork. This not only restricts the airflow for your system and makes your air conditioner work harder, but it also reduces your indoor air quality.
One of the best ways to help combat this buildup of unwanted debris is with professional duct cleaning. Most HVAC professionals recommend duct cleaning every three to five years. However, if you or another member of your household suffers from asthma, allergies, or another respiratory condition, you may want to consider scheduling this service every one to two years.
Professional Air Quality Testing and Solutions
If you’re dealing with poor indoor air quality during this hot summer season, one of the best things you can do is enlist our help to get a professional air quality assessment. This is where we test the air quality in different rooms throughout your home to determine what contaminants are present and in what concentrations. This will allow us to recommend the appropriate indoor air quality devices and services to actively treat the air quality problems in your home.
Reliable Indoor Air Quality Service
CAM Air offers reliable indoor air quality service for the Mesa, AZ community. We can also improve your comfort by helping with all your whole-home air purification, indoor air quality testing, UV lighting, air filters, and humidity control needs. Contact our friendly staff today to book your next service consultation with one of our highly experienced technicians.
