Smart Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality During the Pandemic
Spending more time at home can worsen indoor air quality. Learn how the right HVAC filter, regular changes, and air purification systems keep your air cleaner.
As the pandemic forced people to stay in their homes for much of the time, the outdoor air quality improved drastically. Fewer people going places meant less airborne pollutants expelled from motor vehicles, factories, and restaurants. However, even as the air outdoors has gotten healthier, the air indoors has gotten worse. People looking for ways to occupy themselves while cooped up indoors have turned to cooking and cleaning more often—two activities that release indoor air contaminants. Here is how you can improve your indoor air quality with help from the experts at American Conditioned Air.
Use a good HVAC filter.
Your HVAC system collects airborne contaminants such as dust, pollen, and pet dander. It's essential to clean the air using a high-quality filter. At American Conditioned Air, we recommend using a white, pleated filter with a MERV rating of seven or eight. You can purchase a filter with a higher MERV rating, which will capture smaller particles. However, be cautious about using a filter with too high of a rating, as this will restrict the airflow of your system. Consequently, this will negatively affect the performance of your HVAC system.
Change your HVAC filter regularly.
Using a high-quality filter is only part of the solution for improving your indoor air quality. You will also need to change it regularly. As a general rule of thumb, you should check your HVAC filter once per month. If it looks mostly dirty, replace it. If it's only mildly dirty, it's good for another month.
Consider investing in air purification systems.
Everyone needs an HVAC filter in their home, but what if you want to go the extra mile for better indoor air quality? At American Conditioned Air, we offer a couple of high-tech options. You might want to install a whole-house air purification system, for example. Another popular option is a UV light system. Ultraviolet light kills germs entering your home before they reach the airflow that is distributed throughout the building.
If you're concerned about your indoor air quality, get in touch with the experts at American Conditioned Air to talk about your options. We're happy to install UV lights and whole-house air purification systems in homes and businesses throughout the greater Tucson area. You can reach us at (520) 623-2430.