5 HVAC Upgrades for Healthier Air: From Filters to Fresh-Air Kits

HVACs are a great option for keeping your indoor air clean. A high indoor air quality allows you to breathe in fresh air without worrying about pollutants.

Having regular maintenance on the HVAC up-to-date is important for healthier air. It is crucial that you upgrade your air conditioning system to prevent any potential pollutants.

This blog discusses 5 HVAC upgrades that can help keep your air quality high.

As you may know, upgrading a HVAC system is very important. Without upgrades, you may deal with pollutants detrimental to your health.

Some of these pollutants are:

• Dust
• VOCs
• Moisture

Dust

Dust, pollen, and other allergens are an accumulation of a variety of particulates in an area. These particulates are dead skin cells, carpet fiber, pollen and pet dander. With improper ventilation and infrequent cleaning, dust builds up in many areas.

Unfortunately, dust build up leads to dust mites and allergies affecting the person. The presence of more dust can also add allergens to the air. For example, pollen and pet dander can mix into the dust, causing allergic reactions and even respiratory issues.

VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are organic chemical compounds that contain carbon. Some VOCs include pesticides, formaldehyde and other substances. VOCs evaporate into the air and are in everyday products.

Common places where VOCs are found are cleaning products, paints and adhesives. These airborne particles can cause headaches, nausea, and other negative side effects. VOCs are also common in areas with less ventilation and dirty filters.

Moisture

While moisture is not a pollutant, too much moisture can lead to pollution. The biggest pollutants caused by excess moisture are mold and mildew. Mold and mildew can damage your property and decrease the indoor air quality.

Mold and mildew also can lead to the attraction of pests to your home or office space. If at any time you suspect mold, call a professional for help, depending on the scope. For small sections of mold, use proper cleaning supplies to safely sanitize and remove the contaminated area.

Most increases in moisture are due to low air flow within the home. This is something that an HVAC system can prevent along with proper ventilation.

If you believe it is time to upgrade your air conditioning system, there are several options available. These options keep your system up to date. They also prevent the common HVAC related pollutants from entering your home.

AC Filter Replacement

One of the upgrades you can do is an AC filter replacement. Depending on the age of the air conditioner, you may have an older AC filter. However, most modern HVAC systems have air filters that scale on Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings.

The higher the MERV rating, the more accurate the HVAC filter is at capturing harmful particulate matter. The MERV rating ranges from 1 to 20 but you need professional guidance to have a higher MERV.

For homes, use air filters that have a MERV rating between 5 and 10. Ask a professional if your HVAC system can handle more than 10 MERV. AC filters work well with vent filters to help increase the airflow as well.

Upgrade the Ductwork

Upgrading the ductwork is another option you can do for healthier air. Most ductwork brings outdoor air indoors and delivers the air where people need it.

Over time, the ductwork can have dust build up causing poor airflow throughout the home. This can decrease the indoor air quality and cause harmful pollutants to make you sick.

By upgrading the ductwork, you can improve the comfort of your home and the efficiency of your HVAC. It will also help to reduce the energy bill and negative pollutants in your home.

Adding an Air Scrubber

An additional upgrade you can do to the HVAC is adding an air scrubber. An air scrubber helps improve the air quality by sending out antimicrobial agents in the air. When the agents are sent out, they attack various pollutants like mold and bacteria.

Air scrubbers help to get rid of gases, vapors, VOCs and other odors. Making them one of the best options cleaning air in HVACs.

Addition of UV Light

Ultraviolet lights are a great upgrade for your air conditioning system as well. The ultraviolet light helps to cleanse the air by killing microorganisms. The UV-C is also helpful for sterilizing and disinfecting certain areas.

Installing UV lights in air handlers and ductwork helps to remove stronger pollutants like bacteria, mold, and other particulates. The use of UV light is also beneficial for keeping HVAC coils clean by removing buildup and grime.

Air Purifiers

Integrating a HEPA air purifier with your HVAC system will tremendously help the air quality. A HEPA filter is a special type of air filter that captures about 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size. One of the benefits of adding an air purifier to the HVAC is that the circulating air is filtered and purified.

Another benefit of using an air purifier is that it can help to reduce allergies and potential respiratory issues. Air purifiers are also great for prolonging the lifespan of the HVAC system.

Knowing when to replace, repair or upgrade your HVAC system is a difficult decision to make. However, we recommend finding ways to upgrade your system to avoid repair and early replacement.

Upgrading your air conditioner is also a much cheaper option than repairing or replacing the unit. While we recommend upgrading, the following is a list of reasons that you might repair or replace the unit instead.

Upgrade the unit for:

• Improved Comfort
• Enhanced Energy Efficiency
• Increased Indoor Air Quality

Repair the unit:

• When there are minor issues with the HVAC (worn belt, faulty capacitor, or minor electrical problems)
• The system is newer
• Lower cost of repair vs. replacing the system

Replace the Unit:

• When the age of the system is over 15 years old
• Rising energy bills
• Poor Performance
• Constant Breakdowns

Upgrading your HVAC system leads to healthier air quality in your home. Carefully consider which upgrades you can add system to improve your life now. Shop air filter replacements at HomElectrical!