Measure AC Air Quality: Tools & Tips for Peak Performance

Having a high indoor air quality rating keeps your living spaces healthy and safe. One of the best options to cleanse the indoor air is using your HVAC systems. Most AC units have air filters that trap indoor air pollutants.

While air conditioners do a great job of keeping the internal air quality high, check your system regularly. Regular checks help measure the AC air quality and see possible issues with the system.

This blog discusses how to measure AC air quality for peak performance.

Air conditioners can have a positive impact on the air quality in homes. Most modern air conditioners include functions to create a healthy living environment. Some of these functions are:

• Humidity Control
• Filtration System
• Ventilation

Humidity Control

Depending on the season, temperatures and humidity levels can rise in homes dramatically. As a result, air conditioning units are important in removing excess moisture from the air.

The higher the levels of humidity, the more likely mold and mildew growth can appear. The presence of mold or mildew can lead to many health risks including respiratory issues and allergy symptoms. So, using an air conditioner helps to reduce the chance of high levels of humidity.

Low levels of humidity can also be a problem. Discomfort and dry skin can arise if the humidity is too low. Use the air conditioner to keep an optimal humidity level between 30% and 50%.

Filtration System

The filtration system inside an air conditioner is a key component to combat indoor pollutants. AC units have air filters that trap various air pollutants from moving around in indoor spaces.

Since the air filters are continuously trapping the pollutants, they can become dirty. We recommend cleaning or changing the air filters every three months. By constantly changing the air filters, you can ensure the indoor quality will improve.

Ventilation

Ventilation is important for homes because it mixes the indoor and outdoor air. This gives the home a better opportunity to release the old indoor quality of air. Air conditioners work with your homes ventilation to help circulate air better in your home.

You can also try improving the ventilation of your home. Opening a window, door, or cabinet can help create better air circulation.

While air conditioners can have positive effects on IAQ, they can also have negative effects as well. As mentioned above, air filters trap dirty pollutants keeping the air fresh. However, the continuous trapping of dirty pollutants will make filters dirty.

If you do not change the dirty filters, it can cause the HVAC system to trap fewer pollutants. This means less air will circulate throughout the room. Filters that are clogged will also reduce the efficiency of the HVAC system. Unfortunately, this increases the indoor pollutants and result in poor indoor air quality.

A duct leak is also an issue that can decrease the IAQ. Leaks introduce pollutants from unconditioned spaces, like attics, into indoor air supplies. Pollutants like mold spores can enter living areas and cause damage.

Good ventilation is why air conditioning units are helpful to increase the IAQ. However, poor ventilation leads to poor IAQ because of the buildup of indoor air pollutants. Poor ventilation can also lead to the HVAC smelling musty. We recommend having proper ventilation to prevent this from occurring.

If you notice any of these issues, please contact a licensed HVAC technician to assist you.

To prevent potential AC-specific IAQ issues, look for inline or probe style sensors. These sensors give real-time statistics on the air quality in an area.

Inline Sensors

Inline IAQ sensors are installed directly within the airflow path of the HVAC system. They are great for compiling data about the air that comes and goes from an area. The data helps to see the performance of the HVAC system.

Inline sensors are also good for spotting potential problems that can lead to pollution. The sensors even produce better ventilation to help with the fresh air and the removal of pollutants.

While inline sensors are beneficial, they have their limitations. For example, they cannot fully capture the concentration of pollutants within a certain area.

Probe-style sensors

Probe-style sensors are sensors placed 3 to 6 feet in front of the indoor space. These types of sensors are beneficial because they provide a more accurate reading of the air quality than inline sensors.

The probe-style sensors also help to find localized pollution problems. In other words, they can find where the problems originate from within each household. Probe-style sensors are also great because of their portability.

Like inline sensors, it is also important to know the limitations of probe-style sensors. If the placement of the sensor is not precise, then the readings will not be accurate. Probe-style sensors do not get a complete picture of the whole building. Probe-style sensors are for localized leaks and pollutants, therefore, they do not paint a complete picture for an entire building.

Choose between inline and probe-style sensors based on your preferences and what you need.

Before contractors measure the air quality in an AC there are comprehensive checks they should do. Below we discuss the most important parts of the evaluation process. These processes include:

• Beginning the assessment
• Performance test
• Analyze data
• Recommendations

Beginning the Assessment

To start the assessment, a technician will get information about where the air quality has been poor. The technician can identify pollutants and their potential sources. They will also check the AC unit details to better understand the unit and how it works.

Electricians will need to check for issues around the place to ensure there are no other obvious issues.

Performance Test

Once they complete the initial screening, they will start the performance test. In this test, they check the condition of the air filter. Clean air filters provide more efficiency, so it is important to clean or replace them. If you do replace the filters, make sure to replace it with a clean HEPA filter.

Then, the electrician will check the air ducts. The air ducts may need cleaning and the electrician will assess any weaknesses in your air ducts. During the assessment, the technician will also measure temperature and humidity changes in each room.

Lastly, it is important to track the unit throughout the day to see the length and time it takes for the system to kick in. If the system runs all day, then there might be an issue.

Analyze data

After the test is completed, the technician will go over all the data from the test. Compare the data to see if there are any abnormalities within the tested air. The analysis will look for carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, or humidity.

Carbon dioxide is an odorless gas that can cause many health problems. By simply breathing in carbon dioxide, you are risking having respiratory issues down the line.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also harmful gases that can flow into your home. Most VOCs come from products that are harmful to the environment and you. These include cleaning supplies, nail polish, perfume and even new furniture.

Find ways to use less products that create (VOCs).

Humidity is also an issue that can rise as well. The more moisture in the room, the higher the chances for mold and mildew. Test every room seasonally or whenever maintenance occurs to ensure mold and mildew levels don't rise.

Recommendations

After thorough analyzing of the system, the contractor will give you the details of the report and possible recommendations. If any issues arise with the system, it might be best to replace the system. However, check with the electrician to ensure it's not just a simple fix like changing dirty filters.

To help keep the air quality at a good level, we encourage using Rely Safety’s Knox Carbon Monoxide detector.

While the process can be tedious, measure and test your AC Air Quality to ensure it is working properly. We recommend scheduling regular checks to keep the air quality in good rating and your family safe.