How to Improve Home Air Quality with Air Conditioners

IAQ or Indoor Air Quality is considered to be a vital factor in guaranteeing a comfortable and healthy living environment and because people spend the better part of the day indoors, the kind of air they are exposed to plays a crucial role in their well-being.

When you think of maintaining Indoor Air Quality, you can think of installing a functional air conditioner in your home or office.

Air conditioners are great at improving the quality of air in the home and reducing the risks you face by inhaling bad air in confined spaces, but it all depends on the type of AC you decide to install in your home.

Understanding Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality simply means the quality of air available in a confined space. Some homes are suffused with air pollutants like allergens, dust, mildew, mold, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and more which all contribute to poor health quality. Most appliances can’t measure up to their air conditioner power consumption as it is considered to be quite powerful.

Air Conditioners and IAQ?

Air conditioners do not just regulate temperature in homes, they are also effective at maintaining the quality of air indoors. One of the key components of AC is the filtration system which needs to be maintained on a regular basis for it to function optimally. In addition, AC helps in controlling humidity levels and also prevents mildew and mold from growing. It is the ventilation part of the AC that circulates fresh air in the home while minimizing the concentration of pollutants to the barest minimum. To do all these, the air conditioner will use some amount of energy. Your having a good knowledge of air conditioner energy usage will go a long way towards proper planning in improving your home air quality using air conditioners.

How Air Conditioning Enhances the IAQ

Once the air conditioner is switched on, it begins to circulate cool fresh air while taking out congested and populated air. This is achieved in diverse ways.

Improved Airflow

Cross ventilation and airflow are quite important indoors, especially with regard to enhancing IAQ. While airflow can be improved by opening the doors and windows at home, the action also lets in the dreaded pollutants like pollen, exhaust fumes, and smoke from the outdoors. On the other hand, air conditioners are designed to effectively fill the home with cool and clean air that keeps moving to prevent staleness or mustiness. Because the doors and windows are firmly closed, there will not be any opportunity for pollutants to filter in.

Removes Moisture

The air in homes tends to accumulate excessive moisture from high humidity, from using radiators to dry clothes or simply running the shower. All these provide a favorable environment for fungus, mold, bacteria, mildew, and viruses to grow, spread, and cause ill health or scatter spores into the air in the case of mildew, fungus, and mold.

This excess moisture in the home can be removed with a functional air conditioner which generates healthier air. However, homeowners will take time to treat affected areas in the home to avoid new growths of mildew, mold, and fungus.

Filters the Air

While working to keep the indoor air cool and get rid of moisture, your air conditioner is equally filtering the air. The AC has the capacity to remove pathogens, dust, and bacteria but it all depends on the type of filter your system uses. With these pollutants out of the air, air conditioners go on to pump clean cool air into the home. People who benefit more from ACs are sufferers of respiratory illness or those who are afflicted with hay fever but it is for the comfort of everyone. When the home air is kept clean and fresh, it reduces the possibility of existing health conditions deteriorating.

Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality With AC

These tips will help you improve the air quality in your home with an air conditioner.

Get the Right Filter for Your AC

While choosing an air conditioner for your home, ensure that the appliance comes with the right filter. When it comes to trapping smaller particles HEPA filters can be very effective but if you are considering cost-effectiveness, standard filters can suffice. A good understanding of MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) will aid you in making the right choice.

Maintain and Clean Your AC Regularly

When you neglect ducts and air vents, it can make pollutants and dust accumulate, making it difficult for an air conditioner to circulate clean cool air. Your AC can only operate at optimal efficiency when you clean it regularly and invest in professional HVAC inspections from time to time.

Humidity and Temperature Settings

For your Indoor Air Quality to be good, you ought to be sure to maintain the right humidity and temperature levels. There is a recommended proper humidity setting and temperature range that keeps molds and allergens from spreading.

Wrapping Up

Air conditioners installed in homes aren’t just for the maintenance of comfortable temperature, they have also proved to be powerful tools in enhancing indoor air quality. By having a good understanding of the impact of ACs on IAQ and applying some practical tips, homeowners can easily make their abodes more comfortable and healthier, keeping poor ill health at bay.

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