Healthy indoor air is beneficial to each member of your Ocala household, but even more so to those who suffer from allergies. According to the EPA, the air inside your home may contain as much as five times the amount of pollutants as the air outside your front door, including allergens such as pollen, mold, dust mites or pet dander. Read on to see how regular HVAC maintenance can help reduce indoor allergens and help you and your family breathe easier.
Improve IAQ Through Regular HVAC Maintenance
Keeping up with regular air conditioning and heating maintenance won’t completely assure solid indoor air quality, but it can help. Make sure to have your systems serviced at least once in the spring and again in the fall. During routine maintenance, your HVAC contractor will clean your system in addition to ensuring it is in good working order. Cleaning of coils, the air filter and air grilles can improve the quality of your indoor air by reducing pollutants trapped in your air conditioning system.
Air Filters 101
Air filters should be changed at least once every one to three months. If a filter is clogged or looks overly dirty, it’s time for a change. Choose air filter replacements wisely, paying attention to the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating, where a higher number is better. Also know the maximum MERV rating that’s compatible with your HVAC system. Choosing a filter that’s rated too high for system capacity can cause airflow problems and may lead to system damage.
Here’s what you need to know about MERV ratings:
- Medium efficiency – With a MERV rating between 5 and 13, these filters are capable of filtering a number of small particulates.
- High efficiency – Check with your contractor or operator’s manual to see if your HVAC system can handle this high capacity filter with a MERV rating of between 14 and 16.
- HEPA – This type of filter isn’t recommended for home use unless extensive upgrades are made to the HVAC system.
- Flat panel – This generic filter has a low MERV rating between 1 and 4, doing little to improve indoor air quality.
To schedule annual HVAC maintenance, or tips on how to reduce indoor allergens, give us a call at Sun Kool Air Conditioning. We’re proud to serve homeowners in Ocala and the surrounding areas.
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