Is your air conditioning making you sick? It’s a common question, especially when a runny nose or sinus headache kicks in at around the same time as your AC. While air conditioning problems can contribute to this problem, many other factors contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). In fact, by some estimates, indoor air quality is often worse than the air we’re breathing outdoors. What gives? Medley has answers and a range of IAQ solutions ranging from HVAC filters to whole-home UV filters in Carrollton.

Common Contributors To Poor IAQ

So what’s making your indoor air quality so bad? It’s a longer list than you probably realize.

• VOCs: VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, come from common items degassing or releasing certain manufacturing byproducts into the air. Furniture is a prime culprit here, but paints, varnishes, and innumerable cleaning products play a part, too.
• Pets: Pet hair gets everywhere, but pet dander is a prime indoor pollutant.
• Smoking: Fewer people smoke nowadays, but those who smoke indoors are subjecting others to the “exhaust” from their butts, pipe smoke, and cigars; those pollutants (which include carbon monoxide, ammonia, and other contaminants) are then circulated throughout the home thanks to your central air or furnace.
• Organic matter: If you’re sick, the bacteria and viruses with which you’re infected can be piggybacking through your HVAC system. So can mold, mildew, and fungus promoted by high humidity.
• Outdoor pollution: Outdoor air doesn’t wait for an invitation to come in; we track dirt, dust, and pollen, while vehicle exhaust and other contaminants are present thanks to open windows and poor insulation.

Improving Indoor Air Quality

If you’ve read this far and you’re starting to wonder if you’re playing against a stacked deck, take a deep breath—once you’ve installed something to improve your indoor air quality.

Whole-House Air Filtration Systems

The first thing we always suggest is to change the HVAC filter that serves your furnace or air conditioner. The package will let you know how often the filter should be changed (it varies based on the type), but there’s no harm in changing the filter early if it looks filthy to you. If that doesn’t work, there are many whole-home filtration systems available, and we’ll help you find one that works best alongside your existing HVAC system.

HVAC Duct Cleaning

Air duct cleaning is another recommended service. After all, your air ducts aren’t just recirculating air through the house. Depending on your filtration system, they may also be recirculating everything else that’s present in the air, including pollen, mold, and fumes. Those contaminants take up residence in your ducts, necessitating periodic cleaning.

Whole-Home Humidity Solutions

As we’ve already seen, improper levels of indoor humidity are damaging too. For some homes, a humidifier or dehumidifier is important to maintain the right range of humidity to keep your respiratory system healthy, preserve your belongings, and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.

Keeping Indoor Air Healthy

If you’re like most of our customers, you keep a clean house. But even if there’s not a speck of dust to be found, you’re not out of the woods just yet. If someone in your home is immunocompromised or suffers respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, or emphysema, it’s worth looking into a whole-home air purifier like a UV air filter that can actively kill germs and pathogens.

IAQ Service In Carrollton, TX

So to sum it all up, the air you’re breathing indoors could be downright lousy. But you’ve got help, and it’s closer than you think. Click or call Medley for HVAC maintenance and a full range of American Standard indoor air quality solutions today!