Indoor Air Quality: Is the Air Inside Your Home as Clean as You Think?

When most of us think about air pollution, we picture smog, wildfire smoke or a bad ozone day. The air inside your home matters just as much, and it usually gets far less attention. The EPA estimates that Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, and indoor air often holds higher concentrations of some pollutants than the air outside.

Dust, pet dander, pollen, mold spores and other particles circulate through the house every day, and your heating and cooling system is what keeps that air moving. With the right equipment and regular maintenance, the same system can also help clean it.

Signs your indoor air quality needs attention

Poor indoor air quality isn't always obvious. A few common signs that it's time to take a closer look:

• Dust that comes back a day or two after you clean
• Musty or stale odors, especially when the system first kicks on
• Rooms that feel clammy in summer or bone dry in winter
• Condensation on the inside of your windows
• A furnace filter that clogs faster than it should
• Visible mold or moisture spots
• More sneezing, itchy eyes or irritation than usual when you're at home

Your HVAC system isn't necessarily the cause of these problems, but it's often the biggest part of the solution.

Start with your furnace filter

The simplest way to keep indoor air cleaner is also the easiest one to forget: the filter in your furnace or air handler.

A dirty filter restricts airflow, which makes your equipment work harder, run longer and wear out sooner. The right filter, changed on time, captures dust and other particles before they get pushed back through every room in the house.

A few filter basics:

• Check a standard 1 inch filter every month and replace it every one to three months. Homes with pets or allergy sufferers land on the shorter end of that range.
• Thicker media filters (4 or 5 inch) hold more and usually last six months to a year.
• A higher MERV rating isn't automatically better. Some dense filters restrict airflow more than your equipment was designed for, which hurts performance and can shorten the life of the system.

If you're not sure what your system can handle, ask. Our technicians can tell you the right filter for your particular furnace or air handler.

Humidity matters more than you might think

Wisconsin gives our homes two very different air problems every year.

In the heating season, indoor air gets extremely dry. Static shocks, cracked woodwork, dry skin and scratchy throats are all signs. A properly installed whole home humidifier works with your furnace to keep the entire house at a comfortable level, not just one room.

In warm, humid weather, the opposite happens. Excess moisture makes a house feel damp and sticky, and it creates exactly the conditions mold and mildew love. In homes that struggle with humidity, a whole home dehumidifier pulls that moisture out of the air throughout the house.

The goal isn't simply adding or removing moisture. It's keeping your home in the comfortable range, roughly 30 to 50 percent relative humidity, all year long. An inexpensive hygrometer from the hardware store will tell you where you stand right now.

Filtration and indoor air quality options

Every home is different. Depending on your system and what's bothering you, the fix might be:

• Upgraded HVAC filtration
• A whole home air cleaner or purifier
• A whole home humidifier
• A whole home dehumidifier
• Improved ventilation
• Regular HVAC maintenance and cleaning

Before spending money on any indoor air quality equipment, pin down the problem you're actually trying to solve. The right answer for excessive dust is very different from the right answer for high humidity, and the wrong product won't fix either one.

Don't forget regular HVAC maintenance

Routine furnace and air conditioning maintenance isn't only about preventing breakdowns.

During a tune up, a technician inspects the system, checks airflow and filtration, looks for moisture or drainage problems and catches the small issues that quietly affect how the system runs and what it sends into your air. A clean, properly operating HVAC system is one of the most important pieces of a comfortable home.

Our American Plus Maintenance Plan covers both the furnace and the air conditioner every year, so this happens on schedule without you having to remember it.

Not sure what's right for your home?

At American Heating & Air Plus, we believe in finding the solution that makes sense for your home, not selling you equipment you don't need.

If you're dealing with excessive dust, dry winter air, summer humidity, or you simply want to know whether your air is as clean as it could be, give us a call. We'll evaluate your HVAC system and talk through the options that make sense for your house and your budget.