If anyone in your home suffers from allergies, asthma, COPD or other ailments exacerbated by airborne contaminants, you know the effects poor indoor air quality can have on health and comfort. What you may not realize is how indoor air quality affects the HVAC system in a home. Find out if your home and pocketbook are suffering the effects of reduced HVAC performance due to dirty indoor air, and what you can do about it.
Indoor Air Quality
The average home contains more pollutants and contaminants than the outside air even in metropolitan areas, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While many contaminants have adverse effects for occupant health, many also negatively affect energy efficiency, HVAC performance and the pocketbook. Here’s how:
- Cooling and heating: Forced-air air conditioning and heat pump systems rely on heat energy transfer to cool or heat the home. Any obstructions to airflow and heat movement substantially reduce energy efficiency, increase wear and result in discomfort. The refrigerant-filled evaporator coil, which is responsible for transferring heat energy, attracts airborne contaminants by its moist or wet surface (cooling months). If is not cleaned regularly, it tends to be sticky or grimy (heating months), and is an easy target for dust and debris.
- Blower and ductwork: Cooled and heated airflow is forced through the air ducts by the blower. The blower motor is susceptible to excessive wear and reduced efficiency by debris accumulation, just like the evaporator coil. If you haven’t had your ducts cleaned in recent memory, the same debris may be lining the inside of duct walls, awaiting to be dislodged and re-circulated through the home.
- Mold and HVAC system: Mold, bacteria and fungi are also common contaminants that stick to HVAC components. These micro-organisms find damp and dark HVAC components ideal habitats. They proliferate, create odors and circulate through the home.
In the end, how indoor air quality affects the HVAC system in your home depends on you. For professional assistance, depend on James Lane Air Conditioning & Plumbing Co. to take care of any HVAC and indoor air quality issues you are having in your Wichita Falls area home.
