If you want to protect your family’s health and well-being this winter, you need to optimize your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Besides the risk of combustion byproducts, your furnace can also harm your indoor air quality (IAQ) if it has a dirty air filter or has been poorly maintained. By ensuring proper furnace maintenance in your home, your family can enjoy having a healthier, more comfortable home environment.
The Role of Your Furnace in Indoor Air Quality
When it comes to indoor air quality, your furnace plays a key role. It is responsible for circulating air throughout your living space. If it hasn’t been properly maintained, it can lead to poor air quality and respiratory problems.
- Air Filtration: One of the most important things you can do to protect your air quality is to change or clean your air filter regularly. The furnace’s air filters are responsible for trapping allergens, dust, and other contaminants. If you don’t change this air filter regularly, it can reduce your home’s energy efficiency by 5% to 15%.
- Humidity Control: A good HVAC system will balance your humidity levels so that you don’t have to worry as much about airborne irritants or mold.
- Proper Circulation: When your furnace is operating properly, it uses vents and ductwork to distribute air into each room. This airflow helps to ensure clean, fresh air for every occupant.
Signs Your Furnace Is Negatively Impacting Air Quality
If your furnace’s air quality is poor, there are a few warning signs you should look out for. Once you notice these common indicators, it’s important to reach out to a professional HVAC company for help finding energy-efficient heating solutions.
- Allergens and Dust: Your furnace’s filter is responsible for filtering contaminants, like dust and allergens, out of the air. If your indoor air quality drops, you may need to clean your filter or ducts.
- Respiratory Illnesses: While it’s normal to experience some respiratory issues during the winter, a sudden increase is a sign of a potential problem. If everyone in your house is having a major issue with allergies or asthma, you may need to schedule a maintenance appointment for your furnace.
- Weird Smells: If there is mold or dust in your furnace, you may smell a burning or musty scent. Similarly, mechanical issues can also cause unusual odors.
Importance of Regular Furnace Maintenance
If you want to optimize an HVAC system, you should perform routine maintenance throughout the year. In addition to improving your indoor air quality, routine maintenance is also important for your furnace’s efficiency. Poor maintenance can reduce air circulation, increase dust buildup, and result in a higher energy bill.
As a part of your furnace maintenance, you should make sure to replace your air filters every one to three months. Your filters may need to be changed on a more frequent basis if you use your heat more often than normal.
Next, you should clean your ductwork regularly. This helps to prevent mold and dust from accumulating in your vents and ducts.
To achieve the best level of protection, schedule an annual inspection each fall. This inspection is a good opportunity for a professional to look for mechanical issues and duct cleanliness.
How Furnaces Affect Humidity Levels
Your furnace is designed to pull moisture out of the air. In addition to improving air quality, this helps to ensure proper humidity levels in your home.
Low humidity levels can end up drying out your respiratory passages, skin, and sinuses. However, excessively high humidity can cause mold and dust to develop in your home.
A well-maintained HVAC system can balance the humidity level inside your house. Additionally, you can also use a humidifier or dehumidifier to improve home air quality.
Improving IAQ With Furnace Upgrades
By getting a furnace upgrade, you can significantly improve your home’s air quality. Often, older furnaces lack modern technology for filtering and purifying your air. When you switch to a newer model can significantly improve your home’s filtration and efficiency.
With a modern furnace, you can enjoy having advanced filtration systems. Thanks to better energy efficiency, you can spend less on your energy bill. If you have a gas furnace, less combustion also means your home will have fewer pollutants.
If you frequently need furnace repairs, it may be time to get a new furnace installation. Most furnaces only last 15 to 20 years, so you should consult with a top rated furnace repair contractor about upgrade options once your furnace is 15 years old.
Carbon Monoxide: A Silent Threat
Carbon monoxide is a major health hazard, but it is impossible to see it. This colorless, odorless gas is a byproduct of faulty furnaces.
Because of how dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning is, it’s important to schedule regular inspections. During the inspection, the HVAC technician will verify that your pilot light is working properly. If there are unusual odors or a yellow pilot light, turn off your furnace and call for HVAC help right away. As soon as you have any safety concerns, you should reach out to a professional technician.
Prepare Your Furnace for the Winter
By scheduling routine maintenance and timely upgrades, you can make sure your home has clean, healthy air. Additionally, a well-maintained furnace can lower your family’s health risks and help you enjoy better peace of mind. By reaching out to a top HVAC provider, like Elkhorn Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, you can ensure your home has the best indoor air quality possible.
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