How the IAQ of Your Fairfax Home Affects Your HVAC System

Clean and healthful indoor air is always a concern for household occupants with asthma, allergies and immune deficiencies. What you may not realize, however, is how indoor air quality affects your HVAC system, home comfort and wallet.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality pertains to any number of airborne contaminants in the home, as well as the comfort of the home in relation to moisture levels and temperature. Common airborne contaminants include particulates and microorganisms such as dust, dander, pollen, bacteria, viruses and germs. If your home has advanced moisture issues, you may even have mold and mildew growth on or inside walls.

HVAC System Efficiency

Airborne contaminants that bypass capture in or around the air filter accumulate on HVAC components, such as the A/C cooling coil, blower, blower motor and the air ducts. The amount of debris and contaminants in the HVAC system can be confirmed with a quick look at the evaporator coil, blower, inside duct runs to supply and return grilles, and by the amount of dust (pet dander, pollen, germs, viruses and more) that collects on furnishings, flooring and electronics in short order.

Contaminant accumulation on HVAC components hinders heat exchange in both the cooling and heating months and free airflow. Both of these affected elements of home comfort increase energy bills. For instance, when debris accumulation on the A/C evaporator coil hinders heat absorption, the A/C must run longer to cool the home. Moreover, an inefficient coil doesn’t remove as much moisture from the air, which promotes mold and mildew, in addition to poorer comfort.

Boost Indoor Air Quality, Boost Efficiency

The best solutions for promoting good indoor air quality and preventing HVAC system contamination, which drives up energy bills, are a duct inspection and cleaning if needed, a good quality filter and annual professional maintenance. Your HVAC professional deep cleans components of the furnace and A/C to promote maximum efficiency and helps the systems last longer.

For more details about how indoor air quality affects the HVAC system, energy bills and comfort in your Fairfax home, please contact us at Brennan’s Heating & Air.