When it comes to building threats and dangers, most homeowners overlook the HVAC contaminants such as bacteria, molds, smoke, asbestos, VOCs, etc. Instead, homeowners are concerned only about protecting their houses from natural disasters and thefts. But along with these, you must protect your house from the above HVAC contaminants to ensure cleanliness and comfort. If you don’t take the necessary measurements to remove HVAC contamination, you and your family members will become ill, and your house will slowly become unlivable.
How Do All These Contaminants Get in the HVAC System?
Generally, due to negligence and lack of maintenance, these contaminants get inside the HVAC system. For example, if you don’t replace the HVAC air filter regularly, air-borne contaminants will start to accumulate inside the HVAC system. Again, if you accidentally drop hazardous chemicals inside your building, it can create contamination.
Apart from these, natural disasters, pests, and poor HVAC maintenance can create contamination inside the HVAC system.
5 Ways to Remove HVAC Contamination
1. Regular HVAC Maintenance
It’s the easiest way to remove HVAC contamination, yet always neglected. When you do regular HVAC maintenance, an HVAC professional will change the HVAC air filter, clean the air ducts and registers, detect leaks, and so on.
With regular HVAC maintenance checkups, you’ll be able to run your HVAC system smoothly and protect your house from HVAC contamination.
2. Focus on Your HVAC Air Filtration
As we all know, HVAC air filters block various particles such as pollens, dust, debris, microorganisms, and so on from entering our space. If you notice low air quality in your house even after replacing the air filter regularly, you should upgrade your HVAC air filter.
When you install a high-efficiency filter such as HEPA or MERV air filter in your air conditioner or heating system, your HVAC unit will be able to block finer particles. This will eventually improve the air quality of your house.
However, while installing a high-efficiency air filter, make sure that your HVAC unit is compatible with it. If you have a relatively older HVAC unit, there is a high chance that you won’t be able to install a high-rated HVAC air filter. That’s why it’s better to consult an HVAC professional before switching to a high-efficiency HVAC air filter.
3. Ensure Proper Ventilation
When you have poor ventilation in your house, there won’t be sufficient airflow, and as a result, contaminants will accumulate inside your space. Again, if you need to use pests or other chemicals inside your home, due to poor ventilation, your house will be filled with more contaminants. This is why it’s important to make sure that your house has proper ventilation.
Tip: Don’t put any furniture or object in front of the register.
4. Do IAQ Testing
One of the best ways to find out whether you have HVAC contamination or not is by doing IAQ testing. Apart from this, you can install different sensors or devices in the house. With these sensors, you’ll be notified when there is an increase in the level of carbon monoxide or VOCs in your house.
If you are constantly getting notifications from the sensors, you should call nearby HVAC experts and resolve the problem as soon as possible. Because if you stay in a place where there are high-level VOCs or carbon monoxide, you may need medical attention.
5. Do Air Duct Cleaning or Replacement when Needed
Air ducts carry the produced hot and cold air from the HVAC unit and keep the house comfortable. But due to lack of cleaning or maintenance, air ducts can become clogged with various contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, molds, pests, etc. As a result, when air passes through the air duct, the produced air gets contaminated and lowers the indoor air quality. That’s why you should clean the air ducts regularly.
Air duct cleaning service includes cleaning the whole unit and the ducts of the HVAC unit. However, while cleaning the air ducts, you’ll have to ensure that the HVAC cleaning company isn’t using any harmful unauthorized chemicals.
Again, if you find out that there are leaks in the air ducts, you’ll have to replace them. Because air duct leakage can drastically reduce the efficiency of your HVAC unit.
See the summary of this article here – 5 Ways to Remove HVAC Contamination [Infographic]
