Regional climate plays a large role in Indoor Air Quality and comfort. Regional climate characteristics are determined by geographic location and long term weather conditions. Two of the most important factors that affect an areas climate are temperature and precipitation.
What makes Humid Climates Uncomfortable?
Humid climates have a high amount of water vapor in the air. When it’s hot, high humidity makes people feel hotter because it reduces the ability to evaporate moisture from the skin. In humid climates, becoming comfortable means going into a conditioned space.
Potential for Mold Growth
While mold spores are in every region and every climate, mold growth is highly dependent on the amount of humidity. Mold growth typically occurs when an environment reaches a relative humidity of 60 percent or greater in a 72 hour span. If mold is found within your home or workplace remediate the problem immediately, mold spores can be distributed throughout the home or building through the HVAC system impacting indoor air quality.
Air Conditioning in Humid Climates
Air conditioning coils serve a very important role in regulating temperature and humidity in humid climates. As air passes through the evaporative coil of the air conditioner, heat and moisture are removed from the air. To a degree, the lower the humidity level, the more comfortable you will feel at a given temperature.
Air Duct Cleaning and HVAC Maintenance
Overtime foreign debris is drawn into the evaporative coils and fan blower of the air conditioning system, gradually decreasing air flow and energy efficiency. Maintaining HVAC system, will keep your cooling and heating components operation at peak energy efficiency, and prevent potential indoor air quality problems. Yearly air conditioner inspections and routine air duct cleaning with assure maximum efficiency.
We are all looking for ways to save money, one way to save money is to reduce energy consumption. Did you know that in a typical home 45% of the energy cost go to Heating and cooling? The US Department of energy estimates that 25 – 40% of the energy used for heating and cooling a typical home is wasted.
Whether your heating or cooling system uses natural gas, fuel oil or electricity it is a good idea to make it as efficient as possible. Using less energy saves money and is better for the environment.
Install a programmable thermostat: these thermostats automatically turn down your system during periods when your typically away from home.
Change your air filter: Make sure to change your air filter regularly. A clogged filter will restrict air flow and cause your system to work harder and use more energy. Most experts reccomend changing your air filter every two months.
Seal your air ducts: Sealing your ducts will also save you money in the long run. You could be loosing nearly all your heating and cooling before it reaches your vents.
Clean your heating and cooling system: This is more than just duct cleaning, it involves cleaning all the components that the airstream touches in your heating and air conditioning system. NADCA recommends cleaning the furnace, cooling coils, blower motor, and the ductwork. Every part of the system is checked and cleaned, not just the ducts.
So how does cleaning your heating and cooling system save you money?
A dirty cooling coil reduces efficiency: to cool your home air is blown across cold metal coils. When the coils get clogged with dirt, airflow is restricted and air can no longer contact the metal. This blocks airflow and limits the coils ability to properly cool the air. Even in the winter months these dirty coils contine to reduce air flow through your furnace. This means that the system losing efficiency all year long.
Duct Cleaning
Proper cleaning of an entire heating and cooling system takes technical skill and attention to detail, that is why it is important to rely on a company that is specifically trained and experienced in this type of cleaning. NADCA members specialize in optimizing the efficiency and life of your system.
Remeber clean systems use less energy and clean systems last longer saving you money now and in the years to come.
The US Environmental Protection Agency states that poor indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental threats to our country. So why does the EPA feel so strongly about indoor air in homes and workplaces? Well, according to the EPA, indoor air is on average a staggering three to five times more contaminated than outdoor air and in some instances as high as seventy times.
So why is indoor air so much worse in our home than outdoor air?
The answer is in modern day construction practices. Homes are being built more air tight in an effort to be more energy efficient and environmentally conscious. Older homes are being re-insulated and getting air tight window upgrades. The result is less drafty homes that no longer have natural ventilation to bring in fresh air.
Normal everyday living provides an ongoing source of airborne contaminants like dust, dander, chemicals and other allergens. These pollutants become trapped in your home due to this poor ventilation and then are re-circulated by your heating and cooling system.
So what does this mean for you?
The average American family now spends ninety percent of their time indoors. That means that the bulk of our days is spent breathing in these irritants and pollutants and the health effects are significant. Dust, pollen, household chemicals and smoke can create an unhealthy situation in your home for everyone, but especially for people with compromised respiratory systems such as children, the elderly, and people with asthma and allergy sufferers.
So what can you as a homeowner do to improve your air quality?
Today doctors agree that one of the healthiest things to do is to minimize your exposure to these indoor pollutants, allergens and irritants in your home. One of the most logical places to address indoor pollutants is in your heating and cooling system. Think of this system as the lungs of your home. It takes in air and breathes it out; it circulates all the air and everything in the air throughout your home. In fact, on average all the air in your home passes through your heating and cooling system five to seven times each day.
Begin by making sure that you regularly change furnace filter. While these filters do not eliminate airborne contaminants they can help reduce pollutants from entering your furnace and circulating through the house. Most experts recommend replacing your filter every two months.
Another important step to take to improve the quality of the air in your home, and one that many overlook is having your heating and cooling system thoroughly cleaned. As polluted air is re-circulated through your heating and cooling system dust, dirt, and contaminants are deposited throughout the system overtime. These subtle particles are then picked up by the airstream and are then pushed back out into the living areas of the house to be breathed in by family members. In a large number of homes the heating and cooling system has never been cleaned. Even in newer homes or homes undergoing renovation contaminants such as sawdust and drywall dust left over from construction process are deposited in your ducts.
So how clean is the heating and cooling system in your home? Here is a quick way to check. Remove a vent cover and use a mirror and flashlight to look inside. Or use a small digital camera to take a picture of the inside of your duct. If your ducts are dirty it is time to have your air ducts cleaned.
Choose a NADCA Certified Company
All NADCA members must meet a strict set of requirements:
Comply with NADCA’s International cleaning standards
Comply with NADCA’s code of ethics.
Comply with NADCA’s general liability insurance requirements
Maintain at least one certified Air System Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff at all times
The Air Systems Cleaning Specialists Certification verifies that they have successfully completed rigorous testing on heating and cooling system components and cleaning techniques.
Giving your homes heating and cooling system a little attention will keep it and the air in your home cleaner and healthier for you and your family.
Regional climate plays a large role in Indoor Air Quality and comfort. Regional climate characteristics are determined by geographic location and long term weather conditions. Two of the most important factors that affect an areas climate are temperature and precipitation.