Now, more than ever, you need clean air that is free from pathogens circulating through your home. You need the best air filtration system to trap virus particulates along with mold, bacteria, and pollen. Bad indoor air quality can lead to allergy attacks, cold, and influenza. Although the COVID-19 virus is not airborne, stray particulates can be sucked into the air circulating system where they can be trapped by good filtration. Other viruses and bacterial infections can also be prevented with a good filter in your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
People Most in Need of Good Air Quality
Daughter Taking Care of Senior FatherEveryone needs to breathe clean air but some people are more susceptible to illness from poor air quality than others. This includes:
- People with a compromised immune system such as respiratory ailments, heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses.
- Infants and young children
- Senior citizens age 60 and older
- People with seasonal allergies
- Pregnant women
- Pet owners
Animal hair and feathers can cause allergies that lower the immune system. These animals may carry dirt and dust mites that are swept up into the ventilation system along with tree and grass pollen.
A person fighting cancer with chemotherapy has a lowered immune system. These people are advised to stay indoors during this virus pandemic. They must be able to breathe clean air. The same restrictions apply to people with heart disease, pulmonary conditions, and diabetes. People recovering from any type of surgery should also remain in a clean indoor environment.
While the majority of COVID-19 patients have been adults, the disease has also affected children. Most of Florida’s youngsters are now home from school and they need to continue their education in an air-conditioned environment that is free from harmful pathogens.
Filters for Pathogens
The COVID-19 virus is not the only problem for people. Mold and dust can lead to poor air quality. There are several ways to avoid these contaminants in your HVAC system.
- Air purifiers in ducts
- Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV)
- Ultraviolet sterilization systems
- Air filters meeting Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV) standards
Clean air ducts are essential for all of these filter systems to work. Broken or torn air ducts can invite insects and small rodents to nest in the system. These intruders bring in dirt and unwanted pathogens. Excessive moisture in the system can lead to mold growth. This is common in the drip pans in many air conditioning systems. The pans and coils should be cleaned on a regular basis.
Air purifiers treat the air in residential duct systems. The iWave-R Air Purifier that we install at Cool Running Air is a needlepoint bi-polar ionization generator that kills viruses and other pathogens in the coils and living spaces. The ionization process kills odors, smoke, allergy pathogens, and bacteria without creating any harmful byproducts. While odors from cooking, smoking, and pets are generally not harmful, they can be very annoying. This is a system that is easy to install in any home.
An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) pulls stale air out of an HVAC system and replaces it with fresh, filtered air from outside of the home. The filters trap allergens and other particulates so that they do not come inside your home. This is accomplished through an energy transfer process that allows the system to pre-cool the air before it enters the home. The ERV also acts as a dehumidifier in the moist tropical climate of South Florida. The EVR actually takes in energy from the exhaust from your HVAC unit. It uses this energy to take much of the humidity out of the air before it reaches your interior spaces. The EVR does not use ions or release ozone into the atmosphere. It is considered a passive system. This pre-treatment process saves energy and lowers your air conditioning cost. This will also prolong the life of your HVAC system.
Ultraviolet (UV) light at certain frequencies can kill mold, mildew, fungus, bacteria, and other pathogens. The intense light actually destroys the cells and keeps them from multiplying. The light will also destroy annoying odors from paint, drywall, and animals. UV light will sterilize coils or it can be installed by the return air unit.
Let Us Check Your A/C System
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends that all HVAC systems should be checked and cleaned at least twice a year. Cool Running Air is an essential service that is available to check your HVAC system and install purifiers, ERV systems, and other filtration systems at any time. Call (305) 846-9760 to experience the best indoor air quality for good health.
You May Also Like
