|
Air Conditioning Can Spread Colds and Flu: How to Keep Healthy
Air conditioning can be your best friend in the hot summer months. There’s nothing quite like coming in from the sweltering heat and letting that arctic blast cool you back down to a liveable temperature. But as nice as AC can be, it can also be bad for your health. A poorly maintained HVAC system can spread cold, flu and other respiratory illnesses throughout your home. Here’s how to keep your AC working for you, not against you. How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Spreading Cold and FluLet’s start with the obvious: It’s not the air conditioning itself that can make you sick. The process of cooling and distributing air is perfectly healthy. The danger is the potential for that air to contain viruses, mold or other pathogens. How Air Conditioning Can Spread Respiratory IllnessesFirst, a quick primer on how air conditioning works. At the core of these systems are four components that work together to regulate temperature: the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and fan. The compressor pumps refrigerant through the system. The refrigerant absorbs heat from indoor air at the evaporator coil. It releases the heat outside at the condenser coil. Then a fan circulates the cooled air back into the room. It’s this circulation process that can contribute to the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria. As the air conditioner recirculates indoor air, it can pick up and distribute pathogens. Without proper filtration and regular maintenance, these contaminants build up in the system and become concentrated in your indoor air. Keep Your HVAC System MaintainedYour HVAC system has filters to keep dust, allergens and pathogens out of your home. But over time, filters can get overloaded and lose their capacity to clean. Pushing air through filthy filters makes your HVAC system have to work harder, as well. It’s a good idea to replace your air filters every 1-3 months. This guide can help you choose the right type of filter for your needs. Beyond the filters, it’s important to keep your external A/C unit well maintained. If the outside of the unit is covered in dust and debris, it can’t operate efficiently. Keeping the external unit well-maintained can help extend the life of your unit and keep your air cleaner. Improve VentilationYour HVAC system is intended to keep a steady supply of fresh air coming into your home. When the air conditioning is running, however, it does limit the intake of fresh outdoor air since constantly cooling outside air is less efficient than recirculating already-chilled air. To improve ventilation, it’s a good idea to open windows and doors every now and then. When the temperature cools down for the evening, take the opportunity to let that fresh air circulate. It’s worth considering adding an air-to-air exchanger to keep your system efficient while maintaining air quality. These systems exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. Consider an Air PurifierAir purifiers add an additional level of filtration to your home, one that’s been proven to dramatically reduce pathogens in the air. Look for an air purifier equipped with HEPA filters. These are designed to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. That teeny-tiny size includes viruses and bacteria that can make you ill. Place air purifiers in high-traffic areas, such as living rooms and bedrooms, and remember to regularly maintain and replace the filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Additionally, consider purifiers with UV-C light technology, which can kill viruses and bacteria, providing an extra layer of protection. Check out our guide to air purifiers to find out which one is right for your living space. Manage Humidity LevelsFinding the right humidity level is a bit of a Goldilocks challenge. High humidity levels can help viruses thrive. But over dry air can dry out your nose and mouth, reducing your natural protection from airborne diseases. It’s important to maintain indoor humidity between 40-60%. These levels can help reduce the viability of viruses and improve your overall comfort. Portable humidifiers can handle some of the challenge, but if your budget allows, a whole-home humidifier might be a better choice. During the most humid times of year, you may need a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air. Dehumidifiers can be necessary for preventing mold and mildew, and for reducing the survival rate of viruses. Regular HVAC maintenance is the starting point for keeping the air in your home both comfortable and healthy to breathe. Is your system overdue for a service call? Contact us today to schedule an appointment. |
Air conditioning can be your best friend in the hot summer months. There’s nothing quite like coming in from the sweltering heat and letting that arctic blast cool you back down to a liveable temperature.
But as nice as AC can be, it can also be bad for your health. A poorly maintained HVAC system can spread cold, flu and other respiratory illnesses throughout your home.
Here’s how to keep your AC working for you, not against you.
Let’s start with the obvious: It’s not the air conditioning itself that can make you sick. The process of cooling and distributing air is perfectly healthy. The danger is the potential for that air to contain viruses, mold or other pathogens.
First, a quick primer on how air conditioning works. At the core of these systems are four components that work together to regulate temperature: the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and fan. The compressor pumps refrigerant through the system. The refrigerant absorbs heat from indoor air at the evaporator coil. It releases the heat outside at the condenser coil. Then a fan circulates the cooled air back into the room.
It’s this circulation process that can contribute to the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria. As the air conditioner recirculates indoor air, it can pick up and distribute pathogens. Without proper filtration and regular maintenance, these contaminants build up in the system and become concentrated in your indoor air.
Your HVAC system has filters to keep dust, allergens and pathogens out of your home. But over time, filters can get overloaded and lose their capacity to clean. Pushing air through filthy filters makes your HVAC system have to work harder, as well.
It’s a good idea to replace your air filters every 1-3 months. This guide can help you choose the right type of filter for your needs.
Beyond the filters, it’s important to keep your external A/C unit well maintained. If the outside of the unit is covered in dust and debris, it can’t operate efficiently. Keeping the external unit well-maintained can help extend the life of your unit and keep your air cleaner.
Your HVAC system is intended to keep a steady supply of fresh air coming into your home. When the air conditioning is running, however, it does limit the intake of fresh outdoor air since constantly cooling outside air is less efficient than recirculating already-chilled air.
To improve ventilation, it’s a good idea to open windows and doors every now and then. When the temperature cools down for the evening, take the opportunity to let that fresh air circulate.
It’s worth considering adding an air-to-air exchanger to keep your system efficient while maintaining air quality. These systems exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air.
Air purifiers add an additional level of filtration to your home, one that’s been proven to dramatically reduce pathogens in the air.
Look for an air purifier equipped with HEPA filters. These are designed to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. That teeny-tiny size includes viruses and bacteria that can make you ill.
Place air purifiers in high-traffic areas, such as living rooms and bedrooms, and remember to regularly maintain and replace the filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Additionally, consider purifiers with UV-C light technology, which can kill viruses and bacteria, providing an extra layer of protection.
Check out our guide to air purifiers to find out which one is right for your living space.
Finding the right humidity level is a bit of a Goldilocks challenge. High humidity levels can help viruses thrive. But over dry air can dry out your nose and mouth, reducing your natural protection from airborne diseases.
It’s important to maintain indoor humidity between 40-60%. These levels can help reduce the viability of viruses and improve your overall comfort.
Portable humidifiers can handle some of the challenge, but if your budget allows, a whole-home humidifier might be a better choice.
During the most humid times of year, you may need a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air. Dehumidifiers can be necessary for preventing mold and mildew, and for reducing the survival rate of viruses.
Regular HVAC maintenance is the starting point for keeping the air in your home both comfortable and healthy to breathe. Is your system overdue for a service call? Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Call: 612-825-6867
