Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is a health concern for all households. Still, people with allergies are particularly prone to contaminants in the air, and allergens come in many different forms. High levels can trigger allergic reactions more often. They can also result in symptoms that are much more severe. Let’s explore what you should know about the IAQ services and systems that can make a difference in your home.
IAQ Testing
Allergy sufferers are acutely aware of the effects pollen, pet dander, and dust can have. What they may not know is that there are many potential triggers beyond those common culprits. These include gases, such as volatile organic compounds, and particulates so small you can’t see them with the naked eye. Households with allergy sufferers should schedule IAQ testing once a year. Professional testing is an opportunity to identify the specific IAQ challenges you’re dealing with. It also allows you to understand how your air quality continues to evolve.
HVAC Filters and Maintenance
HVAC systems can exacerbate IAQ problems. It’s important to keep your equipment as clean as possible. You should also maintain it to minimize how often it cycles. Check any HVAC filters at least once a month and replace or clean them as required. Schedule seasonal maintenance twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall.
Select the HVAC filter you use with care. A high-quality filter you won’t have to swap out as often is a good investment. You should also consider the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). The industry uses the MERV scale to measure filter effectiveness. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filtration. For that reason, you should choose as high a MERV rating as your system supports. Most modern systems support between MERV 8 and 13, but you should check your owner’s manual. The higher the MERV rating, the tighter the filter’s mesh. Your system needs to be powerful enough to be able to push sufficient air through the tightly woven filters at the higher end of the ratings.
Ductwork
Central HVAC systems rely on ductwork to deliver conditioned air throughout a home. Over time, ducts can develop problems that are bad for everyone but allergy sufferers in particular. All households should schedule a duct camera inspection at least every other year. People with bad allergies should schedule an annual duct inspection.
Worn seals and duct punctures are among the issues a technician can identify during an inspection. Those problems cause air leakages as high as 40%. That’s bad when it comes to home comfort, operating costs, and carbon footprint. It’s also bad from the perspective of air quality. As the conditioned air leaks out, air from the attic or crawl space replaces it. That air often has allergens in it, and it could be humid or dry depending on the season.
The other issue is that dust accumulates in ducts over time. The accumulation can eventually get bad enough that it blocks airflow and lowers efficiency. Well before that, it can undermine your IAQ. That’s because dust soaks up gases, chemicals, and other pollutants in the air. It extends their effective lifespans and continues to emit them over time. The solution is duct cleaning. The average household needs duct cleaning every several years. With bad allergies, you may need the service every other year or even annually.
Ventilation
Another consideration is ventilation. With adequate ventilation, the concentration of allergens will be lower. With inadequate ventilation, it will be higher. This may happen during the winter and summer months when you may not open the windows, so the only time fresh air enters the home is when a door opens.
The solution to that problem is a mechanical ventilation system, such as a whole-house fan. These fans can run independently of other HVAC equipment to bring in fresh air without introducing allergens. There are even advanced fans you can run in winter. These reclaim heat before venting stale air and use it to preheat the incoming fresh air.
Air Purification
The best way to control allergen levels in the home is to remove them. Often, the most effective way to do that is with a whole-home air purifier. These systems force air through a series of filter media stages. Those stages trap and neutralize allergens and other contaminants.
An important consideration when choosing an air purifier is air changes per hour (ACH). This number indicates how much air a system filters at a particular treatment volume, such as square footage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends four ACH as a minimum target. Many air purifiers on the market provide at least five ACH. Many allergists recommend six ACH or higher for those with bad allergies. This is something you should discuss with your personal allergist.
While ACH indicates how much air a system filters, it doesn’t indicate how effectively it cleans the air. That’s where the clean air delivery rate (CADR) comes in. The general rule is to target a CADR that’s two-thirds the treatment volume. If purifying a 2,000-square-foot home, for instance, you’d target a CADR of 1334 or above.
Traditional filters combine mechanical and absorptive filtration. People with allergies should consider a system with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters remove over 99% of all particles that pass through the system. Many systems have activated carbon for absorptive filtration. It absorbs odors, gases, chemicals, and more.
UV Lamps
Allergy sufferers should consider installing an in-duct ultraviolet (UV) light as well. Germicidal lights are effective at neutralizing fungal spores, including mold, mildew, and dust mite eggs. UV lamps also neutralize bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. That’s notable because allergy sufferers often have irritated and even inflamed respiratory systems. That makes them more prone to illnesses, and a UV lamp helps to limit their exposure.
Relative Humidity
Relative humidity (RH) affects allergies in a couple of ways. High humidity can contribute to higher allergen levels. Both low and high humidity cause respiratory irritation and possibly inflammation. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends 40%-50% RH for allergy control and better sleep. That target can be difficult to realize through standard HVAC equipment alone. To keep RH at 50% or less in summer, experts recommend a dehumidifier to remove moisture. If you can’t reach your target in winter, a humidifier will help by adding moisture to the air.
Crawl Spaces
You may be surprised to learn that a crawl space can affect the IAQ in a home. There’s often an exchange of air between the crawl space and living areas, and pollutants in the crawl space air can get into the home. During summer, humidity from the crawl space can affect the home as well.
The industry recommends encapsulation for all homes with crawl spaces. Encapsulated crawl spaces have a barrier that blocks excess moisture, contaminants, and pests. In more humid climates, it’s often necessary to install a crawl space dehumidifier. That system provides the necessary ventilation while actively reducing moisture levels.
IAQ Solutions in the Greater Greenville Area
Tuck & Howell, Inc. has been an HVAC company serving Greenville, SC and the surrounding areas since 1969. Our team performs IAQ testing, and we have NATE-certified HVAC technicians who install ventilation, air purification, and humidity control equipment. Our company performs repairs and provides routine IAQ services, including filter replacement. We install, repair, seal, and clean ductwork.
Our team also encapsulates crawl spaces and installs dehumidifiers in those areas. Contact Tuck & Howell, Inc. today to schedule an IAQ test and consultation.
