How to Improve Indoor Air Quality with Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance is important not just to keep your home warm, but also to preserve your indoor air quality. If you simply allow your furnace to operate without any regard toward its internal components, you may soon notice members of your household coughing and sneezing more often. There’s a perfectly good reason for the sudden congestion. The most dangerous time to suffer the effects of indoor air pollution is during colder months when the furnace is running. No matter how efficient your heating system is, the odds are good that your furnace is allowing all sorts of dust and allergens into the air whether it be due to buildup in the filters, heat exchanger, or elsewhere. While older furnaces are usually to blame for an increase in indoor air pollution, even newer models can be to blame. Making matters ever more serious is that 50 million Americans suffer allergies, and the rates of childhood asthma are on the rise. With numbers this high, you’re bound to have at least one or two people in your household who’ll find it hard to catch a deep breath, especially when you allow your furnace to go untreated for an extended period of time. Ensuring their safety should always be the first priority and if it means learning more on furnace maintenance, then now is a better time than ever to study up.

How Can Air Tech Pros Help You?

Air Tech Pros should be your number-one choice for heating service. When it comes to making sure your family stays comfortable, our team of heating technicians goes to any length. If it means carefully inspecting your furnace down to the last detail, you can expect us to give your heating system a thorough inspection to ensure even the smallest, hard-to-find problems are fixed. In addition to our work, we also offer maintenance service agreements that will see our technicians provide high-quality service year-round for an annual fee. It’s all part of our goal to ensure home comfort remains at an all-time high. With our furnace maintenance, you won’t have to worry about spending the winter without any heat. We’ll guarantee you have a highly-efficient furnace that won’t cost you nearly as much on energy bills. More importantly, we’ll ensure any dirt and debris is eliminated from the system so indoor air quality remains healthy and won’t impact your family’s health. Once you know your heating system is working to the best of its abilities, and keeping your family away from any debris, you will be able to stay at a better peace of mind for a long time ahead.

4 Ways Furnaces Impact Indoor Air Quality

So, just how exactly can a furnace change indoor air for the worst? If you’re not in the know, take note of these 4 common causes:

1. Dirty Filters: This may be the most common reasons your furnace is bringing you indoor air problems. If you don’t change your furnace filters on a regular basis, they will become overwhelmed by dirt and debris, eventually disrupting air flow. Sticking to a regular changing routine will ensure the filters will keep contaminants from overtaking the system.
2. Humidity: The older the furnace, the less able it is to handle humidity levels. This can lead to a buildup of allergens in the air which can lead to a host of physical symptoms including dry skin, sore throats, and dried out furniture. The best way to stop the problem is by installing a humidifier to keep moisture levels balanced.
3. Leaking Furnace: One of the most dangerous risks of operating older furnace is carbon monoxide, a deadly yet poisonous gas. Some older models house cracks within the system that cannot be easily detected, and this can allow the gas escape. Make sure to have your furnace inspected annually and install a carbon monoxide alarm that will alert you of a problem immediately.
4. Dirty Air Ducts: Filth can get trapped in your ductwork and fill the air in your home with nasty contaminants. Regular duct cleaning can help remove everything from dust to mold to virus and bacteria form your home’s air.

How Can You Preserve Indoor Air?

While you may not be a licensed heating technician, you can still take charge in improving your indoor air quality for the better without having to sacrifice your furnace’s quality performance. The next time indoor air is giving you trouble, please remember these tips:

• Call for annual furnace maintenance. You should seek a furnace tune-up once a year to ensure any lingering problems are fixed. A technician will inspect the system to ensure any dirt and debris is cleaned up and that filters are changed before they are clogged with contaminants.
• Clean and change filters. In addition to professional help, also make a point to change filters regularly. During the winter months, it’s better to do it once a month to ensure the most efficient furnace performance and a steady flow of healthy air. As mentioned previously, dirt and debris can build up quickly, so it’s better to stay ahead of the curve.
• Open doors and windows. Sometimes it’s just better to let the fresh outdoor air in your home. Not only does this keep air fresh, but also puts less of a strain on your heating system and helps you save more on energy bills. It also allows any bad air to escape your home.
• Clean air ducts. Dirt, dust and debris that get trapped in your air ducts can cause mold growth and allergen buildup. Keeping them clean can help eliminate much of the indoor pollution infesting your home. Calling a professional for duct cleaning once a year is the way to go.

Contact Air Tech Pros today if you want to learn more on how you can improve indoor air quality thanks to furnace maintenance!