After all we have endured through 2020, should we not expect our home to be the place where we can count on the environment to provide the most comfortable and relaxing atmosphere? Imagine it, when you walk in the door, your home delivers the perfect temperature and the best indoor air quality (IAQ) so all you have to do is kick off your shoes and relax. Between advanced interactive technology and coordinated routine check-ups, check out these ways you can make use of HVAC technology to experience great ambiance in your home.
1. Ventilation
Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system has intakes and ductwork to efficiently move the air through your home. Intelligently designed ventilation is essential for the exchange of indoor and outdoor air. With improved airtight and energy-efficient home construction, it is even more important to have effective ventilation to prevent the build-up of harmful indoor air pollutants.
Airborne particles may include:
- Mold spores
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- VOCs
- Odors
- Smoke from tobacco or wildfires
Ventilation also prevents moisture and subsequent mold growth from occurring, contributing to structural damage from wood rot and deteriorated insulation. One of the primary functions of your HVAC system is to control humidity levels both for comfort and to reduce the strain on the system.
Exhaust fans can be instrumental in removing fumes, chemicals, or other particles present in the air, especially useful in the kitchen. If you want to have your current ventilation system evaluated to determine if improvements such as relocating intakes, moving ductwork, or the addition of HVAC technology can be made, contact your heating and air conditioning experts to learn more.
2. Oxidation and Ionization Technology
We have been hearing more about UVC lights used to kill contaminants on surfaces. Air purifiers help to destroy particles in the air both within the HVAC system and throughout the air in living spaces. Health care facilities, food processing plants, and other public sector spaces commonly use oxidation and ionization technology to improve IAQ.
UVC-emitting lights are incorporated into existing ventilation and particulate filtration systems or other air quality control methods as part of the air disinfection process. UVC-coil irradiation, airstream disinfection systems, duct and upper-air systems use the UV component to destroy pathogens that conventional filtration systems cannot capture, namely viruses and bacteria.
3. Humidity and Temperature Control
Air conditioning units were originally designed to control the level of humidity in the air. High relative humidity contributes to indoor air pollutants just as low humidity allows viruses to thrive. This is especially prevalent in the fall and winter when the heat is on.
You can use a humidity gauge to check for healthy levels you want to see between 30 to 50 percent. A Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system can detect precise requirements using zoned HVAC technology. The IAQ varies from room to room. VRF allows you to send the precise degree of heating or cooling to each space for consistent comfort and the proper management of humidity in the air.
4. Clean Ductwork to Minimize the Circulation of Indoor Air Pollution
We tend to run our HVAC systems day in and day out from summer right through winter. Rarely do we think about how the system accumulates debris and dust within the ductwork but think about it: Whatever resides in the ducts ends up circulating in the air you breathe.
Having your heating and air conditioning technician come out to perform an inspection can determine how much dust, mold spores, pet dander, pollen or other airborne matter have built up. By the time you are aware that irritants are clogging your ductwork, you have already been subjected to the health hazard. Ask your AC expert about the latest cardboard ductwork that is treated for fire-resistance and waterproofing made from sustainable materials.
Anyone in the home who suffers from asthma, allergies, or other breathing issues could benefit from improved IAQ by having a trained and certified technician clean out clogged ducts. Further, this will improve the operation of the HVAC system while preventing future potential breakdowns. This is a service provided by NADCA and NAIMA certified professionals performed under regular maintenance contracts.
5. Evaluate Your Filtration
The one job you need to perform regularly is filter cleaning or replacement, depending on the filters you use. Filters get clogged with dust and debris and put a strain on the system when it must work harder to drive air through them. Filters help protect the HVAC equipment while helping it perform efficiently.
You also have options to improve the type of filters you use. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are rated using the minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV scale. The higher the rating, the more powerful the filter is at blocking particles of different sizes. Before you advance to this type of filter, you should have your system evaluated.
Since theHEPA filters restrict airflow, you want to be sure you are not going to damage your existing system. Have your qualified professional HVAC contractor retrofit your HVAC system to accommodate HEPA filters if you want to increase your IAQ protection.
6. Check Out the Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart technology has done a lot for making our homes part of the interactive network of communication. The Internet of Things (IoT) has reached home HVAC systems with smart thermostat technology. You can connect with your home’s HVAC controls through your smartphone or tablet, allowing you to manage the system from anywhere you happen to be.
Set the thermostat to satisfy your own personal preferences, to save on energy use or to notify you of any maintenance issues pending. In some cases, your smart thermostat can even notify your heating and air conditioning contractor to head out to perform routine maintenance and include a more efficient automatic billing method, too.
7. Desiccant-Enhanced Evaporative Air Conditioner (DEVap)
Though DEVap is not yet commercially available, it presents a new technology with the potential to revolutionize the HVAC industry. This is a device that combines evaporative cooling power with the dehumidifying power of liquefied desiccants.
You may be familiar with the salt-like packets often packed with products that are susceptible to moisture. These “Do Not Eat” packets do the same thing that DEVap will do by creating an AC unit that produces cold, dry air but at a fraction of the cost of conventional air conditioning. So far, prototypes of this system have demonstrated a remarkable 90 percent reduction in energy consumption compared to our present systems.
Isn’t it time you inquired about these and other possible On the Spot HVAC improvements that can be made to your system to help you realize the many benefits? Contact your professionals today for their expert advice on how you can upgrade to greater efficiency, optimal performance, and cost-effectiveness with a system you heavily rely on to perform for you every day.