In the winter, we shut all the doors and windows so that our heaters continue to operate as designed without using up a lot of energy. But this means that contaminants can continuously cycle through our heating systems. Stay healthy with a few indoor air quality tips from our specialists!
- Inspect heating systems and carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Making sure that your heating system is operating safely can prevent major indoor air quality issues that could be detrimental to your health. Call a technician for annual inspections of your heating system. And test your carbon monoxide detectors by holding down the button and listening for the beep that indicates it’s working. If not, change the batteries immediately. If you have a gas heating system, you should have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor.
- Change the air filters. The air filter in your heating system must be replaced every month, or cleaned if you happen to have a reusable filter. Follow manufacturers’ instructions for cleaning the filter, and make sure you replace a disposable filter with one of a similar size and a high MERV rating. The MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) is a measure of an air filter’s effectiveness. However, keep in mind that a MERV that is too high could block airflow to your heater. Contact a professional technician for advice.
- Consider installing an additional indoor air quality system. While an air filter is a vital part of your heating system, it is limited in its ability to filter out contaminants from the air. A separate indoor air quality system can use alternative methods to remove smaller particles from the air, like bacteria and viruses, to keep your family members healthy. An air purifier system in your ducts can use UV lights or an ionization process to remove more contaminants from the air you breathe.
When you contact the friendly people at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., you can get help with your indoor air quality in Bloomfield, NM. Don’t waste your time with the run-around. Give us a call and let us do it right the first time!