While many of us worry about extreme weather conditions, we may be thinking only of road conditions and the potential for structural damage to our homes. Unfortunately, these instances are not the only consequence of extreme weather, and it can affect the air inside your home.
How Extreme Weather Affects Your Indoor Air:
Severe weather conditions can affect your indoor air in a number of ways;
High temperatures can increase the production of pollen. An elevated pollen level can impact the air quality both outdoors and indoors.
Intensely hot temperatures outside can also place prolonged heat stress on the structure of your home.
Uncharacteristic and prolonged spells of rain and damp outside can increase allergen production and the growth of mold indoors.
Stormy conditions can trigger brownouts and power failures. This can be problematic in itself, but when homeowners try to address this with the use of electric power generators inside, it can lead to potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
The Effect of More Frequent Use of Central Air Conditioning:
As the weather changes, you are more likely to find yourself turning on the air conditioning. This increased frequency can also present some issues. Although using your air conditioning is not a problem in itself, if you are not up to date on your cleaning and maintenance, it can cause some problems. Cooled air will increase the humidity, which could allow moisture to build up on the coils inside your air conditioner. If you lack a good filtration system, dust and other airborne debris can also build up. The wet debris is then the ideal environment to encourage the growth of mold.
Protecting Your Indoor Air:
When the proper precautions are taken, air conditioners are not dangerous. One of the most vital steps to protect your indoor air quality is to regularly change your air filters. An air filter can trap dust, pollen, and other airborne debris, preventing these particles from entering the indoor air. A good air filter can help to lessen or even prevent the growth of mold. You should ensure that your filter has a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) of 8. If you are prone to allergies, it is recommended that your filter is MERV 11 or greater. While it may be tempting to save a few dollars on generic filters, it is important to be aware that genuine high quality filters will deliver a far greater performance, eliminating airborne particles and maintaining great indoor air quality. If you are unsure about suitable replacement air filters for your system, consult your owner’s manual.
If you are concerned about the condition of your air conditioning filtration system or the impact extreme weather may be having on your air quality, you should seek expert advice. Professional HVAC specialists will be able to assess the condition of your system and provide guidance to improve the performance and indoor air quality. The technician will also suggest a regular maintenance schedule to ensure that your system continues operating at peak efficiency and delivers the best indoor air quality.