Americans emitted about 66 million tons of pollution into the atmosphere in a single year. These emissions can sneak into your home, affecting your indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can cause respiratory disease, heart disease, cancer, and other health issues.

Before that happens, search for AC repair near me. Routine heating and cooling maintenance can improve your Fort Myers, FL home’s air quality.

How, exactly? Read on to find out!

Leaky Ducts Cause Infiltration

Leaky ductwork will reduce your HVAC system’s overall efficiency. This allows pests to sneak inside.

Mice can call through disconnected return ducts. They may die in the crawl space or carry disease throughout your home. 

When these pests get stuck in the ductwork, air will pass over their droppings and remains. Even a brand-new HVAC system won’t filter out the smell. 

Smaller contaminants can travel through leaky ducts and infiltrate your Fort Myers home. These include:

• Viruses
• Pet dander
• Bacteria
• Pollen
• Dirt
• Dust mites
• Bio-aerosols
• Pollution

These contaminants will pollute your indoor air and cause respiratory issues. Poor indoor air quality can contribute to lung cancer, chronic lung disease, and other issues.

Request an AC and heating tune-up. Your technician will resolve leaks to improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Recommendations

Consider investing in products that address indoor air quality issues. These include humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air purifiers. 

Humidifiers add water vapor to the air inside your home. Using one can improve your energy efficiency. Your furnace won’t need to run to maintain your home’s temperatures.

A dehumidifier can keep your home cool while protecting your home and possessions. It can help drive insects that love humidity from your home. These include spiders, silverfish, and centipedes.

Reducing your home’s humidity levels will discourage bacteria, mold, and insects. An air purifier, on the other hand, can kill viruses before they spread. It can protect you and your family, especially if someone is immunocompromised. 

Leaks Cause Back-Drafting

Sometimes, combustion gasses from a fuel-fired appliance (like a furnace or water heater) can re-enter your home. This happens when low air pressure compromises the pressure differential. The combustion gasses from your appliances won’t release properly.

Back-drafting can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home, which can be deadly.

Duct systems can contribute to back-drafting if a leak is causing negative pressure. Even closing a bedroom door is enough to cause an imbalance.

Recommendation

Request an AC repair free estimate in Fort Myers if you haven’t scheduled a recent maintenance check. Your HVAC technician can check your ducts. They’ll install a carbon monoxide detector to keep you and your family safe.

Your technician can give you a free furnace estimate if the unit isn’t releasing combustion gasses properly. They can complete a thorough furnace repair check and tune-up.

During a check, they’ll clean dust or debris from the furnace cabinet. They’ll check the blower fan. The fan can affect your HVAC unit’s overall performance. 

Look for “heating near me” if you notice abnormal smells when the system is running. This could indicate mold spores and bacteria are circulating throughout your home. 

The condenser, compressor, and evaporator coil likely require attention. Neglecting to schedule routine checks could cause mold and bacteria to build up. Routine inspections will ensure each component is clean and mold-free.

Humidity Issues Due to Inefficiencies

Your HVAC system is designed to regulate humidity levels. It can filter out moisture from the air to keep your home cool. An outdated system, however, can cause too much or too little humidity.

Too much moisture will cause your home to feel hot and stuffy. This promotes biological growth (like bacteria and viruses). Too little moisture can cause respiratory problems and allergies.

Recommendations

The best AC companies can make customized recommendations based on your needs. If humidity levels are too high, they may recommend a dehumidifier. If they’re low, they may recommend a humidifier instead. 

Schedule heating and cooling maintenance checks every six months (in the fall or spring). Your technician will recognize signs of inefficiencies. They may recommend a new AC unit.

Lack of Ventilation Causes Poor Airflow

Most new homes are tightly sealed. This conserves energy but doesn’t allow for much ventilation. Your indoor air could become stagnant.

Contaminants that find their way into your home will have no easy way of getting out. Even with an energy-efficient AC unit, your home needs proper ventilation.

Your Fort Myers technician may recommend a new ventilation system. This will replace stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air.

Recommendations

Increasing your home’s air circulation can resolve air quality issues. These include:

• Uneven temperatures
• Polluted or dusty air
• Stuffy or humid air

The blower motor helps circulate conditioned air throughout your home. Keep it on to ensure air circulates even when the unit isn’t heating or cooling your home. This will even out your home’s temperatures.

Increased air circulation allows the filtration system to filter air more frequently. This will help people suffering from allergies and asthma. 

Sealed Ducts Distribute Toxins

Sometimes, your system recirculates unhealthy air from one room to another. This keeps the system from purifying indoor air pollutants. 

Otherwise, contaminants will travel throughout your home, including:

• Pet dander and odors
• Cooking fumes
• Paints
• Perfumes
• Chemical vapors

Recommendations

A whole-home air cleaner or purifier could help. Whole-home purification systems attach to your furnace or air handler. They remove contaminants before they get the chance to circulate. 

During a heating and cooling maintenance check, your technician will check your unit’s air filter. A clogged filter can reduce airflow or fail to catch harmful particulates. It should catch dust, debris, and allergens before they travel through your home. 

Your technician may recommend a filter with a higher MERV rating. These filters collect tiny particles to improve indoor air quality. 

Improve Indoor Air Quality in Fort Myers, FL

Don’t let poor indoor air quality compromise your health. Instead, look for heating and cooling near me. The best AC companies in Fort Myers can improve your air quality to give you peace of mind. 

Our NATE-certified team at Mabry Brothers has an unwavering commitment to excellence and custom home solutions. We’ve prioritized reliability and customer satisfaction since 1995.

Trust our innovative, top-tier services. Contact us to improve your home’s indoor air quality.