Ideally, you should have maintenance and service for your air conditioning twice a year, or once at the least. This not only ensures optimal efficiency, but it enables the technician to spot any problems that may arise in the near future. And, most importantly, it will ensure that the indoor air quality in your home or office is good.
When it comes to indoor air quality, most consumers don’t realize that the air in their homes and offices can be more polluted than the air outside. Exposure to airborne pollutants can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and nose, as well as fatigue, dizziness and headaches. Exposure can even bring on symptoms of more serious conditions like pneumonitis and asthma. See this illustration:
So, in addition to getting service for your air conditioning regularly, here are some other ways to keep your family healthy:
- A great place to start is by implementing a strict “no smoking” rule in the home to ensure you have clean, healthy air. Toss out moldy carpets and repair water leaks.
- Regular vacuuming cuts down on dust mites and dirt. Cooking odors and gases can be vented outside.
- Install a filtration system. A whole-house system can remove up to 95% of viruses, pet dander, pollen and mold spores. NB: This must be professionally installed.
- Reduce the growth of mold on your AC unit. To lower the amount of indoor pollutants, have an air conditioning service professional seal the duct system (if you have one). Some portable air cleaners have ionic and electronic properties which produce ozone – a very dangerous air pollutant, so make sure yours is ozone free.
