Routine heating maintenance includes a periodic inspection, cleaning interior components, and changing filters. Keeping up with these tasks can reduce the number of particulates circulating through your air. There are other benefits as well. Always work with a professional whose experience allows them to spot problems early and maintain all major components.
Controlling Particulate Matter
A typical residence has particulates circulating that include dust, dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. Breathing in these contaminants can aggravate allergies and asthma. Annual heating maintenance keeps harmful particles in check because a technician cleans interior components and removes debris that would otherwise circulate through your air. If these components build up, they can damage your heating and cooling equipment and impact your indoor air quality.
You should change your HVAC filter once every 30 to 90 days. If you or someone in your home suffers from allergies, change the filter more often. If you maintain a dirty filter in your system, it allows particulate matter to circulate into your indoor air. This can also affect performance and equipment longevity.
Indoor Relative Humidity
Skipping routine maintenance for your heating system can lead to issues with relative humidity. Experts recommend maintaining relative humidity between 30% and 50% in your home. Professionals can catch HVAC issues that impact humidity early. For example, lack of maintenance can lead to short cycling. If your heating system is not running full cycles, this can increase relative humidity. So can damage to a condensate drain pan or clogs in the drain line.
You can add a whole-home dehumidifier to your HVAC system to remove excess moisture from the air. If you’re dealing with dry air that’s irritating your sinuses and airways, consider a whole-home humidifier. Relative humidity is especially important in winter. Heating equipment tends to make indoor air very dry, and this can lead to discomfort and an increase in illness.
Ensuring Optimal Ventilation
No home has an envelope so tight that it will not allow air to pass indoors from the outside. A healthy exchange of air is important to remove harmful particles, other contaminants, and excess humidity. Routine heating maintenance can ensure that your system is running normally to circulate clean air and ventilate your home. If you have heat recovery ventilation equipment that is part of your setup, you need to have these components inspected as well.
Ensure healthy and safe indoor air quality in your home. Contact our team at A-1 Plumbing & Heating in Farmington, ME for help with your heating maintenance needs.