How to Improve Ventilation for Better Health

Did you know that poor ventilation in your building can make you sick? It’s true. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has recognised that inadequate ventilation can contribute to illness — including coughs; chest tightness; headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; nausea; or itchy skin. Inadequate ventilation may be a particular concern in middle-aged buildings, those not new but constructed after the mid-seventies, when renewed interest in conservation caused a reduction in the requirements for outdoor air ventilation. Many buildings in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, and Langley date from this era, and may have poor indoor air quality. If you suspect that the indoor air quality in your building is sub-par, or even making you sick, an HVAC service professional should be your first port of call. An HVAC technician can take simple steps that may dramatically improve your indoor air quality:

Clean Air Ducts

Your furnace ducts have accumulated dust and debris over the summer. When you start using the furnace as the weather cools, that dust and debris can be released into the air in your home. To avoid this possibility, invest in air duct cleaning before the winter starts — ideally before you start up the furnace for the first time. Clean ducts will prevent all of that unwanted debris from getting into the living areas of your house, and from there into your lungs. Consider having the ducts cleaned annually for best results.

New Furnace Filters

The cold weather is beginning, and it’s a perfect time to change the furnace filters. Did you know that furnace filters need to be changed as often as every three months? A dirty filter makes your furnace less efficient, and can also cause your indoor air quality to deteriorate. You may consider using a HEPA filter instead of disposable filters, but these still need to be cleaned regularly.

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning in the summer isn’t just a luxury. It can improve the health of people with allergies or otherwise irritated by poor air quality in a building. If you suffer from allergies or building-related illness, air conditioning during the summer can lessen symptoms. It may be time to start planning to install an air conditioning system. If you already have an air conditioning system, remember it too needs A/C maintenance — including regular air filter changes.

Having problems with your indoor air quality? An HVAC professional can take many steps to improve the quality of the air in your building, whether your air is making you sick or whether you just want a more pleasant living environment. Pro Ace supplies HVAC service professionals to home and business owners in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, and Langley. Pro Ace HVAC technicians are experts in air quality, furnaces, air conditioning, and ventilation. Contact Pro Ace to schedule duct cleaning, to have your furnace inspected, to discuss installing an air conditioner, or any other HVAC concern.