The first thing that usually comes to mind in Texas is cooling. Controlling the temperature and humidity in your home is the most important thing that your air conditioning system does, but it is not the only part to consider.
Indoor air quality doesn’t always get discussed in regard to your air conditioning system, but it can have a significant impact on your comfort and your health. The best thing that you can do to protect your system and improve air quality in your home is to change your filters regularly. I recommend changing your filters once a month during summer and once every 2-3 months in the winter. Because most return air opening are not big enough I prefer basic 3M pleated filters. Buying an expensive high MERV air filter does a very good job catching more debris in the air, they also restrict airflow to the indoor coil which can cause other issues such as reduced efficiency and the coil freezing over. If you have a return opening big enough they are great.
An alternative to traditional filters is what’s called a mechanical air cleaner. This is just a four-inch-thick media filter inside a case which is installed just before the furnace. These filters do a better job of keeping dust and debris out of your equipment and the air you breathe without overly restricting airflow. As a bonus these filters only need to be changed once or twice a year.
Another option which I feel has the most noticeable impact on air quality is an electronic “air scrubber” like the Air Knight. I have asthma which is often triggered by allergens in the air such as dust, pollen and pet dander.
My father installed an Air Knight in his duct work and when I’m at my parents’ house I can notice a definite difference in how often I’m bothered by my asthma. If you have allergies, like I do, then air quality is especially important.
Feel free to call and ask about Indoor Air Quality. I would be happy to come by and look at your air conditioning system and talk about what options are available.
