How to Improve Indoor Air Quality During COVID-19

COVID-19 affected everyone in Northwest Arkansas. Everyone quickly learned the familiar ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19 infections. Masks and social distancing are well-known ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, airborne transmissions can spread infections.

A critical factor in preventing the spread of COVID-19 is the quality of air indoors. More people now gather at home for social events, so considering indoor air quality and reducing airborne transmission is important during COVID-19.

Air Control of Northwest Arkansas sells and installs air purifiers specifically designed to protect air quality in the home. The air purifiers rose in popularity during COVID-19 but are now generally accepted as an excellent way to eliminate germs in a house or office. Read on to learn more about ways to improve indoor air quality and why it is essential during COVID-19.

Why Care About Air Quality in COVID-19

Everyone knows COVID-19 spreads primarily through close contact with people. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that infections could spread through airborne transmission.

Research shows the COVID-19 virus can remain in the air and travel further distances. Some experiments showed the virus remained in the air for several hours and spread as far as two meters, or around six feet.

Because COVID-19 can stay airborne, homes and offices need to have purified air and be well ventilated. Using air purifiers is one way to lower the concentration of the virus. Maintaining the heating and cooling systems in a house or office is also essential to keep air circulating.

How Can I Improve Indoor Air Quality to Reduce COVID-19 Infections?

There are several ways to improve indoor air quality. Good ventilation and air purifiers could reduce the number of bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that travel through the air in a home or other indoor space.

Air Control has installed purifiers and serviced HVAC systems throughout the Northwest Arkansas area to help improve air quality. This article will go into detail about how indoor air quality can improve, including:

· Installing a fresh air ventilation system

· Installing air purifiers

· Understanding how HVAC systems improve air quality

· Maintaining air conditioning and heating systems

· Cleaning more and improving ventilation

Installing a Fresh Air Ventilation System

A fresh air ventilation system is also commonly called a fresh air intake system. An Air Control technician installs a pipe in your home and connects it to your HVAC system. The pipe allows outside fresh air into the air conditioner.

Without fresh air, the air quality levels lower indoors, as the HVAC system recycles stale air.

Most homes are equipped with a fresh air ventilation system, but if you feel the air quality is lower than what you would like, an Air Control technician can inspect the fresh air intake to make sure you are getting enough air supply without losing too much energy.

Installing Air Purifiers

Air purifiers help protect the air quality in your home by killing bacteria, mold, and viruses, as well as reducing odors, allergens, smoke, and dust particles. A good air purifier can eliminate over 95% of pollutants, including the COVID-19 virus.

Air purifiers are a great tool if you suffer from allergies or respiratory issues. Especially if you are a pet owner and suffer from pet allergies, an air purifier can eliminate the pet dander that causes these allergies.

Generally, using an air purifier indoors will help clean your home. Air purifiers remove dirt and dust particles emitted by carpet, furniture, and other products. They also help reduce dust from accumulating on surfaces.

Air Control offers two types of air purifiers, the iWave and the Air Scrubber. Prices for air purifiers range from around $600 to $700. Air purifiers do not require frequent maintenance or part replacements.

iWave

The iWave purifier uses electrically charged ions to treat the air in residential A/C duct systems. When air flows past the iWave purifier, positive and negative ions purify the air molecules. The ions cling to viruses and take away their hydrogen molecules, which leaves them inactive. The clean molecules then release as pure water vapors into all the indoor living spaces.

This process also helps keep the A/C unit’s coils clean, which is an essential step in maintaining the good running condition of an A/C unit. This purification process reduces:

· Allergens

· Bacteria

· Mold

· Odor

· Pathogens (in virus)

· Smoke

· Static electricity

The iWave purifies air in most home AC systems up to six tons and does not require maintenance or replacement parts. The purifier mounts to an AC duct, either on the inside or outside. The purifier can also attach magnetically near the indoor fan of the air handler.

Creating electrically charged ions is similar to natural processes such as lightning and will not contribute to ozone issues.

Air Scrubber

The Air Scrubber is a device that actively disinfects air. The purifier sends out disinfecting molecules into the air, cleaning all air and surfaces of pathogens.

First, the device creates and propels disinfecting molecules into the air. These odorless molecules quickly spread through the air and pierce through harmful bacteria and virus molecules already living in the air and surfaces. The disinfecting molecules pushed out from the device disrupt the living environments of harmful molecules and prevent them from multiplying or harming.

The FDA approved the Air Scrubber for use in homes.

Understanding How HVAC Systems Improve Air Quality

An HVAC system is the first line of defense for improving indoor air quality. A HVAC system provides indoor spaces enough outside air to dilute pollutants released by anything in a house and office, such as people, building materials, cleaning products, furniture, and other products. Some other reasons HVAC systems improve air quality include:

Ventilation

Proper ventilation is essential to maintaining good air quality. The purpose of a HVAC system is to maintain comfortable living conditions, and they do this by distributing ventilated air throughout indoor spaces.

Filtration

Filters are built into every HVAC system. The filters are designed to trap pollutants and particles from the incoming outside air. Changing filters regularly is an important step to maintaining a healthy HVAC system.

HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filters can be installed to increase the efficiency of filtration. Air Control in Northwest Arkansas offers HEPA filters and installation services.

It is easy to forget to change out filters, so Air Control also offers a filter change-out service, where an Air Control representative comes to the home on a regular schedule to change out filters when needed.

Capacity

The proper size HVAC system should be installed that matches the number of people occupying the space. For example, a large office will require a larger HVAC system than a smaller home. If you have recently remodeled your home, you may need to check if the original HVAC system can cover any new additions to the house.

Indoor air quality levels can also be affected by smoke, pets, scented candles and cooking. Consider these factors in determining the capacity you need in your home's HVAC system.

Humidity

A moist, humid indoor living space can breed mold and bacteria. A properly working and maintained HVAC system helps manage humidity levels in indoor areas.

Maintaining Air Conditioning and Heating Systems

Over time, an HVAC system accumulates dust and dirt particles in its coils and filters. The collection of dirt over time wears down the effectiveness and efficiency of the system and leads to significant repairs or altogether breakdown of the unit.

Maintaining an HVAC system in working condition is essential for good indoor air quality. Air Control has a seasonal check-up service, where an Air Control technician evaluates and services the HVAC system to make sure it is working correctly. Service can also help restore the home’s humidity levels.

Sealing ducts is another way to improve indoor air quality. Air Control can ensure all ducts are sealed so outside fumes and particles do not enter through the duct system and then into the house or office.

Air duct cleaning is usually not included in a HVAC regular service. Still, it is important to keep pollutants from collecting in the HVAC system and recirculating through the home. Air Control also provides duct cleaning services.

Cleaning More and Improving Ventilation

Improving Ventilation

People spent more time at home during COVID-19, and poorly ventilated areas indoors can help spread the virus. Ventilation can reduce the number of air pollutants in indoor spaces and increase indoor air quality.

If the weather is nice, let natural airflow inside by opening doors and windows. Use fans to increase ventilation. Most bathroom and kitchen fans can remove contaminants from a room and increase ventilation as well. Inadequate ventilation will contribute to indoor air pollution, so keeping air flowing can reduce pollutants in the air.

Cleaning More

Dirt stuck in the carpet can also reduce indoor air quality. By regularly vacuuming indoors, dust, dirt, and allergens do not have the chance to accumulate and have the opportunity to get shaken up into the air.

Household cleaning products contribute to poor indoor air quality. The chemicals in cleaning products can hurt those who have asthma and other respiratory issues. Try to choose products that are labeled fragrance-free.

According to the EPA, a fragrance-free label designates the product does not contain scents or anything that masks odors. If the product is labeled unscented, the product still may contain chemicals that neutralize or mask other smells.

Summary

The majority of people spend most of their lives indoors. Research by the EPA shows that COVID-19 can spread and stay airborne for longer than initially thought, so improving air quality indoors is essential to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

A HVAC system is a home’s first line of defense against pollutants, allergens, and viruses from entering the house. However, without regular maintenance, a HVAC system can lose its effectiveness against filtering pollutants and decrease its efficiency. Air Control of Northwest Arkansas can help fix HVAC or replace old units and offers a seasonal maintenance plan to keep a HVAC system properly running.

Installing air purifiers, cleaning and maintaining the HVAC system, increasing ventilation, and vacuuming regularly can increase indoor air quality.

Improving indoor air quality to reduce airborne transmission of COVID-19 is not the only way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Socially distancing, frequent hand washing, and social distancing, and improving air quality will help reduce the spread and infection rate of the virus.