Air Filtration Services
air filter cleaning service, upstate SC
Ever noticed that your home can actually feel hotter at night than it does during the day? While the actual temperature inside the house may not really be higher at night time, it can feel like it when the temperatures outside drop when the sun goes down. Your house and its contents spend all day absorbing the heat of a warm day and can then take a while to lose that heat. If you’re experiencing these issues, Upstate Home Maintenance offers professional air filtration services Greenville SC to help improve indoor air quality and keep your home comfortable.
Air Filtration Services
Attic Fan & Ventilation
Humidity Control
Duct Cleaning
Highest Quality Heat Recovery Ventilation in the Upstate SC Area
Energy Recovery Ventilation that Will Save Energy
Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems are similar to heat recovery ventilation systems, but they recycle both cool and warm air. Instead of expelling conditioned air outdoors, ERV units capture it and recirculate it within your living space, preventing wastage. These systems result in energy savings throughout the year. If you’re interested in having an ERV system installed at your property, start by calling us today.
questions? call today and schedule a service call!
Unrivaled Ultraviolet Air Cleaning
Your air conditioning system filters the air continuously, leading to moisture buildup in the vents and ductwork. This creates an ideal breeding ground for mold, mildew, bacteria, and viruses, which can reduce air quality within your home. Ultraviolet air cleaning is the most effective way to ensure air free of these contaminants. While newer HVAC units often come with this technology, owners of older systems can have standalone ultraviolet lights installed to achieve the same result.Air Filtration Systems
The air filter in your home’s furnace, air conditioner, or HVAC System is an important but often overlooked component of the system as a whole. Though they may look like nothing more than a big box full of fibers and pleated material, air filters actually impact several crucial areas of indoor comfort and HVAC equipment performance and efficiency.
Air filtration components are critical to your home’s heating and cooling system. An air filter is generally made up of a spun fiberglass material or from pleated paper or cloth enclosed in a cardboard frame. The basic function is to clean the air that circulates through your heating and cooling system, therefore into your home. Filters trap and hold many types of particulates and even contaminants that could affect your health and comfort, including:
Dust and dirt particles
Pollen and Allergens
Mold and mold spores
Fibers and lint particles
Metal, plaster or wood particles
Hair and animal fur
Bacteria and other microorganisms
Dirty, or clogged air filters:
- Are a common source of HVAC system malfunctions. In more extreme cases, very dirty filters can significantly damage heating and cooling units.
- Can lessen the airflow inside the HVAC system, which can cause air-handling fans to have to work harder and therefore wear out quicker.
- Can’t perform very well to remove particulates and contaminants effectively, which allows these materials back into your indoor breathing air.
- Can cause contaminants to accumulate in the inner parts of your HVAC system’s ducts, and make it difficult to ever get the whole system pure again.
- Will cause HVAC equipment to work even harder, increasing energy usage and become costly to your monthly energy bills.
Indoor air quality frequently asked questions
What is indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term used to refer to the air quality in and around a South Carolina building. In particular, it relates to the health and comfort of the occupants of a building.
A critical factor in good IAQ is the amount of outside air that comes into the building. The more ventilation a building has, the lower the pollutant levels, odors, temperature, and humidity there will generally be in the indoor environment.
What type of HVAC filter should I use?
You should always use a filter with a certified HEPA rating for your HVAC system. HEPA filters provide an unrivaled level of protection against harmful particles and allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke.
HEPA filters are also extremely efficient at removing particulate matter from the air. They are capable of trapping particles as small as 0.3μm, which are known to be harmful to your lungs and overall health.
Should I have a UV light installed?
When installed in an HVAC system, ultraviolet lights can be extremely effective at killing harmful viruses, bacteria, and mold that may be living in your ductwork or come from outside the building. They come in two basic types: coil sanitizing lights and air sanitizing lights.
Any decision on whether to have a UV light installed will depend on health. If you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies or breathing problems, a UV light may help to reduce the concentrations of allergens in the indoor air supply.
What are the signs of low indoor air quality?
There are a number of tell-tale signs that may indicate that you have poor indoor air quality if you notice any increase in allergies, a persistent cough, frequent illness, headaches, mucus membrane irritation, dry skin, and nausea.
If you would like to keep track of your indoor air quality, you can invest in an IAQ sensor. This device will give you a real-time breakdown of the air that you are breathing.
What should I do if my home has poor indoor air quality?
If you have poor air quality in your home, you can take a number of steps to improve it:
- Change your HVAC filter
- Increase ventilation
- Check your air ducts
- Keep rugs and carpets clean
- Use a kitchen extractor fan
- Buy indoor plants to clean the air
How much ventilation does my building need?
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) defines ventilation as the rate by which outdoor air replaces indoor air.
The organization recommends that homes receive minimum ventilation of 0.35 air changes per hour and greater than 15 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) per person. This is the minimum requirement for a healthy IAQ.
How can I control dampness in my home?
An easy way of controlling dampness in your home is to invest in a dehumidifier. This device will directly remove water from the air in the indoor environment. Alternatively, you can use your air conditioning more regularly.
However, a dehumidifier will not fix the underlying causes of the excess humidity. If you have a terrible damp problem, you may need to call in a professional to help you troubleshoot the possible causes.
Why is indoor air quality important?
You should be concerned about indoor air quality since poor air quality can have a negative impact on the health of you and your family. Since we spend around 90 percent of our time indoors, the quality of indoor air is paramount.
Studies carried out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have found that levels of pollutants found indoors can be 2-5 times higher than outdoors. In extreme cases, levels have been found to be up to 100 times higher.
Should I have my ductwork cleaned?
Consider having your air ducts cleaned if you detect considerable mold growth on the sheet metal surfaces of your ductwork or any of the other components of your HVAC system.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not recommend the routine cleaning of ducts. However, if you are concerned about the poor air quality in your home, you may want to hire a professional HVAC contractor to come and clean them.
How often should I change my HVAC filter?
The frequency with which you should change your HVAC filter depends on a number of factors, including the type of filter you are using and how many residents the building has.
Generally speaking, you should look to change a quilted filter once every 3-6 months. If you use a fiberglass filter, you should change it every 30 days.
What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are airborne particles that have low water solubility and high vapor pressure. Given off by paint, finishes, glues, adhesives, new flooring, and furniture, VOCs rank among the most common air pollutants found in the home.
VOCs are known to be responsible for causing reactions, ranging from minor respiratory complaints to serious health issues.
What are the symptoms of sick building syndrome?
Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe a situation in which the occupants of a building experience acute health reactions when they spend time in the building. These reactions occur when no other illness or cause can be identified.
The causes of SBS are generally related to poor indoor air quality, including poor ventilation, high levels of dust, the presence of mold or fungus, and tobacco smoke.
How can I tell if my house is too humid?
If the indoor environment in your house is too humid, you will probably notice one or more of the following signs:
- Condensation build-up on windows and walls
- Damp in the basement
- Mold growth
- Poor ventilation
- Increased asthma
The Environmental Protection Agency (APA) recommends that indoor humidity is maintained at below 60 percent. When it rises above this level, health problems can occur, and damage may be done to drywall, furniture, and building materials.