​What is Indoor Air Quality?

Quality indoor air has been an industry catchphrase since the Legionnaire’s Disease episodes of the 1970s with AC companies in Fort Worth TX. The phrase itself entails how clean, fresh, and healthy you demand your home and office air to be. While some people are blessed not to suffer from allergies at all, many others are not so fortunate. According to an article in Forbes.com, “typically, 35 million to 45 million Americans experience seasonal allergies. Patients sought relief from their symptoms at a doctor’s office more than 12 million times in 2006, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Treating the nation’s allergies is costly: The bill was $11.2 billion in 2005, the last year for which data was available.” Now, that’s a lot of money to try to slow down allergy symptoms.

We Spend 90 Percent of Our Time Indoors.

We spend over 90% of our time indoors and need clean air to breathe. But what are our typical remedies? Upgrading from a one-dollar “home store” air filter to a five-dollar version. Some folks even splurge on the near twenty dollar filter which touts a 90-day lifespan – but usually never does last that long. Or purchasing an electrostatic filter from AC companies in Fort Worth TX that starts out working decently, only to clog up more and more after each cleaning. Next was the craze over ionizers stuck in the corner of the living room or the whole house “HEPA filter” perched on top of the mantle. Alas, these devices usually wind up in the attic where they belong. After all, how can you treat all the air in your house from just one corner?

​Ductworks Are the Lungs of Your Home

On our web page about ductwork we mentioned that your ducting under the house or up in the attic is the “lungs of your home”. Any treatment for air purification must start here because you have ducts running to and from every room. Initially, you must ensure you have clean vents and ducts. And today’s innovative technologies help us remove dust, dirt, airborne particulates, pet dander, hair, skin cells (every one of us shed about four pounds of this dreadful stuff every year), and other debris floating in our home air. For example, when you draw back the blinds to let in some sunshine you notice the rays of the sun are loaded with particulates floating in the air. And this is just what we can see with the naked eye. Dust and airborne particulates must be stopped before entering the airstream of your furnace or air handler. Initially, your HVAC system in Fort Worth, Texas must be airtight; otherwise, any means of filtration is doomed to failure. But with an airtight system, then dust collection can become effective. One inch home store filters at any cost are a bare minimum at best. But these days thick media filtration cartridges can reach six inches in width to really begin to arrest your home dust problems. And these massive filters can last up to six months or more between changes.

Electronic Air Cleaners Trap the Dust

Next is Electronic Air Cleaners which are hooked up to an HVAC system electrically – usually low voltage – which produces an “electronic “charge” that attracts dust particles to adhere to the special filter material. These have been in use for over twenty years with varying degrees of success with AC companies in Fort Worth TX. These types of filtration devices are usually checked by the homeowner every six weeks and media is changed approximately every three months. Many factors determine how long a filter lasts in different home environments. For example, homes with several children and pets running in and out of the home will require a much more frequent filter change whereas a home with one or two senior citizens with less activity could last for up to a year between changes.

For ideas on how to improve your home indoor air quality with AC companies in Fort Worth TX and other indoor air quality information see the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site. https://www.epa.gov/

​How to Stop the Dust

Many products are currently available from AC companies in Fort Worth TX:

  • high MERV rated filters with smaller, tighter fiber weave
  • electrostatic filters
  • large surfaced media filters with airtight enclosures
  • electronic air cleaners
  • combinations of both of the above

There is an abundance of choices to fit your need and your budget. Get more facts about healthy indoor air from the American Lung Association.

First Time Customers Get Get Diagnostic Fee Waived ($89 Value)*, Fill Out This Form To Get Started

An Explanation of Your Air Filters

There are many options to choose from regarding filtration effectiveness from your AC companies in Fort Worth TX. There are many options available for people suffering from allergies and other symptoms. The lower end options, while cheap in cost, do little to protect your indoor environment. In fact, the cheaper throwaway and pleated filters are designed simply to keep dirt from clogging your evaporator coil. (This is a major problem in maintaining system efficiency. Dirty evaporator coils rob your system of both energy savings and performance – not to mention cooling capacity.)

​Protecting Your Health as Well as the Health of Your System

Many people ask how they can protect both their health and their system. Well, today’s technologies and advances in electronics offer solutions for both you and your system.

Ultraviolet Germicidal Light Systems

The ultraviolet disinfectant light is designed to reduce or eliminate mold, germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and spores from the indoor air your family breathes every day. The high output 190 mW twin UVC lamp extends almost 16 inches into the ductwork and is the most cost-effective solution for providing maximum results in controlling infectious agents. There have been many iterations of this germicidal device over the years. And it is very similar to the UV box you see on the counter in your barbershop or hairstylist where they keep combs, brushes, and scissors to be disinfected between customers. That eerie blue light you see is ultraviolet and is killing germs 24 hours a day. This is the same principle with an ultraviolet disinfectant light mounted in your ductwork. Like the air cleaner trapping dust, the UV light is killing germs, mold, and bacteria around the clock. The leading product these days is definitely the REME HALO by RGF Technologies. I personally have had one in my home for over 18 months and have not gotten a cold or flu. And the same can be said about my wife. We installed a Reme Halo in December of 2018 because my wife does not have an immune system and needs as much protection as possible.

Thompson’s Cooling & Heating has an Indoor Air Quality product for you.

At Thompson’s Cooling and Heating, AC companies in Fort Worth TX, we have the product to help with your allergies, dust, and indoor air quality needs in Fort Worth, Texas. Call today and request a Comfort Advisor to help get your home’s indoor air healthy, cool, and clean.

 

 

*Diagnostic fee is waived with residential customers only and must be with same-day repair.

Texas State License Number
TACLB017302C