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I live out of the state, Penguin Air was recommeded by a neighbour. Thank you for your service and patience on the instructions to enter the home without me there, I thought you should know I got home yesterday and the new air conditioning system is perfect. A sincere thank you, is good to know a sevice company I can trust..
Indoor Air Pollution
The air conditioning system, surprisingly is the least thought of, but is truly the hardest working and one of the most expensive component in the home, consuming over 50% of the electric bill and not to mention the quality of air that you and your family breathes.
Must watch the following video to understand the levels of VOC - Indoors vs. Outdoors.
Controlling Allergies in your Air Conditioning System
keeping clean filters can help minimize exposure to allergens from your HVAC system. Installing higher merv filters into your air conditioning system can improve the air quality of your home or business.
Filters are measured in MERVs these filters range from 1 to 20, with 20 providing the highest level of particle filtration, typically the High teens of Merv rating is used in hospitals or specialized clinics they are refered at as (HEPA Filters) High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting filter. To qualify as HEPA by government standards, an air filter must remove 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometer from the air that passes through. These Hepa filters are not commonly used in residential applications, there are alternatives and much more practical for residential applications see Media Filters.
Types of HVAC Filters installed in the air conditioning systems
Other things to know about HVAC filters include the following:
Standard 1" Fiberglass Filters.
These filters are installed in most air conditioning systems today, it is what comes standard on most all units manufactuctured today, these filters generally have a rating of one to four MERVs, It is not recommended to control allergies is simply a primilinary measure to keep large particles from entering the air handler coil and duct distribution system. These 1" Filters are not design to improve indoor air quality.
Media Filter
A whole house air filter are up to 50 times more efficient at capturing bacteria, allergens, and other airborne particles than a typical one-inch fiberglass filter.
Ultra Efficiency filters range from 10 - 12 MERV rating - they capture a very high percentage of air contaminants, including the smallest particles that are most harmful to your lungs. These Media Filters are designed to protect the air conditioning system air handler, ducts and most importantly dirt build-up on the air handler evaporator coil fins, Media Filters are design to improve indoor air quality.
Learn more on Air conditioning system Media Filters 
Controlling VOC Levels
Fight Odors, VOCs, and Germs in the Air The APCO system (Advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation) represents an entirely new type of air purifier. The combination of germicidal UV light and activated carbon cells inside APCO make it uniquely effective at reducing volatile orgainic compounds in the air. VOCs cause odors and include toxic chemical vapors like formaldehyde and toluene.
Can Health problems be caused by mold on my
Air Conditioning System?
How can I tell if there is mold in my air conditioning system, or should I test my home for mold?
Indoor mold growth can usually be seen or smelled. In most cases, if visible mold growth is present. There are no health or exposure-based standards that you can use to evaluate a mold sampling result. Sampling for mold in the air should only be done by experienced professionals. One good way to observe if mold is present in the air conditioning system is to have the air conditioning air handler door removed to observe moisture. Air conditioning ducts can have a great deal of mold if they are not sealed properly and begin to sweat within the duct liner. When opening the air conditioning system's air handler, look for visible mold growth.
Checking around the Air conditioning system's air handling units or air conditioners furnace area where the evaporator coil is located would be a good place to start as the evaporator coil condensates into the air conditioning drain pan look for moisture or standing water. Routinely inspecting the evaporator coils, liner surfaces, drain pans and drain lines is good practice, it is why we always recommend routine preventative maintenance. Air conditioning Preventative maintenance is not just a mechanical A/C tune-up to prevent future Air conditioning Repairs but it is also to have a professional HVAC Technician inspect on a routine basis your air conditioning system operation and conditions.
Searching areas in the air conditioning system where you notice mold odors could be a good way of finding mold evidence (it is recommended that only a trained air conditioning professional technician should inspect the AC system) if this odor persists in most cases you can smell an earthy or musty odor, you may have a mold problem.
There are four kinds of health problems that come from exposure to mold: allergic illness, irritant effects, infection, and toxic effects. For people that are sensitive to molds, symptoms such as nasal and sinus irritation or congestion, dry hacking cough, wheezing, skin rashes or burning, watery or reddened eyes may occur. People with severe allergies to molds may have more serious reactions, such as hay-fever-like symptoms or shortness of breath. People with chronic illnesses or people with immune system problems may be more likely to get infections from certain molds, viruses and bacteria. Molds can also trigger asthma attacks in persons with asthma. Headaches, memory problems, mood swings, nosebleeds and body aches and pains are sometimes reported in mold complaints, but the causes of these physical symptoms are not yet understood. The toxic effects of certain molds are not well understood, and are currently a controversial topic in the medical and scientific community. There is evidence of specific long-term toxic effects from eating foods with mold toxins. Unfortunately, very little is known regarding the actual health risks from breathing in or skin contact with mold toxins. Allergic disease is now considered the most likely health problem related to mold exposures.
UV Lights (Ultraviolet Lights) read more
Control Allergies by performing HVAC Maintenance
Controlling Indoor Allergens: Regular HVAC Maintenance
It is important to change filters regularly — as recommended, or every two months during use, follow any maintenance instructions recommended by the air conditioner system's manufacturer. If you suspect mold may be growing inside your air conditioning system, you may want to consider having the air ducts cleaned.
If you see mold particles growing near the ducts or on other components of the system or if you smell a musty or moldy odor coming from your vents, consult a duct cleaning professional to check for an accumulation of mold.
Another thing you may want to consider when building a new home or replacing your existing HVAC system is a unit is the installation of a Media filter installation
Learn more about Preventative Maintenance
Call us for a free estimate or a service call, all work guaranteed, Our Technicians are trained in customer service and work integrity, Penguin Air will not take short cuts or nickel and dime our customers. Choose Penguin Air and invest in a comfort system that will last you for many years to come.
Our estimates includes it all. We get the job done right!
Allergies - Indoor Air Quality
