How Does an HVAC System Get Dirty or Contaminated? What are Some Ways to Prevent or Mitigate This?

The average homeowner knows the importance of regularly checking their HVAC system filter, but sometimes it’s shocking to find out upon every inspection that their HVAC system is just getting dirtier and dirtier.

There are many health consequences to having bad indoor air quality, and it’s extremely important to try and keep your HVAC system clean, but you can’t do that unless you know where all that dirt is coming from.

Dust and Pets

Dust is one of the most common causes of a dirty HVAC system, and there’s no escaping it. If you’re doing a home renovation, or there’s a home construction in your neighborhood, that dust will easily enter into your home and your HVAC system.

A rarely used room in your home also allows dust to settle, and if you leave it undisturbed it’s very likely that it’ll clog the system’s filter.

Pets are another major cause of a contaminated HVAC system. With shedding pets in your home, you can expect elevated levels of hair and dander in your system filter.

Dirty Environment

If your HVAC system is inordinately dirty and you find that you often have to call a duct cleaning service, the culprit could be a dirty environment.

If you live in a highly polluted area, close to a factory, or a highway, you’ll need to change the filters more often than most, and you’ll need to schedule regular inspections.

Even if you live in a relatively clean environment, forest fires that are happening miles away can have a huge effect on the air quality in your area and inside your home.

Higher MERV Rating

MERV is short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. MERV ratings are a way of judging the effectiveness of your HVAC system.

MERV ratings go from 1 to 16, and the higher the rating, the more airborne particles your filter will trap. Ultimately, a filter with the highest MERV rating will make the air inside your home fresher and cleaner, however, the HVAC system needs to work harder to move the air around. This could cause a system malfunction.

Also, keep in mind that filters with a higher MERV rating need to be cleaned or changed more often, and neglecting this will lead to the contamination of the system.

Preventing the Contamination of the HVAC System

The best way to prevent contamination is to schedule regular inspections of the HVAC system. Especially when the temperatures are going to the extremes or the air quality of your neighborhood is lower. If you have a pet, keep an eye on the system during your pet’s shedding season.

Regular inspections will let you stay up to date with the condition of your HVAC system and any potential problems can be caught early on, saving you money in the long run.

Another thing you can do is keep your home clean – with fewer contaminants inside your home, there won’t be many possibilities for them to enter the ductwork.

HVAC systems can often get dirty, and it’s in your best interest to check them regularly and keep your home clean. Contact us today to book your next cleaning with Modern PURAIR_^®.

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