Arizona Indoor Air Quality Tips

Is dust accumulating quickly in your Phoenix home?

Do odors linger after cooking?

Have allergies and asthma worsened in your household?

If you answered yes, your indoor air quality (IAQ) may be suffering. 

At Desert Diamond Air, we are not surprised. With soaring outdoor temperatures, your home has been closed tight all summer to keep it cool inside. You probably could count on one hand the number of nights you opened a window for fresh air in the past month. 

The weather in Maricopa County should be comfortable enough to turn off the AC unit and open some windows by late October or November.

Until then, why cope with a hot, stuffy home when Desert Diamond Air can help you improve it? Here are some indoor air quality tips to help you get through the next few months here in Arizona.

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

High humidity is just one of many signs that your indoor air needs help. The American Lung Association states if your health symptoms improve when you leave your home and return when you do, you may have an indoor pollution problem. 

Sources may include:

• Smoking or vaping
• Unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as a gas stove or water heater
• Chemicals, pesticides, cleaning materials, paints, and solvents 
• New furniture or carpeting 
• Pets

We Cool and Improve Indoor Air

Desert Diamond Air is the premier AC company in Greater Phoenix. We believe an efficient, well-maintained cooling system is your first defense against poor air quality. 

Your AC system plays a starring role in maintaining healthy humidity levels in your Arizona home. A humidity level above 50 percent can lead to mold growth that worsens asthma and allergies and can damage the integrity of your home.

Too little humidity, below 30 percent, can cause nosebleeds, dry skin, chapped lips, and warped wooden furniture and floors. 

Your Cooling System Lowers Humidity

If your cooling system has been poorly maintained, is malfunctioning, or is close to the end of its lifespan, it may not reduce humidity as it should. 

Air conditioners and heat pumps typically operate for 10 to 15 years. Some last longer, depending on their quality and maintenance, but all lose efficiency over time and may struggle to remove moisture from the air. 

If your cooling system is in the last few years of its useful service life, consider replacing it with a high-efficiency system. You can even save thousands of dollars on the purchase cost through federal tax credits.

Maintaining Your AC in Phoenix Weather

Our Desert Diamond Air experts can recommend a maintenance plan that meets your budget and meets your comfort, efficiency, and humidity control needs. You will notice an improvement in the humidity level in your Phoenix home. 

A tune-up can quickly improve the performance of an older system. Late winter to early spring is the best time for a professional inspection and cleaning, but any time of the year is better than skipping maintenance altogether.

During a tune-up, we improve performance and efficiency and may discover issues that can grow in severity and cost if allowed to linger.  

Do-It-Yourself IAQ Tips

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests controlling indoor air pollution by addressing the source of contaminants, improving ventilation, and installing an air cleaner.

Controlling sources could include:

• Grooming your pets regularly
• Dusting, sweeping, and cleaning your home 
• Storing chemicals and paints outside your home
• Banning smoking in your home
• Always using an exhaust fan when cooking

Clean Your Ductwork

Dirty ductwork can be a source of dirty indoor air. Professional duct cleaning eliminates dust, dirt, insects, mold, and other contaminants that can accumulate in air ducts and circulate through your home. 

Our licensed Phoenix HVAC technicians have the knowledge, experience, and tools to carefully and safely remove debris from your ductwork. We also offer duct fogging, which involves applying antimicrobial liquid to the ductwork walls.

We can complete both services during one visit to your home. 

We use a powerful vacuum to remove particulate matter from your ductwork and leave the area outside your air vents spotless. We recommend you leave duct cleaning to the pros but suggest you occasionally vacuum your air vent registers and grilles. 

Ventilate Your Phoenix Home

The EPA says fresh air can dilute pollution inside your home and improve indoor air quality. You can freshen your living space by opening doors and windows and running a window or attic fan. Natural ventilation relies on good weather and low pollution levels. 

Still too hot outdoors? Consider installing an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) that exhausts stale indoor air while infusing your home with fresh outdoor air. It filters and conditions the outdoor air while drawing it indoors. And you do not have to open any windows!

Let Desert Diamond Air help you determine if an ERV is the best method to maintain air quality.  An indoor air quality accessory may be your ultimate solution. 

Indoor Air Quality Accessories

At Desert Diamond Air, we recommend products that will best resolve your specific indoor air quality issues:

• A household with dust accumulation and shedding pets may need an air filter system.
• An air purifier may benefit an individual susceptible to viral infections.  
• Installing an ultraviolet (UV) light in your HVAC system helps eliminate mold and mildew.

Let our experts match the best indoor air products with your specific needs.  

Contact the IAQ Experts in Phoenix

Improve indoor air quality in your Phoenix, AZ, home and maintain comfort with an energy-efficient air conditioner or heat pump. Our pros do it all, from duct fogging to ventilator installation. Call us for a consultation at 602-362-4599 or request service online.