Ensure healthy air for yourself and your loved ones
We spend a lot of time in our homes, especially since March 2020. It is where we sleep, rest, eat, bathe, relax and even work, which makes indoor air quality an important matter not to be taken for granted.
We mostly focus on the cleanliness of the things that we can see. The floors should be sparkling clean and free of dirt. The kitchen sink must be clean, and food scraps must be disposed of properly. The drapes must be washed weekly to avoid the accumulation of dust, and the carpets vacuumed regularly.
Many of us, however, do not pay attention to the cleanliness of the air that we breathe. Is it healthy? Is it safe? Does it contribute to the respiratory problem that a family member has?
Clean and safe air is a necessity for everyone, young and old. Therefore, every house and establishment must strive to maintain a healthy indoor air quality all the time.
What is indoor air quality?
Simply put, indoor air quality refers to the quality of air inside homes, buildings, and structures. Indoor air quality is related to the comfort and health of the occupants of the house.
Poor indoor air quality can have adverse health effects, ranging from mild to severe. They can vary from seemingly harmless headaches, lethargy, asthma, and other allergic reactions. Indoor air pollutants can also aggravate existing and underlying health conditions.
What are indoor air pollutants?
Indoor air pollutants are any particles and gases that are not normal components of the air. The presence of these pollutants can degrade indoor air quality. Common indoor pollutants include:
- Smoke
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mould
- Mildew
- Pet dander
- Candle smoke
- Furnaces
- Cooking.
All of these release particles that add to the presence of air pollutants. Some cleaning agents and detergents can also release chemicals into the air.
The importance of deep cleaning your air conditioner
One way to reduce the amount of air pollutants and improve indoor air quality is to regularly maintain the air conditioning unit. Poorly maintained HVAC systems promote the growth and proliferation of moulds and mildew.
Air conditioners provide families comfort, especially during the summer when the temperature can skyrocket. However, poorly maintained air conditioners can cause more problems and troubles than comfort.
Deep cleaning the air conditioner regularly, therefore, should be part of every home’s routine maintenance. The filters and air ducts can accumulate dirt, dust, and allergens with frequent use, producing harmful and unhealthy air. Dirty filters can also prevent the cooler air from passing through.
How often should cleaning be performed depends on the usage of the air conditioner. For instance, cleaning must be done at least once a week when the aircon is used almost all day during the summer.
The benefits of deep cleaning your air conditioner
There are many benefits to scheduling routine deep cleaning of air conditioners. However, many people make the mistake of only doing something once they experience some problems with their equipment. Most of the time, once the problem manifests, it may already be too serious and too costly to fix. Here are the advantages of deeply cleaned air conditioners:
- Reduced energy consumption.
- A healthier home.
- Improved indoor air quality.
- Maximised air conditioning unit life span.
Reduced energy consumption
An aircon unit that has accumulated dust and dirt over time will be inefficient. For instance, when the condenser is dirty, the unit will need more time to cool the room. This equates to more energy consumption and higher power bill.
When the filter is dirty, less cool air will be released into the room due to accumulated dust. Unfortunately, this will also mean that it will take longer to cool the room.
The air conditioning unit’s heat exchange will be more efficient when the aircon is regularly cleaned. It will take lesser time to completely cool the room than it would with a poorly maintained and dirty unit.
A healthier home
Dust, mould spores and pet dander can contribute to respiratory problems like allergies and asthma. When the aircon filters are dirty, the cool air fed into the room will carry dust and other particles. These particles can include mould spores and bacteria, which can cause respiratory diseases and allergies.
Regularly deep cleaning and maintaining the air conditioning unit does not just improve the health of the unit itself. It also helps in creating a healthier environment for everyone in the house.
Improved indoor air quality
Indoor air quality affects both the health and comfort of the occupants in a house or structure. The health effects of an unmaintained air conditioning system have been discussed in the previous item. However, a dirty unit affects indoor air quality and thus the comfort of everyone.
In a centralised air conditioning system, dirty air ducts encourage the growth and accumulation of moulds and allergens. Since air ducts are not visible, it will be easy for moulds to grow without any visible signs. Once the air vents produce dirty and smelly air and moulds are already visible just beyond them, the problem may already be severe.
With air conditioning specialists coming in to perform maintenance and deep cleaning, moulds in the air ducts may be prevented.
Maximised air conditioning unit life span
When an aircon is not maintained and inefficient, the unit overexerts itself. Overworked equipment will be prone to damage. System fatigue will be unavoidable, especially with poor maintenance.
The lifespan of a unit that’s well-maintained and well taken care of is in the range of 12 to 17 years. Professional maintenance from a reliable company such as Coles Air Conditioning will prolong the lifespan of any aircon and ensure that it will be working efficiently for a long time. Regular maintenance is also more cost-efficient. The technicians will spot and repair problems with the unit early on, avoiding more expensive repairs.
Call Coles Air Conditioning and Refrigeration for your air conditioning needs
You may be tempted to deep clean your aircon on your own, but a professional may be able to do more than just clean your unit. Our technicians at Coles Air Conditioning have the tools, knowledge, and expertise to effectively clean and service your unit so it will be working at its best. We have been servicing the areas of Newcastle, Hunter Valley, NSW Central Coast, and Lake Macquarie for more than eight decades.
Contact us now for your air conditioning repair and maintenance needs. Call 0249570221 or send your enquiries through this contact form.
