If you’re like most Americans, you spend most of your day indoors. Compared to outside, indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted. Pollutants can come from various sources inside your home, like pet dander, mold or pesticides. Outdoor air pollutants can also make their way inside your home through open windows, cracks or faulty ventilation systems.
Both indoor and outdoor pollutants will impact the air that you and your family breathe in. While pollutants and contaminants can affect anyone, they are especially concerning for certain groups — specifically young children, older adults and those who have respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. Air pollutants can aggravate asthma and allergies and lead to more serious health concerns.
Fortunately, adequate filtration can help keep these particles out of your home, preserving the quality of the air you breathe.
Yes — heat pumps play a fundamental role in air filtration, heating and cooling.
Your heat pump is designed to maintain a comfortable indoor environment by transferring heat from one place to another. Heat pumps rely on electricity and a reversing valve to generate warmth. These systems extract outdoor heat and move it inside during the winter. Then, when it’s warmer, the heat pump pushes the heat inside your home outdoors.
While heat pumps provide both heating and cooling to your home, these systems also play an important role in filtering indoor air. As the heat pump moves air throughout your home, the filter catches contaminants and pollutants. This filtration system helps maintain a comfortable indoor air temperature while improving the air quality in your living space.
Whether your home has a mini-split or a central air source heat pump, it can help filter the air circulating throughout your space. Heat pumps are designed with a filtration system that cleans the air as it enters your home. Depending on your system, it may use a simple paper filter or a plasma filter. Some even use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to help clean the air. The filters may be replaceable or washable, ensuring the heat pump can effectively eliminate pollutants.
No matter the design, when the air goes through a clean filter, it can catch airborne containments like dirt, dust, allergens and mold spores. These particulate matter are significant contributors to respiratory conditions like asthma, making it crucial to regularly inspect and maintain your filters.
Heat pumps work similarly to refrigerators, using ambient air from the outdoors to heat and cool your home. Many of these systems are ductless, allowing them to efficiently purify your air right at the point of delivery. Even if the heat pump is ducted, it works more effectively than combustion-based systems to rid homes of contaminants. Compared to traditional HVAC systems, heat pumps use a refrigerant contained in the system instead of fuel, which helps prevent contaminated outdoor air from making its way indoors.
Heat pumps help remove a variety of contaminants from indoor air, including:
When particles and pollutants get trapped in a clogged air pump filter, they may reenter your home’s air and negatively impact your family’s health. They can cause short-term issues like dizziness and headaches, as well as longer-term health concerns like asthma.
To prevent this, ensure your heat pump is working as it should and your filtration system stays clean. Keep in mind that depending on the type of filter you have, it can filter out different amounts and types of particles and pollutants.
The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) and Microparticle Performance Rating (MPR) let you know how effective your filter is and what kinds of airborne particles it can filter out. The higher the MERV rating, the more airborne contaminants it will filter out. The heavier-duty filters will require stronger heat pumps, so be sure to check that a filter will be compatible with your system.
Because the heat pump filter helps clean the air circulating through your home, you want to ensure it stays as clean as possible. If it’s too dirty, it won’t adequately filter out particles like pollen and dust. If contaminants like mold spores get trapped in the filter, it can even cause mold to spread throughout your home, leading to a musty smell and health risks.
Along with the health and respiratory benefits, adequately maintaining your heat pump air filter also ensures your system can operate as efficiently as possible. When the filter gets dirty and clogged, it will make your heat pump work harder than it needs to.
As a result, you may notice that it’s not evenly heating or cooling your home. You may also notice an increase in your energy bills as your system struggles to heat and cool your rooms. Over time, a clogged filter can damage the system, leading to costly repairs or a reduced life span.
About once a month, check the air filter. Some systems will have replaceable ones while others will have washable filters. If you have a washable one, ensure you clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A technician can provide you with a detailed inspection and professional guidance on whether it’s time to replace or clean your filter if you are unsure.
If you want to create a healthy indoor environment for you and your family, HB Home Service Team has you covered. Since 1914, we’ve remained committed to delivering quality services and reliable results for residential homes throughout Central Pennsylvania.
With our life cycle maintenance and repair services, our technicians will ensure your heat pump is working efficiently and filtering out pollutants. Whether you need a routine inspection or an emergency repair service, you can count on us to keep your home’s system in top condition throughout the year.
We also provide a variety of other services designed to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Our technicians can handle everything from removing dust, dirt and microbes from your ductwork to installing a whole-house air purification system to help create a better indoor environment. We are committed to providing the services you need to keep your family safe and comfortable throughout the year.
No matter what kind of heat pump or indoor air quality service you’re interested in, we’ll work with you to find the right solution for your needs. Our pricing is also designed to meet every budget. Reach out today to experience homes serviced better.
