How to benefit from an HVAC system during California’s fire season
The fire season in California is a dreaded one for residents. With so many disastrous wildfires everywhere, most people are in panic mode. These fires cause health issues and destroy property resulting in evacuations.
However, when the fires do not need evacuations, you need to be prepared as well. You have to deal with harmful particulates and toxic carcinogens filling the air. The polluted gases decrease air quality in vast areas of California, resulting in respiratory issues.
Luckily, you can use your cooling and air filtration systems to improve the air quality and breathe fresh clean as you wait for the storm to wither.
This post will dig into the benefits of an HVAC during the ca fire season and how you can prepare your system pre and post firestorm.
How HVAC can be beneficial during the CA fire season
Your HVAC is a beneficial tool during the CA fire season. Among other benefits, here are top benefits an HVAC system during ca fire season:
- Keep indoor air clean by eliminating smoke particles that may have gotten into your home
- Remove unpleasant smells from the indoor air when you run your air conditioner in ventilation mode with windows open.
- Maintain cool indoor temperature
Preparing your HVAC system during a ca fire season
Your HVAC system is your best bet to keep your indoor air quality during a California firestorm. Besides keeping the air clean and fresh, this cooling system helps to maintain a cool indoor temperature. This will prevent you from respiratory issues. So, prepare your unit well to function optimally during the fire season by:
Change the air filters
During a firestorm, fine particles can get into your home through vents and gaps in doors and windows. Filters help to get rid of the particulate matter present in the air. As such, it’s essential to invest in the best quality, high-efficiency filters for best results. Air purifiers with a HEPA filter are even desired.
You can tell the best filters by looking at the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). The MERV ratings start from 1 to 16, with the most effective filters having the highest rating. Ideally, you should select a filter rating from 11 to 15 for maximum protection from CA fires.
Keep your AC on but close Fresh Air intake Vents
Modern ACs are created with fresh air intake vents to keep your indoor air fresh. As the Air conditioner circulates air inside the room, the vents allow fresh outdoor air to come in since the air outside is usually fresher than the indoor.
But this is not the case when there is a wildfire. The outdoor air is usually toxic, so the fresh air intake vents must be closed to prevent the polluted, dangerous air from coming in. You can use a damper to close the vents and keep the unhealthy air outside.
The vents are situated in the attic or the returning side of the air handler in your home. If you can’t find it, then get an HVAC expert to help you locate it.
Run your system at high efficiency
Given the amount of work your cooling system has to do during a wildfire, it’s advisable to run it at high efficiency. Unless there is an emergency, keep the system running throughout the fire.
Maintenance of your HVAC unit after a fire
During a firestorm, your HVAC works the hardest to clean the smoky outdoor air containing toxins and irritants, leaving the air inside fresh and healthy. Therefore, it’s a no brainer you should properly service it afterwards.
The post- firestorm maintenance should include cleaning the system, repairing and replacing worn out and damaged parts. This will enhance the HVAC unit’s performance and prevent long-term issues such as rust.
Some repairs you must carry out after fire season is over include;
Change all filters
During a firestorm, the air filters in your system- even the high-quality ones- get clogged. As such, you should change them immediately after the fire season is over.
Failure to do so will hurt your HVAC’s efficiency, making it use more energy to run. This means increased energy bills and ultimately damage to some parts, including the electric motor that has to work twice as hard to run the system due to the clogged filters.
Besides adding the new standard air filters, you should also fit a charcoal-infused carbon filter. These filtration systems are particularly recommended for people with respiratory problems because they offer more protection and filter any harmful particulate matter from the fire that may have made its way into your home.
Clean the Ducts
As your system gets rid of the fine particles from the wildfire smoke, the ducts accumulate dust and soot. This dirt has to be cleaned; otherwise, it may end up flowing into your home. You can call an HVAC technician to help clean your duct to prevent the entry of any fine particle hence quality indoor air.
Schedule an HVAC inspection
To ensure your system maintains a high efficiency post the fire season, carry out an inspection. While it might be tempting to perform the maintenance yourself, hiring a certified HVAC technician is your best bet. These professionals will perform preventative maintenance to check that everything is in good shape and that your HVAC unit is running efficiently.
Typical maintenance will include inspecting the heating and cooling system. Check and repair any damaged parts, including vents and condenser coils. Besides, the technician will clean and repair the outdoor condenser unit if damaged.
Is your HVAC system ready for the fire season?
An HVAC can be a lifesaver during the ca fire season. It brings immense benefits to homeowners, including air purification and maintaining optimum room temperatures. But to tap into these benefits, you must carry out the necessary preparations and maintenance before and post the fire season. If you’re searching for professionals to install or service your HVAC system to be ready for the disastrous fire season, Jameson Air has got you! We are your go-to HVAC company for all types of HVAC installation and maintenance work. Call us today so we can assist you in installing and maintaining your system expertly.
