Does Air Conditioning Help Improve Indoor Air Quality?

When spring and summer roll around, it can be easy to worry about the weather associated with these seasons. It’s no secret that seasonal allergies reach a peak during these times of the year, which can lead to headaches, difficulty breathing, and increased asthma attacks — among other concerning health problems.

So, you might be wondering: does air conditioning help improve indoor air quality (IAQ)? We all rely on our cooling systems during the warmer months, but can an air conditioner help clean the air inside our homes?

When it comes down to it, the answer to this question is “yes” and “no.” Air conditioning does help air quality, but maybe not in the way you’re thinking.

How Does an AC Unit Work?

Before we can discuss the ways air conditioning does help air quality, it’s important for you to understand how these cooling systems work. Contrary to popular belief, your air conditioner doesn’t actually pull in outdoor air to use during the cooling process. Instead, these systems use the air that’s currently inside your home. This means you don’t have to worry about outdoor air pollutants getting inside your home via your air conditioning.

However, you still might be wondering how the warm air inside your home gets cooled down to your desired temperature. Air conditioning systems have many essential components, including evaporator coils and compressors, that allow them to complete a cooling cycle.

Use this guide to learn more about the cooling process:

Does Air Conditioning Help Air Quality?

The air conditioner in your home is a veritable superstar. This complex system is constantly working hard to keep your family cool and comfortable, even in the hottest temperatures. So it’s only natural for you to assume that these systems can also improve your indoor air quality, too.

So, does air conditioning help improve indoor air quality? When it comes down to it, it’s important to know that your air conditioner can’t clean air in and of itself. There’s nothing inside these cooling systems that purify the air.

However, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. For example, the air filters inside HVAC systems can help remove harmful particles from the air. Additionally, you can equip your air conditioning system with a whole-home air purifier to remove additional airborne pollutants.

Air Filters

All-in-all, air conditioning does help air quality in a few ways. Take the air filter, for example. As the warm air inside your home is sucked into the air conditioning unit, it passes through a filter to remove various types of airborne particles. This debris can include everything from pet hair to pollen and mold spores, depending on the size and make of the filter.

Air Purification

If you’re worried about allergies or asthma, you may be aware of a few indoor air quality products that are currently on the market. For instance, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ve heard of whole-house air purification systems. These devices can be connected directly to your air conditioning system, where they help clean your air.

So, how does air conditioning help improve indoor air quality when it’s equipped with a whole-home air purifier? When your HVAC system turns on, the air passes through the air purifier, where various contaminants are trapped and effectively removed. These indoor air pollutants can include common allergens, as well as viruses and bacteria, among others.

Keep Your Home Comfortable With LimRic!

As homeowners, we expect the air inside our homes to be clean and safe. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Unexpected pollutants can infiltrate the air inside your home through your shoes, open windows, and the household products you use.

So, does air conditioning help improve indoor air quality? As you can see, this question is a little tricky to answer. Although your air conditioner doesn’t inherently clean the air inside your home, pairing it with a high-quality filter or air purification system can help you see an improvement.

If you’re ready to achieve total comfort, turn to the experts at LimRic! We specialize in all things heating and cooling. Our team is happy to assist you with a Charleston AC repair in the event that your cooling system isn’t running as it should.

When you’re looking for an AC maintenance company, we’re the team to call. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!