Indoor Air Quality Tips for a More Efficient Home

More Efficient Home

Your Lubbock, Texas, home’s indoor air quality, or IAQ, is closely related to its efficiency. Getting rid of contaminants like smoke, dust, dirt, biological growth, pollen, and pet dander will improve your HVAC system’s airflow and prevent inconvenient, costly breakdowns. For a more efficient home, follow IAQ tips like cleaning regularly, using an air purifier, avoiding VOCs, and maintaining your HVAC system.

Cleaning Regularly

Keeping your home clean inside and out makes it more welcoming for guests. Vacuuming and dusting at least twice per week also removes pollutants, preventing asthma and allergy symptoms and unpleasant smells. You’ll also get rid of dirt and dust before it has a chance to clog your HVAC system’s air filter or reduce the airflow in your ductwork. Removing shoes before entering the house is another way to keep contaminants outside.

If you see debris like leaves or grass around your outdoor unit, remove it with a garden hose. You can also add an awning or terrace for extra protection and shade. Your heater and air conditioner won’t need to work as hard to keep you and your family comfortable, so you’ll save energy and extend your system’s life.

Using an Air Purifier

An air purifier or air cleaner will work in conjunction with your HVAC filter to capture contaminants before they can cause health problems like allergy or asthma symptoms, headaches, dizziness, or fatigue. Some models can even remove bacteria and viruses from your home’s air. You can choose a whole-home unit that’s connected to your home’s ductwork or a smaller portable version that works in one or two rooms at once. Just remember to change or clean the filter once per month when you change your HVAC system’s air filter.

You can eliminate additional viruses, bacteria, and even small pests like dust mites with a UV air purifier. A UVC lamp in your ductwork or evaporator coils will affect the genetic material of microorganisms, keeping them from reproducing. This light is stronger than the ultraviolet light that causes sunburns, and the atmosphere normally blocks it.

Avoiding VOCs

VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and acetone evaporate at room temperature. They’re common in commercial fragrances, glues, paints, and cleaners, and they can easily end up in your home’s air. They’re even in some types of particle board and plastics. Air purifiers can’t remove them, but you can use ventilation to get rid of stale indoor air and filter fresh air before it comes in. Many types of ventilation can help you save energy, so a ventilation system is much more efficient than opening a door or window.

Whenever you can, use natural cleaners and air fresheners. Baking soda and water are great for removing stains, and you can make your own furniture polish with a little olive oil and lemon juice. You can use essential oils and potpourri to create a fragrant sachet. If you need to use products that contain VOCs, store them in a shed or storage building that’s separate from your home.

Maintaining Your HVAC System

You should have your HVAC system inspected by a professional at least once per year. Gaps in your home’s insulation or ductwork could let in contaminants and let conditioned air out. An expert like the professional technicians at Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning can catch problems like refrigerant leaks or malfunctioning thermostats before they become costly and inconvenient. You should also have your ductwork cleaned every few years to remove contaminants and any obstructions.

Check your ducts by removing one of your air registers and wiping your ductwork with a damp cloth. If you can wipe away dirt, dust, or other substances, you should have your ducts cleaned by a professional. You could cause damage or miss parts of your ductwork if you try to clean it yourself. Also, make sure that furniture or carpeting doesn’t block your air registers.

Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning has more than 50 years of experience and a fleet of over 65 vehicles. For excellent service and help with improving your indoor air quality from our friendly, knowledgeable technicians, call us anytime at 806-589-1014.

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Serving Areas

We are proud to offer service to all of Lubbock, TX and surrounding areas, including:

  • Abernathy
  • Amherst
  • Anton
  • Brownfield
  • Crosbyton
  • Dickens
  • Floydada
  • Hale Center
  • Idalou
  • Lamesa
  • Levelland
  • Littlefield
  • Lorenzo
  • Lubbock
  • Meadow
  • Morton
  • Muleshoe
  • New Deal
  • New Home
  • O’Donnell
  • Olton
  • Petersburg
  • Plainview
  • Post
  • Ralls
  • Ransom Canyon
  • Ropesville
  • Shallowater
  • Slaton
  • Smyer
  • Southland
  • Sundown
  • Tahoka
  • Tokio
  • Welch
  • Whiteface
  • Wilson
  • Wolfforth
  • Woodrow

 

(806) 589-1014 - Call us today!

24-Hour Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Heating Repair

With more than 50 years’ experience providing heating, ventilation and air conditioning services for residential and commercial customers, we at Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning are proud to be the South Plains TX area’s comfort specialists. We specialize in system replacement, preventive maintenance and repair, all with the goal of keeping your heating, cooling, refrigeration and plumbing systems functioning at maximum efficiency.

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What Customers Love About Us

Michael Villarreal
Michael Villarreal
January 15, 2024
Had Tony come in (BROSIG'S Custom Taxidermy) he was fast,professional, friendly and informative. Got us back up and running
CM Livingston
CM Livingston
December 20, 2023
I am so thankful for BTAC and the guys they sent out to repair a major hot and cold water leak under our slab. They knew what they were doing, and were very professional and polite, and I might add compassionate. They are an asset to the company!
Jason Crites
Jason Crites
August 26, 2023
Joshua K is amazing he came out after hours and had a simple fix that got our AC fixed right away!
Rick Rodriguez
Rick Rodriguez
August 13, 2023
To the credit of BTAC and it's management, I had a frustrating experience with them on a call out for a problem with a blower motor. I made my opinion known and contacted them through email to express it. They responded, sent out new technicians and made it right. That doesn't happen very often these days, and it's good to see a company show it cares about that. If you call these folks to come out, and your experience is what you expected, let them know, they'll work with you. 👍
James Voyles
James Voyles
July 27, 2023
Luis was an incredible technician. Very professional and friendly! Can’t recommend him enough. Also prompt service, thanks for the help!
Cad Dunlap
Cad Dunlap
June 8, 2023
I'm new to the Lubbock area and Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning was the first company we called. They had someone at our house to help in an hour and the service man had our AC fixed in 30 minutes. Their customer service was great from the receptionist who answered the phone to the hvac professional who fixed our AC!
MARK BENEDICT
MARK BENEDICT
June 1, 2023
Luis was great. Fast, efficient and knowledgeable. Thank you!

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Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning
128 Slaton Road
Lubbock, Texas 79404

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Phone: (806) 589-1014

State HVAC License: TACLA00112807C
State Plumbing License: M40449

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