Air Quality Archives - Mike Watson Heating & Cooling

Home Air Purifier Improving Indoor Air Quality In Wichita Ks

Have you ever stopped to think about the air you’re breathing right now? While Wichita offers beautiful outdoor spaces, the air inside our homes can sometimes be more polluted than we realize. From seasonal allergens carried by the Wichita wind to everyday dust and pet dander, maintaining good indoor air quality is crucial for the long-term health and comfort of your family.

The good news is that improving the air you breathe doesn’t have to break the bank or involve complicated solutions. So, let’s explore five easy ways to improve indoor air quality in Wichita.

1. Ventilation and Natural Airflow

Proper Ventilation

One of the easiest ways to improve air quality naturally in any Wichita home is by focusing on ventilation. Opening your windows for even a short period can work wonders. Creating cross-ventilation by opening windows on opposite sides of your house allows fresh air to circulate. This effectively flushes out stale air and reduces air pollution indoors.

Exhaust Fans and Using Ventilation Systems

These fans are designed to create dry air, while removing airborne pollutants at their source. Using them while cooking or showering is a simple yet powerful step towards clean air and enhanced home comfort.

Houseplants and Greenery

While they shouldn’t be relied on as a primary solution, certain houseplants can also play a small role in improving poor indoor air quality. For example, The University of Utah states that plants like English Ivy effectively remove trace amounts of formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. Remember, though, their impact is limited, and they are best used in conjunction with other methods to provide safe indoor air.

Helpful Plants:

2. Focus on Whole House Humidifiers

Wichita springs and summers are known for their high humidity and mugginess. Over time, the increasing moisture in the air can create the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and bacteria growth. Additionally, the moisture in the air can make the particles difficult to disperse, trapping harmful particles indoors, worsening springtime allergies and air conditions.

Balancing your home’s humidity can significantly improve air quality. In particular, a whole-house humidifier system reduces the moisture in the air, making it easier to ventilate harmful particles. These systems use both humidifiers and dehumidifiers and integrate directly into the HVAC system. This makes it extremely easy to maintaining an optimal humidity level throughout the entire home, regardless of the season.

Woman Using Whole House Humidifier In Wichita Ks

Our Recommendation

While there are a ton of benefits for whole house humidifiers, especially in Wichita’s climate. We still recommend maintaining proper humidity as this can reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the optimal humidity for homes and living spaces is 30-50%.

3. Whole House Air Purifiers

Consider investing in a whole-house air purifier in Wichita Ks for a more comprehensive, long-term approach to clean air. Whole-house air purifiers work with your HVAC unit to effectively remove a wide range of airborne contaminants, including dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores.

These systems continuously clean the air in your home by collecting particles in a filter. Over time, usually a few hours to a day, the whole-house air purifier creates a significantly healthier indoor environment. It’s important to note that homeowners should change their air purifier filter regularly, every 1-3 months.

4. Use Zone Control Systems to Improve Air Quality

Circulating and Preventing Stagnant Air

Stagnant air can accumulate dust, allergens, and other pollutants. Most zone control systems help distribute filtered air more effectively from your HVAC system. This constant circulation prevents the buildup of air pollution in certain areas, creating fresh, comfortable air.

Man Using Zone Control System To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Wichita Ks

Our Recommendation For Zone Control Alternatives

Some effective, practical alternatives exist if you don’t use a zone control system.

Use A Smart Thermostat – While they don’t directly improve air quality, they can optimize your HVAC system and send more consistent airflow through your filter. Some thermostats may include zoning options on the control panel.
Invest in a Ductless Mini-Split System – Many mini-split systems control temperature and provide air filtering systems, which gives you the same benefit as a zone control system.
Use Portable Air Purifiers – While portable air purifiers are less effective than whole-house options, they provide consistent filtration for small areas without breaking the bank.

5. Check and Change Your Air Filter Regularly

Checking and changing your air filter is a cost-effective, HVAC-efficient way of improving indoor air quality, especially in Wichita. Dusty spring winds and humid Wichita summers can quickly clog your air filters with dust, pollen, and other airborne particles, reducing your home’s air quality.

In short, a dirty filter forces your HVAC system to work harder, allowing contaminants to circulate throughout your home. For optimal indoor air quality in your Wichita home, check your air filters monthly and replace them every 1-3 months. Changing your air filter regularly can also help save on energy bills by 5-15% over time.

Consider Pets, Children, and Family Members

Homes with pets, children, or family members with allergies may need more frequent filter changes. This simple maintenance task improves your home’s air quality and helps maintain your heating and cooling system’s efficiency. In turn, this boost in efficiency can potentially reduce energy costs for Wichita homeowners while creating cleaner, healthier indoor air.

Air Filters For Wichita Homeowners

Choosing higher MERV-rated air filters is generally a good rule of thumb. Typically, the higher the MERV rating, the better the filter will catch smaller particles.

Allergies or Asthma – People with asthma and allergies should focus on filters with MERV ratings 12-16
Pets – MERV filters 11 and up are the most effective at capturing pet dander.
Concerns about odors or VOCs – Some high-MERV filters incorporate activated carbon layers to help fight harmful chemicals and particles.
Budget – Higher MERV filters generally cost more and may need more frequent replacement if the air is heavily polluted.

For more in-depth information we’ve put together 4 Reasons to Replace your Air Filter.

Ready to Breathe Easier in Your Wichita Home?

As one of the most vital parts of everyday public health, it’s valuable to understand how to improve indoor air quality over time. Air quality services are a great way to understand a professional’s perspective but it’s not the only option. There are still steps homeowners can practice daily to help prioritize their well-being and avoid health problems.

Young Family Enjoying Good Indoor Air Quality In Wichita Ks

To start improving indoor air quality, focus on building a routine that includes thorough cleaning and proper ventilation. This is a great place to start and costs next to nothing. For more in-depth professional HVAC advice or information Mike Watson Heating & Cooling can help. Give us a call at (316) 522-3528, or contact us online, We’re always happy to answer questions.

Replacing a furnace filter or air filter is an essential task for every homeowner. But did you know that according to The Zebra, over 29% of people don’t change the air filter in their homes! When it comes down to it, new filters improve air quality, boost HVAC efficiency, extend the lifespan of your system, and offer incredible health benefits. As a Wichita-based HVAC company, Mike Watson Heating & Cooling gives you four reasons to replace your air filter and help you improve your home comfort during any season.

1. Improves Indoor Air Quality Throughout Your Home

It’s no secret that air filters impact air quality, but to what extent? Hepacart states HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters trap up to 99.97% of airborne particles. This means that new, high-efficiency filters can catch incredibly tiny allergens, dust particles, and bacteria, all while improving indoor air quality in your home.

These high efficiency air filters are perfect for Wichita’s dry weather and brutal allergy season. In fact, these filters are so good at improving indoor air quality that, according to the California Air Resources Board, HEPA filters may reduce particle concentration by up to 48%.

Takeaways:
High-efficiency filters can reduce indoor pollutants by 48%
Efficient filters trap up to 99% of airborne pollutants
Whole house air purifiers can also improve overall indoor air quality

2. Boosts Furnace and AC Efficiency

When an air filter is dirty or clogged, your heating and cooling system must work harder to push air through the dirty filter and into the system. Over time, the same debris that clogged the filter may damage internal parts and increase energy bills by putting more strain on your system.

The Department of Energy states that routinely replacing a dirty filter can improve your HVAC system’s efficiency by 5-15%. By simply swapping out your dirty filter every 1-3 months you can cut back on hundreds in energy bills in Wichita throughout the year. This can be incredibly helpful given Wichita’s fluctuating temps and climate.

Takeaways:
New filters can improve HVAC efficiency from 5-15%
If left unaddressed, dirty filters restrict airflow and damage other parts of the system
Routinely changing filters can help you save on energy costs especially in Wichita

3. Extends the Lifespan of Your HVAC System

Think of your air filter as the lungs of your HVAC system. In order to operate correctly it’s best if they’re clean, unobstructed and well-maintained. Dirty air filters make it difficult for your system to ‘breathe.’ Clogged intakes, trapped particles and dirt buildup can damage your system, resulting in expensive repairs or total replacement.

Replacing your filter regularly is a huge benefit to the overall health of your heating and cooling unit. Clean filters collect dangerous debris, put less stress on your unit, and may even add years to the lifespan of your unit.

Takeaways:
New air filters reduce stress and improves air flow
Routinely changing filters can cut back on the amount of repairs needed
Efficient filters can add years to your HVAC unit’s lifespan

4. Positive Health Benefits

The National Library of Medicine states that a total of 10,000 liters of air enters the lungs every day. This means our lungs muscles are activated over 20,000 times a day! Given how much we breathe in just 24 hours it’s vital to pay attention to how our health is impacted by the air we breathe. Clean, regularly replaced air filters provide a broad range of health benefits including:

Health Benefit
Improved Respiratory Health
Reduces Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
Helps Vascular Health

Takeaways:
Air filters are one way of improving air quality. Ventilation, and humidity control also help.
Consider how different air filters fit your needs
Higher MERV ratings indicate better filtration, increasing health benefits

How Often Should I Change My Air Filter?

As a general rule of thumb, Most HVAC experts recommend changing your air filter every 60-90 days. While this is a good baseline, it’s not perfect. Ultimately, the timeline depends on your living situation and circumstances. Factors such as pets, number of family members, and local air quality may impact how often you need a change. Visually inspecting your filter is the best way of setting a schedule. If your filter looks dirty, grey, or covered in debris, it’s time to replace it, regardless of how long it’s been.

Filter Type	Replacement Frequency	Additional Notes
1-inch Fiberglass Filters	1 Month	Least expensive, offers minimal filtration. Primarily protects the HVAC system, not air quality.
1-inch Pleated Filters (Standard)	1-3 Months	More effective than fiberglass, better for basic particle filtration. Frequency depends on dust levels and household factors.
1-inch High-Efficiency Pleated Filters (Higher MERV)	2-3 Months	Offers improved filtration of smaller particles. May need more frequent changes if heavily loaded.
4-inch or 5-inch Pleated Filters (Media Filters)	6-12 Months	Higher capacity filters, designed for longer lifespans. Often found in whole-house air cleaners.
HEPA Filters	12 Months	Highly efficient, removes very small particles. Replace according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Washable Filters	Clean every 1-3 Months	Requires regular cleaning, not just replacement. Be sure to allow the filter to dry completely before reinstalling.

The Importance of HVAC Maintenance in Wichita, KS

As we’ve discussed, changing your air filters is an excellent way of improving your health and saving you time and money long term. However, air filters are just one part of the puzzle. That’s why it’s crucial to focus on the overall health of your HVAC system, especially in Wichita’s unpredictable climate.

Mike Watson Heating & Cooling is here to help with your air filter in Wichita, KS. With decades of industry experience, we’re dedicated to helping you find the perfect balance for your home. Contact us today, we’re always happy to help.

Air Quality

Easy Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Wichita