Indoor Air Quality Services
Air Quality Service in San Antonio
Providing San Antonio and Helotes with Everything They Need to Breathe Easier
When we say, ‘air pollution’ you probably imagine a smokestack belching out chemicals or a car exhaust spitting out dark smoke. But, according to the EPA, this picture isn’t wholly accurate. You’d have been closer to the truth if you’d imagined a suburban home surrounded by a white picket fence. You see, the air inside the average American home is actually 5-10 times more polluted than what’s outside. Guessing you’re safe in San Antonio? Think again.
If you’re ready to clean up your air, call Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning and ask about our indoor air quality (IAQ) services in the San Antonio area. For more information on solutions to the problem, read through this page in its entirety.
The Causes of Indoor Air Pollution
You’re probably asking how these contaminants get into the air in the first place. Radioactive radon seeping in from the soil, smoke from old cigarettes, off-gassing from fire retardant materials, and cleaning product vapors are just a few causes of indoor air pollution in San Antonio. Dust mites, mold, viruses, pet dander, and mildew also play a part. As homes become more energy-efficient and changing lifestyles lead many of us to spend more time indoors, poor air quality has become a public health crisis.
The Numbers for IAQ Services Make Sense
Indoor air quality is a big problem in the 21st century both here and abroad. As homes become better sealed against the elements, the importance of having clean air increases. Without you even knowing, your air duct system could be contaminated with particulates that are harmful to you and your family. Each time the HVAC system turns on, it can circulate dust, dust mites, animal dander, pollen, and bacteria throughout the air inside your home. Below are a few statistics that help drive home the seriousness of the IAQ crisis:
- The EPA estimates we spend 90% of our time indoors.
- Over 7000 non-smokers die of lung cancer each year after being exposed to residual smoke particles.
- A study the University of Colorado Boulder in 2019 found that routine household activities put many homes air quality on par with that of a polluted major city.
- Household air pollution is responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year.
- The air inside the average home can be up to 100% more polluted than the air outside.
The Benefits of Improving Your Indoor Air Quality
By selecting Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning to combat your air pollution problems, you and your family will reap a variety of benefits:
- Better Sleep: By eliminating root causes of respiratory irritation—which can lead to snoring—our IAQ experts will help you sleep easier and wake better rested.
- Cleaner Indoor Air: If you’re tired of smelling the cigarette your aunt smoked in the kitchen 20 years ago installing one of our products can help. Call us and kiss those musty odors, chemical smells, and lingering stenches goodbye.
- Fewer Allergy Symptoms: Conditions like asthma and emphysema can be compounded by the presence of mold in your home’s HVAC systems. Installing a humidifier or air purifier can help remove pet dander and artificial fragrances from the air, giving you and your family relief from cold and allergy symptoms.
For many families in San Antonio, these benefits are more than worth the cost of installing air quality equipment. Not sure if it's in your budget? Don't worry! Quotes on humidifier and air purifier installation are complimentary.
How You May Discover You Have an Air Quality Problem
A lot of people in San Antonio have an air quality issue but don't realize it. They might just chalk it up to things like high pollen counts and general fatigue. But, if you regularly notice the following, it's worth getting an air quality analysis done:
- Frequent runny noses or allergy symptoms
- Inefficient heating and AC systems
- You or others smoking in your home
- The presence of shedding pets
- Visible signs of mold or mildew
- Anyone in your home developing a weakened immune system
- Dust clinging to your vents and registers
- Stale or stuffy air
- When you’re buying a home or building one
- Nose or skin irritation
- Headaches, nausea, or chronic fatigue
- Stubborn odors that don’t go away
Being mindful of the warning signs of poor indoor air quality in San Antonio is essential for your family's health and comfort. If any of the above sound familiar, it's time to give us a call. Our experts will work with you to address your problem and provide a solution that fits your needs. We believe every home in San Antonio should be a sanctuary, and addressing these concerns can help make it just that.
Our San Antonio-Area IAQ Solutions
Air Quality Testing
How do you know what services you’ll need if you don’t set a baseline? Our comprehensive air quality tests check your air for pollutants, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and humidity issues. Taking only 30 minutes or so, they’re a great option for people already getting work done by our HVAC experts.
Scheduling an air quality test will:
- Pinpoint what’s causing your home's IAQ issues
- Illustrate the need for air quality services
Dehumidifiers
Air that’s too wet is not good for you. Bacteria, mold, and viruses thrive in environments above 60 percent humidity. The high humidity also enables these contaminants to stick around longer and cling to your household’s porous surfaces. In the summer, excess humidity leaves you feeling sticky and hot.
Dehumidifiers installed in your system:
- Expel excess moisture from your home and help you feel cooler at higher temperatures.
- Reduce energy costs
- Decrease the dampness in your home
- Make summer less sticky
- Improve overall comfort
- Help fight bacteria, dust, and mold
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Though not exactly an air quality service, dryer vent cleaning is an important part of homeownership in San Antonio. Every year, thousands of house fires are traced to a build-up of lint in either the dryer's trap or the pipe leading out of it. Luckily, our expert staff are equipped to truly remove all of this debris, making your home safer for you and your family. To schedule a dryer vent cleaning in Helotes or Stone Oak, call (210) 308-9866.
Below are a few benefits of getting your dryer's vent regularly cleaned:
- Faster drying clothes.
- Less damage to sensitive garments
- A lowered risk of house fires
- Improved energy usage
- Improved indoor air quality
High Efficiency Filters
Looking for a way to keep your family healthy? The only filter that can capture something as small as a virus is a HEPA filter. While typically found in hospitals, residential home HEPA filters are available. However, HEPA filters restrict air flow, and cannot go directly in the return air stream back to your furnace. Instead, HEPA filters are installed in a ‘bypass’ loop in the return air ductwork. With each pass, some of the air is shunted into the bypass and is pulled through the HEPA filter by a separate fan in the HEPA unit before returning to the main air stream. This way the furnace fan motor always has adequate airflow and eventually all the air is purified by the HEPA filter. For more information on how these filters are a smart buy, reach out to us at Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning.
High-efficiency filters can help with:
- Pet dander
- Dust
- Smoke
- Germs
- Pollen
Humidifiers
Healthy air has humidity levels between 30 and 60 percent. A home that’s too dry deprives your nose and body of moisture needed by protective mucus layers and enables germs to travel farther. It also aggravates your throat and nose leading to allergy problems. Humidifiers, of which there are three main kinds, bring water into your home’s air to solve these problems. Letting Mr. Wilson Air install a whole-home humidifier will mean more comfortable living for you and your family.
Installing a humidifier in the San Antonio area will:
- Increase the moisture in your air
- Reduce static electricity
- Help you feel warmer in the winter
- Protect your wooden furniture from drying out
- Lower heating costs
- Calm overly active allergies
Germicidal UV Lights
With a UVC Air Purifier (also called an Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation, or UVGI, air purifier) we harness the sun’s power to cleanse and put it in your ductwork. Per the EPA, ‘UVGI air cleaners are designed to use UV lamps to kill or deactivate microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungal spores and fragments that are airborne or growing on surfaces.’ Typically, the application for killing microorganisms growing on surfaces is to keep the air conditioning coil above the furnace clean. However, if the purpose is to kill microorganisms in the air, the UVC Air Purifier is placed in the return air duct so that the air first passes through the UV kill zone before going through the filter or air cleaner.
Installing Germicidal lights in your ductwork will:
- Reduce the number of germs in your home
- Decrease your electricity costs
- Make it easier to disinfect the air and surfaces in your home
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers work by removing allergens, toxins, and pollutants from your air. They don’t emit anything and, to the uninformed, look like a heavier filtration system. While a portable air purifier may be sufficient for one or two rooms in your house, to purify your whole house, you’ll need a whole-house air purification system. Please note that these products require a forced-air system to operate effectively.
Having Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning install an air purifier for you in the San Antonio area will lead to:
- Fewer lingering odors
- Cleaner and healthier air
- Longer periods between filter changes
To schedule your Air Quality Services in Helotes TX, just email us!
Purify Your AirAir Exchangers
The desire to leak-proof our homes and seal up old ducts has compounded our air quality issues. Many modern IAQ issues could actually be fixed by bringing fresh air in. That’s where air exchangers (aka ventilators) come in. They use one fan system to blow indoor air out and another to pull outside air in. This stops pollutants from overstaying their welcome and alleviates many of the symptoms of "Sick Building Syndrome.”
Air exchangers offer the following benefits to people in the Stone Oak area:
- Reduced heating and AC costs
- Allergy expulsion
- Improvements to overall air quality
Duct Cleaning
Over time, dust and germs build up in your home’s ductwork. Vacuuming your registers can help but won’t reach things deep inside your ductwork. Getting duct cleaning done every few years can help remove long-standing odors and remove the irritants caught by other items on this list.
Calling San Antonio’s duct cleaning experts will:
- Make it easier to retrieve items you dropped down the vents
- Allergy expulsion
- Improve overall air quality
General Duct Services
Sometimes a simple duct cleaning isn't enough to fix an air quality problem in San Antonio. Old ductwork develops leaks over time. Though usually thought of as a ventilation issue, this can have an impact on the quality of your air. Fortunately, Mr. Wilson Air is a full-service HVAC provider with the ability to repair, seal, and replace leaky ductwork.
Duct repair and sealing has a number of benefits in San Antonio, including:
- More efficient heating and cooling of your home
- Less dust build-up in your home
- Fewer access points for pests
Call Mr. Wilson Air for Indoor Air Quality Services in San Antonio
For households with existing IAQ equipment, we also offer comprehensive maintenance and repair services. If you have a filter or humidity control system that’s not working right, give us a call at (210) 308-9866, so we can try and uncover the problem.
At Mr. Wilson Heating & Air Conditioning, we’ve been helping homeowners with their IAQ problems for years, since 2000, in fact. We always take the time to explain possible solutions and outline the costs ahead of time. Our HVAC company stands firmly behind the products we sell and are always willing to come back and investigate if air pollution issues recur. We service San Antonio, Helotes, Stone Oak, and the surrounding communities. Therefore, if you're looking for an 'IAQ company near me,' you know you've come to the right place. Please reach out to us at (210) 308-9866 today to schedule an air quality evaluation or get a quote on dehumidifier installation in San Antonio.
Indoor Air Quality FAQs
Do Humidity Levels REALLY Affect My Indoor Air Quality?
Yes, they do. Homes with exceedingly high humidity levels end up with mold, dust mites, and mildew. Houses with humidity that’s too low, meanwhile, experience dust and recurring sinus issues. Maintaining your home’s humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent keeps you in the “Comfort Zone”.
Why Should I Care About My Home’s Air Quality?
Studies show that air in your home is likely more polluted than the air outside. No matter how tidy your house is, your air will still be filled with pollen, viruses, dust, and pet dander. Only installing an air sanitizer or UV germicidal lights in your HVAC system can truly expel these contaminants.
What are the Most Common Air Pollutants?
The most frequently found contaminants in your home are relatively harmless except for causing discomfort to those who may be allergic. They include pollen, fabric fibers, dust, pet dander, and other common household particles.
What Type of Furnace Filter Should I Use in My Home?
Start by determining how thick of a filter your system can accommodate. Most HVAC systems can’t accommodate filters that are more than an inch thick. We recommend using only filters with a particle removal rating of MERV 11 or higher. This is especially important if anyone in your home suffers from respiratory or cardiac disease. You might also want to consider installing a much thicker, more efficient filter.
What’s “Sick Building” Syndrome?
If you’ve done any research on IAQ, you’ve probably seen references to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). This term comes from a study where public workers in one building reported headaches, fatigue, nausea, nose irritation, and watery eyes. Researchers examined this building and found it to have a lot of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. This case gave birth to the term and is now used as a diagnosis for someone who experiences air pollution symptoms at work and notices an immediate improvement upon returning home.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Improve My Own Indoor Air Quality?
We recommend that homeowners who are concerned with the quality of the air they breathe take the following steps:
- Purchase a HEPA filter
- Vacuum, mop, and dust regularly to avoid airborne pollutants
- Choose natural woods and furnishings that don't come with VOCs or emit chemical vapors
- Open your windows and air your home out from time to time
- Install a thermostat that includes humidity readings
Benefits of Installing a Whole-Home Indoor Air Quality Solution.
Improving your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important step toward achieving the best possible comfort inside your San Antonio home. IAQ systems are designed specifically to reduce contaminants and pollutants and to promote the health of your family members. Understanding how these systems work will help you to make the most practical choices for your home and your situation. There are several manufacturers who have products for residential homes. The REME HALO® system is an excellent example of an advanced air purification system that can make your San Antonio home a healthier place to be. Here are some points to keep in mind when deciding if a whole-home air purification system is right for you.
How The Air Purification Systems Works
The whole-home air purification system is designed for installation inside your ductwork close to the air handler. This system actively produces hydroperoxides, which are safe oxidizing chemicals that destroy pollutants and disinfect your indoor air. Hydroperoxides are similar in chemical structure to hydrogen peroxide, which is used in toothpastes and household cleaners. This ensures the safest way to clean and disinfect your indoor air.
These IAQ systems employ dual ionizers, which assist in removing airborne particulates like mold, dust, dander and pollen. The most recent model also generates zinc ions, which have been shown to kill up to 99 percent of viruses on surfaces inside your home. This can reduce the transmission of diseases while helping your home to smell fresh and clean.
As Fresh and Natural as a Rainstorm
Hydroperoxide chemical compounds are also responsible for the fresh, clean smell that comes after a thunderstorm. Ionized hydroperoxides are created when lightning, water and sunlight combine to clean the air and leave it smelling fresh. Air purification system performs the same important task to disinfect indoor air and to eliminate odors that could affect your comfort inside your home.
How It Works
When in operation, the IAQ system creates hydroperoxide plasma that is dispersed through the air handler of your HVAC system. These chemical compounds then enter your living space and create an electrostatic charge that causes particulates to clump together, which improves the function of your regular household air filter. The hydroperoxide plasma produced also goes to work to eliminate microbes that can affect your indoor air quality. This ensures the highest possible air quality inside your home.
Tested and Proven Effective
Many of the IAQ systems are used in tests conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to combat anthrax contamination in ductwork and is highly effective in eliminating other biological pollutants and contaminants in household use. One of the IAQ systems we offer have been approved by the U.S. military to reduce mold in field hospitals and by the USDA and FDA for air purification in food processing plants. By releasing hydroperoxides directly into your indoor air, this system can seek out and destroy particles and microbes that could pose a threat to your family’s health.
Installing Air Purification Systems
Working Mr. Wilson Heating and Air Conditioning is easy. We specialize in AC repair and installing replacement systems. We can install the IAQ system either during season maintenance or when we replace an older unit. Unlike air filtration solutions, the in-duct system does not restrict air flow. This method of air purificaiton can prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system and will promote the greatest longevity for the heating and cooling equipment in your home.
Your AC repair technician can usually install the IAQ system in just one visit to your home. The unit is mounted inside the supply air plenum, which is a sheet metal box that serves as the central manifold for your ductwork. This allows your technician to install your new air purification system with minimal disruption and noise during the process. Once in place, the system will operate quietly to promote the most comfortable and healthiest indoor environment for you and your family.
This system does require occasional replacement of the cell that generates the hydroperoxide plasma. Your AC repair company can perform the replacement during regular spring or fall maintenance visits, which can make the process of enhancing your air quality much simpler now and for many years to come.
Benefits of Air Purification Systems
Some of the most important benefits of choosing the a whole-home air purifier include the following:
- Because it is installed in your existing ductwork, it does not take up space inside your home. This makes it a great solution for homes with smaller utility rooms and limited storage space.
- They is designed with an adjustable shroud, which allows some ducts to be excluded from the air cleaning process. If you have ductwork that leads to your garage or other less-used parts of your home, for instance, this shroud will allow your installation technician to direct the cleaning power to the areas you use most.
- Lowering the concentration of particulates inside your home will often reduce the severity of respiratory issues like asthma, emphysema and allergies for vulnerable members of your family. This can make a significant difference in their state of health and the comfort they feel inside your home.
- Whole-home air purifiers can produce cleaner air in every area served by your ductwork, which can significantly reduce the cost of improving air quality and health for your home.
- The IAQ system uses very little energy to operate. This makes it a green-friendly way to manage air quality inside your home and to improve the health of every member of your family.
Inquiring about IAQ systems during your next regular HVAC maintenance visit or during HVAC replacement can help you determine if this advanced system is the right choice for you. Your AC repair specialist can provide you with the most accurate information on the installation process and the proven benefits of air purification for your San Antonio home. This will allow you to make the most practical and positive decisions for your budget and for the long-term health and well-being of your family.