In our last article, we discussed considering a Carrier Infinity air conditioner if your old AC breaks down over the summer. This time, we’re looking at another benefit they offer: improved indoor air quality.
IAQ is becoming more and more critical. A few years ago, the EPA released a study revealing that Americans spent 90 percent of their time indoors. And, in 2020, it’s safe to say that number went up even further.
And, summer is one of the most crucial times to think about IAQ in your home. Sure, on the one hand, most viruses don’t fare well in the warm weather. But, on the other, you have other problems specific to the hottest time of the year.
In this article, we’ll briefly run through common air quality problems people experience in their homes during the summer. Then, we’ll see how Carrier Infinity helps you breathe easier.
Summer Indoor Air Quality Problems
You encounter more IAQ problems in the summer for the same reason you do in the winter: You keep your windows shut. That means you’re tracking in all sorts of contaminants, but they have no way of getting back out. 
In the spring and fall, when you’re not running your AC or heater, you likely have the windows open. Natural air circulation gets rid of dust, germs, bacteria, and other pollutants.
However, in the winter and summer, not only do you have your windows closed. You’re also running the HVAC system, which recycles air through the house.
And sure, the one-inch filter you change out every month or so traps dirt and larger particles. But plenty of contaminants — mold spores, dust mites, bacteria, viruses — pass right through it.
And, there’s more of it in the summer.
The main offender here is pollen. When flowers are in bloom, there’s plenty of it floating in the air. You get pollen counts on TV for people with seasonal allergies or asthma because when there’s too much of it, they can’t breathe properly.
And, again, one it’s inside your house in the summer, it has nowhere to go. So it builds up, along with whatever else is in the house.
Yes, a vigorous cleaning regimen goes a long way. But, there’s only so much you can do. And, the stakes seem to be getting higher, at least this year.
Fortunately, your HVAC system can help. And, in particular, Carrier Infinity systems can make a massive difference in the summer — and winter, or any season, for that matter. These systems offer:
- Humidity Control
- MERV 15 Air Filtration
- Germicidal Air Purification
Let’s see what this all means, exactly.
Humidity Control
In the summer, humidity control is crucial. Sure, you may want to add more moisture to the air in the winter when it’s too dry. But, in the warm weather, that excess water vapor makes you feel sticky and too hot.
And, for many people, it also makes it harder to breathe.
First, there’s just that stuffy feeling in the air. But, it goes further than that — especially for people with seasonal allergies or respiratory problems.
We mentioned a whole bunch of nasty particles that can build up in your home: Pollen, mold spores, dust, and more.
At least in the winter, when the air is naturally less humid, that junk tends to drop and collect on surfaces. They’re still there, but they’re easier to clean. That also makes it harder for you to inhale those pollutants.
But, in the summer, those tiny particles can attach to water vapor. That means they’re literally hanging in the air, perfectly placed for you to breathe them in.
Now, your AC offers dehumidification. But, conventional systems cycle on and off a lot. So, they only remove that excess moisture during the 10 to 20 minutes an hour when they’re running.
Inverter Technology and Dehumidification
Carrier Infinity uses variable-speed inverter technology. What that science fiction-sounding sentence means is that these air conditioners can run at different speeds instead of only being off or at full power.
Instead of turning on full blast for a few minutes and then turning back off, they spend a lot of time running in low-power mode. This saves you money and maintains the temperature instead of correcting fluctuations.
And it makes your home less humid.
Since the system runs more often, it also dehumidifies more often. That near-constant treatment makes a significant impact on the amount of water vapor in your home. And, with more control, you can breathe easier. 
MERV 15 Air Filter
Next, Carrier Infinity also offers a robust air filter and purification system that takes what your forced-air system already does, but at a much higher level.
Unlike off-the-shelf purifiers, these cover your whole house automatically. You don’t need to put one in each room and turn them on and off. This setup attaches directly to your HVAC system. It does the job on its own, just like you don’t have to remember to turn your furnace on and off.
Let’s start with the air filter. We mentioned the one-inch screen that’s standard for most HVAC systems. The MERV 15 filter here does a much better job.
The higher the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating, the smaller the particles it will catch. So, for comparison:
Your average one-inch filter from a hardware store is maybe a MERV 8, more likely around a 4. At best, they’ll catch dust, lint, and carpet fibers.
By contrast, MERV 14 captures mold spores, germs, bacteria, pollen, and more. That’s a huge difference — and you can’t just buy a filter this strong for your HVAC system.
The problem is that a MERV 14 filter restricts airflow if you just pop one in your furnace. A residential system isn’t strong enough to push the air through a screen that fine. But, the air purifier is made to accommodate it.
Germicidal Air Purification
With the Carrier Infinity line, the purification doesn’t end with trapping those particles. It also eradicates them — a big difference from a filter that gets gunked up over time.
Air goes in cycles through the filter, which captures all those tiny particles. Then, the system blasts them all with an electric charge. When it comes to bacteria, viruses, and the like, the blast destroys their cell walls.
This way, you don’t just trap all that junk in one place. You also get rid of them instantly.
Carrier Infinity in Havertown, PA
If you’re looking to improve the indoor air quality in your Havertown, PA home, call or email us here at John Cipollone today. We’ll help you determine precisely what you’re looking for and which product will best suit your needs.