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Partner Story
Variable-speed heat pump technology from American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning can help create a healthier home while improving efficiency and comfort.
Today’s homes are built tightly sealed and more energy efficient than ever before. While these newer homes offer many advantages, this type of construction can taint indoor air quality. It’s important to be mindful of the potential asthma and allergy triggers in homes, including dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mold and mildew, lint, fungus, tobacco smoke, cooking grease, smoke from cooking or fireplaces, and even bacteria and viruses. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning products, paints, furnishings, and building materials also can be released into the air.
But the right type of filtration system paired with an effective HVAC system can help reduce allergens in the air and filter out fine particles that enter your home, says Sean Goddard, Product Manager, Coils and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) at American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning, a company that prioritizes improving air quality and comfort for its customers. Here we explore how variable-speed heat pumps can deliver healthier air in one system to improve indoor air quality overall.
How a Modern HVAC System Affects Indoor Air Quality
The most common sources of indoor air pollution in residential homes are everyday household particles and activities. Poor ventilation, improper humidity, and inadequate air filtration allow these pollutants to build up and circulate throughout the home, says Goddard. “Signs that an HVAC system is not supporting good indoor air quality include excessive dust, persistent musty odors, high humidity, or family members experiencing increased allergy symptoms, headaches, and respiratory irritation,” explains Goddard.
These issues often stem from clogged filters, improper humidity control, or mold growing inside the unit or ductwork. The solution is to balance humidity, airflow, ventilation, and filtration to fundamentally change how a home feels, not just how it’s heated or cooled, says Goddard.
Here is how each of the components of a heat pump HVAC system affects indoor air quality:
Ventilation
Proper ventilation refreshes the home by diluting stale air, airborne particles, excess moisture, odors, and indoor pollutants like VOCs, says Goddard. “The result is air that feels cleaner, lighter, and easier to breathe, creating a noticeably healthier and more comfortable living environment.”
Modern HVAC systems typically integrate whole-home ventilation directly into the system’s ductwork and control it automatically, playing a critical role in indoor air quality by bringing fresh outdoor air into the home and exhausting stale air. “Additionally, solutions like dedicated ventilation systems or American Standard’s Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) work alongside heating and cooling equipment to introduce fresh air at controlled rates without sacrificing comfort or efficiency,” explains Goddard. This premium ventilator maintains heat and moisture from the air in the winter, but dehumidifies incoming air in the summer, so your home is comfortable throughout the entire year. “When properly designed, whole-home ventilation helps maintain balanced humidity; improves oxygen levels; and supports cleaner, healthier air throughout the home year-round,” he says.
Filtration
Today’s HVAC filtration systems are highly effective at capturing common indoor pollutants, but only when the right filter is used and maintained properly, says Goddard. “High-quality modern filters are designed to trap particles before they recirculate through the home, helping to reduce allergens and irritation.” Some advanced filters and systems can even capture tiny particles, including certain airborne microbes.
But when a filter becomes clogged with dust and debris, airflow is restricted, forcing the system to work harder and reducing filtration performance. “This can allow dirtier air to circulate and increase the likelihood of allergy and asthma symptoms, which is why regular filter changes (every 30 to 90 days) and proper system design are essential for cleaner, healthier indoor air,” notes Goddard.
High-efficiency filtration systems like the AccuClean Whole-Home Air Cleaner remove fine particles and allergens that can make air feel heavy or irritating. “It uses high-quality technology to remove up to 99.98 percent of airborne particles from the air to reduce harmful bacteria and allergen triggers from the home such as pollen, dust, pet hair, and more,” says Goddard. Additionally, it ensures cycling fresh air into the home, replacing stale indoor air.
Temperature
By installing a smart thermostat, you can take control of the comfort level in your home. American Standard’s Smart Thermostats include features like communication technology, advanced scheduling capabilities, built-in alerts, and more, to help make temperature and humidity control in your home simple.
These thermostats are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and capabilities to pair with every type of HVAC system. Not only can you save money and energy, but you’ll be able to control your system from anywhere at any time. There’s also a Home App option so your American Standard dealer can monitor and diagnose your HVAC system from afar.
Humidity
Keeping humidity under control is critical to protecting your home. If it’s too high, mold and mildew can form, causing damage to your HVAC system, carpet, wood floors, drywall, and more. On the other hand, low humidity can worsen health issues like dry skin, a sore throat, or a cough. When airflow, ventilation, and filtration work together, humidity stays in the ideal range of 30 to 50 percent, preventing the air from feeling sticky or overly dry, says Goddard.
American Standard’s variable-speed heat pumps can be programmed to maintain this humidity sweet spot in the home. “That range is key to mitigating IAQ problems, especially because mold, dust mites, and other air pollutants tend to thrive in extremely low or high levels of humidity,” explains Goddard.
Airflow
Airflow also plays a critical role in maintaining healthy indoor air quality and maximum comfort inside a home. “Steady airflow eliminates hot and cold spots and keeps rooms feeling consistently comfortable,” says Goddard.
Variable-speed technology helps improve airflow by allowing the heat pump to run steadily at lower speeds instead of constantly turning on and off, Goddard says. “This consistent circulation moves more air through the filter over time, helping capture dust, dirt, and allergens more effectively.” Steady airflow also reduces strain on the system, supports better humidity control, and uses less energy, which results in cleaner, healthier air and more efficient performance year-round.
How a Variable-Speed Heat Pump Improves Indoor Air Quality
Traditional HVAC systems typically operate at a single speed and cycle on and off as needed. While this approach can be effective, it can result in occasional temperature fluctuations and varying levels of humidity and air filtration compared to systems that adjust more continuously.
On the other hand, variable-speed heat pumps like American Standard’s AccuComfort Variable Speed Platinum 20 Heat Pump create a stable, comfortable, and clean indoor environment while also delivering higher energy efficiency. “A variable-speed heat pump supports better indoor air quality than a traditional furnace-and-air-conditioner system because it runs longer and more consistently, rather than cycling on and off,” explains Goddard.
“By automatically adjusting its output to match the home’s exact needs, a variable-speed system maintains tighter temperature and humidity control,” adds Goddard. This steady operation improves dehumidification, reduces temperature swings, and allows air to pass through the system’s filters more frequently, helping remove more dust, allergens, and airborne particles.
If you’re interested in improving your home’s indoor air quality with a variable-speed heat pump, contact your local American Standard Customer Care Dealer for more information and personalized recommendations.
In the video below, American Standard expert Sean Goddard explains four habits you can do at home to improve indoor air quality and save money:
Ask A Pro: How Can I Improve My Home's Air Quality While Still Save Money?