We all hear about the dangers of outdoor air pollution, such as car emissions. What a lot of people don’t recognize is that the air inside the average home is approximately five times more polluted than outside air. Indoor air quality is important because Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors, whether they are at home or running errands. The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution in the top five environmental concerns. A few normal indoor pollutants include: mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde. There are also some common terms traditionally used when discussing indoor air quality, so make sure know about these:
HEPA
You’ve possibly seen or heard this term used, but do you understand what it means? HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”. HEPA filtration systems are created and certified to capture at least 99.97% of .3-micron (.000012” or 300x smaller than the diameter of human hair) particles from the air that heads through the system. Dust, pollen, mites and other pollutants can all be captured, greatly increasing your home’s indoor air quality.
MERV
MERV is an acronym for “minimum efficiency reporting value” or put in simpler terms, it tells you the effectiveness of your air filter. MERV ratings can be anywhere from 1-16 with the higher rating getting rid of more contaminants and allergens without inhibiting the airflow of your home comfort system. We can work with you to figure out a filter with a MERV rating that will work best for your system.
We breathe on average 11,000 liters of air a day. We want to help you recognize the importance of indoor air quality and help ensure the air you’re breathing is good for your health. If you have any questions or concerns related to your home comfort systems give us a call at 877-389-2465 to set up an appointment with us.