Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is a problem in most households, with indoor air often unhealthier to breathe than city air, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Keep reading to learn common pollutants’ adverse side effects and explore practical IAQ solutions in an air purification system.
Pollutants in the Home
Pollutants such as mold spores and pollen are practically everywhere. The key to cleaning up household air is source control and removal. The types of pollutants commonly found in homes are classified into three categories:
- Particulates found in the home include pollen, pet dander and dust.
- Microorganisms found in homes include viruses such as influenza, bacteria, mold and mildew.
- Odors and gases found in homes may include cooking odors, moldy odors, tobacco smoke, garage emissions, vermin waste, solvents and building chemicals (Volatile Organic Compounds – VOCs).
IAQ, Health and Comfort
IAQ affects health, comfort and the pocketbook. Contaminants can cause various illnesses, or exacerbate asthma symptoms and allergies. Your budget is affected by missed work due to illness or illness of other household member. Contaminants such as mold and mildew can also damage property.
Solutions for Poor IAQ
Practical solutions for improving IAQ include source removal. Actions such as sealing shared walls with attached garages and regular vacuuming with HEPA filters help immensely. Some households benefit with a more proactive approach using whole-house air cleaners and purification systems (portable units are also available for room-specific cleaning). Air purification systems are available that target one or more contaminant classes:
- UV (ultraviolet light) systems targets microorganisms by destroying DNA. UV systems are commonly used in hospitals and water treatment facilities.
- Electrostatic air cleaners remove household airborne contaminants by attraction to charged metal plates, rather than media filter capture.
- Air purification systems combine two or more technologies, such as carbon-activated filters to neutralize odors and HEPA filtration, to clean household air.
If you have any questions about a whole-home or portable air purification system, or any other IAQ concerns regarding your Greater Indianapolis area home, please contact us at Mowery, Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We have proudly served Indianapolis area homeowners for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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