Indoor Air Quality Importance
Some of the common indoor air contaminants that people experience in their homes include pollen from the outdoors, pet dander and fur, dust and dust mites, and volatile organic compounds. These are chemicals that off-gas from items like building materials, furniture, air fresheners, and cleaning products. Ongoing exposure to these contaminants can result in allergy symptoms, asthma, shortness of breath, headaches, and fatigue.
There are many signs to pay attention to that can alert you to issues with your air quality.
- Sneezing and coughing
- Dirty surfaces in home
- Frequently clogged filters
- Bad odors
The presence of mold in your house is very dangerous and can lead to chronic health issues. IAQ testing can confirm if mold is something you’re dealing with and provide options for remediation and prevention. You may want to consider the installation of a UV light on your HVAC system. Exposing mold spores and other pathogens to UV-C radiation renders those contaminants harmless.
Whole-house filtration can remove more particulate matter than what your furnace filter addresses. If you have a unit that uses a high-efficiency particulate air filter, or HEPA for short, you can often remove up to 99.97% of the particulate matter in your air. Keep in mind that chemicals and things like cigarette smoke require the use of an activated carbon filter. This type of filtration will help your home smell better by absorbing odors. It’s also an ideal option for pet owners and households where strong cooking odors are often present.