We all recognize the dangers of outdoor air pollution, such as car emissions. What a lot of people don’t recognize is that the air inside the regular home is nearly five times more polluted than outside air. Indoor air quality is important because Americans spend approximately 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 hazards. A few common indoor pollutants include: mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde. There are also some common terms regularly used when talking about indoor air quality, so make sure know about these:
HEPA
You’ve probably seen or heard this term used, but do you know 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 contaminants 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 simple terms, it states the effectiveness of your air filter. MERV ratings can be anywhere from 1-16 with the higher rating removing 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 needs.
We breathe on average 11,000 liters of air a day. We want to help you understand the importance of indoor air quality and help make sure the air in your home is good for your health. If you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort systems give us a call at 336-853-6070 to set up an appointment with us.