Did you know that indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air? That’s what the US Environmental Protection Agency says. If you’re one of the 90 percent of people who spend their time indoors, you may be at risk of catching diseases brought about by indoor air pollution.

For this reason, you must take necessary steps in ensuring that everyone in your home will live in a healthy and safe environment, breathing nothing but clean air. New Berlin Heating and Air Conditioning is a heating company in Franklin, WI that has the knowledge and experience to help you get devices that can clean the air that circulates throughout your home while improving your family’s health and safety.

Indoor Air Quality Defined

It refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. (Source: epa.gov)

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

People usually think of air pollution as being outdoors, but the air in your home is also potentially contaminated. Sources of indoor pollution include:

  • Pollen and Mold
  • Tobacco or cigarette smoke
  • Household cleaning products
  • Gases such as radon and carbon monoxide
  • Stoves, heaters, fireplaces, and chimneys
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
  • Materials used in the building such as lead, asbestos, and formaldehyde

Indoor Air Quality Issues

Indoor air quality has a significant effect on the comfort of your home as well as your overall health. In order to keep the air fresh, your indoor air must be constantly traded with outdoor air. This is important because the air in our homes can be dangerous, filled with allergens and toxic compounds.

Sometimes, people have symptoms that seem to be linked to their time spent in a certain building. There may be a specific cause, such as Legionnaire’s disease. Sometimes the cause of the illness cannot be found. This is known as sick building syndrome. (Source: medlineplus.gov)

Subjection to indoor air pollutants has both short-term and long-term effects. Some effects may be experienced immediately after a single exposure or repeated exposures to one or multiple pollutants. These may include:

  • irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat
  • fatigue
  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • coughing
  • upper respiratory congestion

Generally, indoor air quality problems only cause discomfort. Most people feel better as soon as they remove the source of the pollution. However, some pollutants can cause diseases that show up much later, such as:

  • Wheezing, worsening asthma
  • Epistaxis (nose bleeding)
  • Dyspnea (Painful breathing)
  • Rhinitis, nasal congestion (inflammation of the nose, runny nose)
  • Pharyngitis (sore throat)
  • Severe lung disease
  • Conjunctive (eye) irritation
  • Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat, sometimes leading to shortness of breath)
  • Nausea, vomiting, anorexia
  • Myalgia (muscle pain)
  • Hearing loss

According to the World Health Organization, about 4.3 million people a year die from the exposure to household air pollution

Improving Your Indoor Air Quality

You can invest in air cleaners that can target tiny particles that irritate the lungs. These systems can also trap other contaminants such as bacteria, mold and gaseous pollutants.

An indoor humidity level of 50 percent or more promotes the growth of mold and dust mites. If your home has mold problems or if it feels humid, consider buying a dehumidifier that suits your ductwork. This device can lower the humidity in the air passing through your ducts.

Another way to improve indoor air quality is to enhance your home’s ventilation. If your home lacks airflow, a heating and cooling professional can upgrade your existing ventilation system, depending on your home’s design and the materials used.

In addition, you can improve your indoor air quality by upgrading your filters. Filters with minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) of 7 and 13 are almost as effective as HEPA filters, confining over 90 percent of passing pollutant particles. If anyone in your home has asthma or allergies, you can opt to upgrade to a filter that has a MERV of 11 or 12.

Seek Help From Air Purification Experts

There are several ways to improve your indoor air quality and make your home a safer place to live in. Call New Berlin Heating and Air Conditioning and get no less than the best air purification solution suited to your home and family.

We are a top-tier HVAC company offering industry-leading products and services to homeowners. Contact us for all your Greenfield heating and air conditioning needs.