Good indoor air quality (IAQ) is important in your home, especially if you want to stay healthy. Several factors can make indoor air more polluted than outdoor air. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality is often two to five times worse than outdoor air because of pollutants. Let’s discuss a few of the pollutants that contaminate our air and how we can prevent them.
1. Biological Pollutants
When homeowners discuss indoor air quality, biological allergens are often the first consideration. Biological pollutants include mold, pet dander, pollen, dust, mildew, and bacteria. Each will affect allergy sufferers in various ways, but each is manageable with a well-functioning HVAC system.
Mold, Mildew, and Bacteria
Moisture is a key factor for all these types of microorganisms. When moisture levels in a home exceed 60%, it creates an ideal damp environment for these biological pollutants. Increased humidity promotes spore growth in mold and mildew. The airborne spores from these fungi trigger allergic reactions in many people with allergies.
Similarly, bacteria thrive and reproduce in high-humidity air. Additionally, humid air traps bacteria, making them much easier to breathe in.
Pollen, Dust, and Pet Dander
Just like mold, mildew, and bacteria, humidity levels influence biological pollutants such as pollen, dust, and pet dander. However, in this context, lower humidity levels below 30% make these pollutants an indoor air quality problem. When the air is drier, dust, which mainly consists of dead skin cells, dander, and pollen, dries out. This makes it easier to inhale these particles, as the dryness makes them lighter than air.
2. Particulate Matter
Particulate matter includes substances such as residues from secondhand smoke, fireplaces, stoves, and liquid droplets. Generally, for a particulate matter classification, a substance must be smaller than 10 microns in size. Despite its tiny dimensions, particulate matter can pose significant dangers, contributing to various health conditions. These include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Shortness of breath
- Asthma
- Reduced immune response
- Mucus membrane irritation
3. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
One of the chief problems with VOCs, such as paint, wax, aerosol sprays, pesticides, and gasoline, is how easily they evaporate and become part of the air we breathe. These chemicals, which we commonly release into the air during daily activities, have a long list of potential harmful effects.
One major issue with VOCs is their size; each is millions of times smaller than a micron on the picometer scale. Activated carbon filters are one of the only reliable ways to remove them.
4. Gas Pollutants
The two most common indoor air pollutants are carbon monoxide and radon, both of which are odorless gases that can lead to serious health issues. Incomplete combustion causes carbon monoxide when homeowners burn fuel, including fuel used in space heaters, gas stoves, and fireplaces.
Radon, on the other hand, is a radioactive gas that’s present in the soil. This makes it into your home through foundational cracks.
Ways to Reduce Indoor Air Pollutants
When it comes to indoor pollutants, there are several steps you can take to reduce them. For instance, you can open the windows to let fresh air circulate in your living space. This is crucial to prevent pollutants from continuing to circulate through your HVAC system. Additionally, you can minimize toxins entering your home by prohibiting indoor smoking.
If mold or mildew is a pollutant in your home, you can install a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture level in the space. This will make it easier to keep humidity levels low, preventing the formation of this bacteria. You might also consider using filtration to remove more airborne particles from the air. This involves installing HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters in your HVAC system. These filters eliminate up to 99.97% of all particles present in the air you breathe, removing most particles larger than 0.3 microns in size.
Contact TS Heat & Air for Air Purification
TS Heat & Air is a family-owned business with more than 35 years of experience serving the HVAC needs of Bethany. We take your health seriously and we understand how to ensure that the air you breathe is safe and comfortable. We offer a range of indoor air quality solutions, including electrostatic filters, PureAir air purification systems, whole-house air filtration units, and Healthy Climate germicidal lights. Contact us to learn more.
