| As we go through our day-to-day lives, we think about our health and safety—we try to be careful when driving, we try to eat healthy and exercise. We try to avoid things that can negatively affect our well being. But how often do we think about something as simple as protecting the quality of the air that we breathe in the sanctuary of our own homes? We don’t realize that indoor air pollution in our own homes can affect our health in a detrimental way.
In our cold Minnesota winters we have our homes closed up to keep warm and our heating systems circulate the air inside. In cold weather people spend most of their time indoors. In the last several years, government studies from the EPA have suggested that the air within homes can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in large cities. For many people, especially the very young and the elderly, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors. In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
What are the causes of indoor air problems? The most common causes are ventilation issues and particulate matter that come from household products, mold, mildew, dust, pet dander, tobacco smoke, improperly vented fireplaces or wood stoves and home improvement materials. If ventilation is poor, the same pollutants keep circulating in your home.
What are some of the things that indicate a problem? Some people with respiratory issues may experience asthma. Some people experience irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
What can I do to help improve the air my family breathes at home? Making ventilation improvements may help by eliminating some of the pollutants coming in from outdoors and having household plants helps remove some pollutants and produces oxygen. Making sure you change your furnace filter on a regular basis helps trap some of the particulate matter. There are different ratings for different filters, so you may wish to compare; filters with higher MERV ratings provide the best air filtration. MERV 16 filters can remove over 95% of particles. Having your furnace ducts professionally cleaned can help too. One of the best things you can do is invest in an air purification system with a MERV 16 filter. You may wish to invest with a newer, efficient furnace system, or a home air purification system. At Rumpca, we care about your well-being and comfort! If you would like more information on options available to improve the air quality in your home, please feel free to contact us on our website athttps://www.rumpcaservices.com.
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You can always count on Rumpca Services, Inc. to get to you fast and get the job done right the first time. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to find the source of your heating and air conditioning problems and fix them fast.