| Everyone expects to be completely safe and comfortable in their own homes. That is why homeowners have HVAC systems installed to heat or cool their homes, depending on the season. However, having these heating and air conditioning units isn’t enough to clean the air that circulates in your home.
Your indoor air can be potentially unhealthy, filled with toxic compounds and allergens. The Environmental Protection Agency says that indoor air is actually 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. In order to keep your indoor air fresh, it must be exchanged with air coming from the outside. But the problem is, you wouldn’t want cold winter air to come into your house. Rumpca Services is a trusted HVAC company in Cottage Grove, MN that provides air purification systems designed to improve the overall quality of your indoor air. 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) Top Sources of Indoor Air Pollution in the U.S. The main source of indoor air pollution in developed countries like the United States is cigarette or cigar smoke, which has over 4,000 chemicals, most of which are carcinogens or chemicals that cause cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. It is usually found in igneous rock and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of radon. Another major source of indoor air pollution is volatile organic compounds (or VOCs). These are compounds containing carbon released by almost anything you use in your home – paint, plastic, perfume, household cleaners, adhesives, furniture, carpet, paper, among others. Health Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality Poor indoor air quality has been associated with certain symptoms like headaches, confusion, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and even lungs. The more serious effects of poor indoor air quality can be as life-threatening as cancer if you are repeatedly exposed to contaminants such as asbestos and radon. Such cases do not show immediate symptoms but frequent subjection to one or more pollutants can be perilous to your health. The lack of awareness and understanding of indoor pollutants can pose danger to your family’s health especially if you have children in the household. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that children are more susceptible to indoor toxic compounds than adults. Improving Your Indoor Air Quality Use Air Purifiers Air purifiers are an effective way to clean the air. An air purifier works by passing air through filters, which capture small particles and remove them from the air in the room. Air purifiers also help you breathe cleaner air that will allow your lungs and other organs to work better, usually leading to better oxygen absorption by your brain. Increase Your Ventilation Another way to improve indoor air quality is to enhance your home’s ventilation. If your home lacks airflow, opening windows won’t be enough to have an exchange of indoor and outdoor air. It won’t even make sense when the weather is extremely cold. Depending on your home’s design and materials used, a licensed ventilation expert can upgrade your existing system. Upgrade Your Filters To enhance your indoor air, it is necessary to upgrade your air 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. Ask the Experts in Indoor Air Quality Even before experiencing any of the negative health effects of poor indoor air, it is a wise decision to consider getting help from an expert in indoor air quality. Rumpca Services can run some tests and check your home to ensure that the air flowing in your home is safe for you and your family. We offer air cleaning products such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air purifiers that can help improve the quality of your home’s indoor air. Call us for your Cottage Grove heating and air conditioning needs, including ways to improve your indoor air quality. |
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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.