Most people do not give much thought to the air inside their homes. They presume that it is clean, conducive to good health, and does not cause any breathing problems. Shutting the doors to outside pollutants is considered enough to ensure good air quality.
This belief is brought into question if you or your family members suffer from some breathing and allergy problems frequently. According to EPA, the effects of indoor air quality on health can have long term consequences on human health if ignored. Research studies have established that indoor air quality is often 2 to 5 times worse than outdoor air and can trigger many health problems.
Why Is the Quality of Indoor Air So Important?
Indoor air quality refers to the air quality in a home, office, school, or other building environments. Here are some facts that matter:
- Pollution experts say that indoor air quality has suffered because of a higher concentration of certain pollutants. The reasons are many and diverse, such as the lack of sufficient mechanical ventilation for air exchange in energy-efficient buildings. Synthetic building materials used in construction, and products of day-to-day use such as household cleaners, personal care products, pesticides, etc. impact the quality of air as well.
- As stated, the concentration of pollutants outdoors is 2 to 5 times less than pollutants in indoor areas. However, Americans on average spend a considerably long time (to the extent of even 90%) indoors, which exposes them to health hazards linked to poor air quality.
- Older adults, especially those with cardiovascular or respiratory disease, and very young children spend more time indoors. It makes them more susceptible to illnesses caused by airborne pollutants.
Excess carbon dioxide in the indoor spaces can affect the quality of the air too. It’s also essential to maintain your HVAC system regularly. Have it inspected and cleaned at least two times each year, or more depending on usage. These checks help to ensure it is functioning correctly and not contributing to higher CO2 levels in your home.
Impact of Dust on Indoor Air Quality
Dust is omnipresent in indoor places and is a significant factor that adds to deterioration in air quality. Dust mites cause allergies in many people. Estimates suggest that over 20 million people in the world suffer from dust allergies. Dust is so dangerous that even a single speck of it carries mold spores, dead skin flakes, pet dander, and many other such pollutants. Dust mites silently feed on innocuous things like dead particles of human skin and thrive in warm temperatures (68°F to 77°F). People that are sensitive to dust and dust allergens tend to suffer from:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Coughing
- A full-blown asthma attack
- Disturbed sleep due to respiratory problems
- Itchy eyes, sneezing, and headaches.
About Air Purifiers
Regardless of how hard you try, it isn’t possible to get rid of dust entirely in the indoor environment. But using an air purifier is an easy and affordable solution to this problem. Air-purifiers with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (HEPA) guarantee to trap 99.97% of airborne particles that are harmful to your health, especially to your lungs.
When you switch on the HEPA filter, the air in the room circulates through the fine mesh in the device. This mesh acts like a sieve and traps the dust particles, keeping your indoor spaces mostly dust-free. You can get a purer environment within a few hours.
A credible and well-established HVAC contractor would be able to provide a custom HVAC maintenance plan based on your needs. Regular inspections and cleaning of the system will help ensure that the indoor air quality on your premises is at its best.
