Indoor Air Quality FAQs
What is indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality refers to the level of pollutants in the air in your home. According to the EPA, the air in your home can contain as much as 100 times more pollutants than the air outdoors. Since most people spend the majority of their time indoors, clean air is very important.
What causes indoor air pollution?
Many things can contribute to indoor air pollution. The most common are carpeting, furniture, household fabrics, cleaning supplies, paints and personal care products; however, there are many more causes..
Newer homes that are built with energy efficiency in mind are more tightly sealed than homes of the past, meaning there is less air circulation and a greater likelihood of air pollution build up.
How can I improve my indoor air quality?
There are several things you can do to improve the indoor air quality of your home, including (but not limited to):
- Identify the sources of pollution – the sources of pollution may influence the type of air quality products or services your home requires.
- Improve ventilation – improved ventilation helps move air throughout your home limiting contaminant build up.
- Purify the air – solely relying on your home’s HVAC system to ventilate and clean the air in your home is insufficient. They are simply not designed to be a comprehensive air filtration system.
- Install advanced air filters – many air filters are insufficient for capturing odors, bacteria or micro-contaminants.
These are just a few of the steps that can be taken to improve the indoor air quality of your home. To learn more about our indoor air quality products and how we can improve the air quality in your Scranton, PA area home, call Spall today!
How is indoor air quality hazardous to health?
Poor indoor air quality can cause a number of health problems, but those with asthma or allergies are especially susceptible. Medical studies say that as much as half of all illnesses are caused or aggravated by indoor air pollution.
Is the air inside my home really more polluted than the air outside?
Yes! According to the EPA, the air inside your home can be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outside. Unlike the outdoors where pollution can move freely, the air inside your home is trapped leading to a build-up in pollutants over time. Most homes have no indoor air quality systems and rely solely on their HVAC systems to clean this air.
What are the benefits to improving indoor air quality?
Improving air quality can be beneficial to all members of your household, but it is especially beneficial to those suffering from allergies and asthma. Indoor air quality systems that purify and clean the air can help to relieve their symptoms. Even for those that do not suffer from asthma or allergies, indoor air quality systems can limit exposure to pollutants, decreasing the risk of health problems.
