We all know the dangers of outdoor air pollution, such as car emissions. What a lot of people don’t know is that the air inside the average home is approximately five times more polluted than outside air. Indoor air quality is important because Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors, whether they are at home or in the office. The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution in the top five environmental dangers. A few of the usual indoor pollutants include: mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde. There are also a few common terms regularly used when talking about indoor air quality, so make sure you understand these:
HEPA
You’ve probably seen or heard this term used, but do you grasp what it means? HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”. HEPA filtration systems are manufactured and certified to capture at least 99.97% of .3-micron (.000012” or 300x smaller than the diameter of human hair) particles from the air that passes through the system. Dust, pollen, mites and other impurities can all be captured, greatly boosting your home’s indoor air quality.
MERV
MERV is an acronym for “minimum efficiency reporting value” or put in simpler terms, it states the effectiveness of your air filter. MERV ratings can be anywhere from 1-16 with the higher rating eliminating more contaminants and allergens without impacting the airflow of your home comfort system. We can work with you to decide on a filter with a MERV rating that will work best for your system.
We breathe on average 11,000 liters of air a day. We want to help you understand the importance of indoor air quality and help make sure the air inside your house is good for your health. If you have any questions or concerns related to your home comfort systems give us a shout at 505-445-1250 to set up an appointment with us.