Indoor Air Quality: Common Pollutants And How to Eliminate Them
Air pollution is a serious health concern. A wide range of pollutants can get into your home and affect your health. They can be even more problematic indoors because of the elevated concentration levels. Let’s have a look at the most notable indoor pollutants and what you can do about them.
Allergens
Allergens are a top concern because they affect your daily life. They affect everyone but are especially problematic for people with asthma, bad allergies and other respiratory conditions. Common allergens or large particulate matter you may find in your home include:
- Dust
- Fibers
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Mold spores
The best way to trap these pollutants is through mechanical filtration. For powerful mechanical filtration, consider installing a whole-house air purifier in your ducts. We have systems, for instance, that have a pleated filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 16. A MERV 16 filter will eliminate up to 99% of airborne allergens.
You may also want to consider upgrading your HVAC filter. We have MERV 11 filters that provide excellent filtration of allergens as well. A high-quality HVAC filter doesn’t offset the need for an air purifier, but it helps ensure that your HVAC system doesn’t exacerbate indoor air quality issues.
Fine and Ultra-Fine Particulate Matter
Large particles aren’t the only concern. There are also microscopic solid and liquid particles that we categorize as either fine or ultra-fine. Fine and ultra-fine particles can cause inflammation in your respiratory system and make you more sensitive to allergens. Modern medicine also links long-term exposure to many cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. While a MERV 16 filter will trap some of these smaller particles, we recommend a higher-grade filter. An air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter will trap 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are human-made chemicals. They can get into your air through the products you use, such as household cleaners and deodorizers. VOCs can also off-gas into your air from furnishings, such as new curtains and particle board furniture. The best defense against VOCs is the careful selection of the products you bring into your home. Still, we recommend choosing an air purifier that uses activated carbon as a filter medium. This substance is highly effective at absorbing the VOCs out of the air.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. CO poisoning can lead to sudden illness and even death. It’s a concern in homes with fuel-burning appliances, such as gas furnaces. Home air purification is not an effective solution for CO. Instead, schedule maintenance annually. During that appointment, your technician will clean your equipment, ensure that it’s venting properly and test your CO detectors.
Other Gases and Airborne Chemicals
An air purifier with activated charcoal can absorb unpleasant odors, gases and airborne chemicals, such as formaldehyde and ammonia, that you may have in your home. Besides filtration, consider a whole-home ventilation fan. When not running your heating or cooling, it can help to minimize the concentration of chemicals and gases in your home.
Biological Pollutants
There is a wide range of biological pollutants that you may find in your home. Among the most notable are bacteria and viruses, which can make you sick. Mechanical filtration can trap some of these organisms but typically not enough to make a significant difference. For more comprehensive neutralization of pathogens, experts recommend ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). This involves the use of an ultraviolet (UV) lamp to give off UV-C, which is a germicidal light. There are standalone UV lamps we can install in your ducts. There are also air purifiers like the Lennox PureAir system, which has an integrated UV lamp.
Would You Like to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality in Windsor?
Guaranteed Comfort Heating & Cooling has been helping families throughout Windsor and the surrounding areas breathe easier for many years. Our indoor air quality team specializes in air purifiers, UV lights and air cleaners. We have HVAC technicians who install and service many ducted and ductless heating and cooling systems. Our plumbers install and service boilers and tank and tankless water heaters. If you’d like more information about our services or want to book an appointment, call Guaranteed Comfort Heating & Cooling today.