The quality of the air we breathe indoors has never been more important; nobody wants the air in their Servicing Delaware, home to make them sick. A virus is only one of many pathogens that could be floating around in your home’s air. You could also be struggling with dust, pollen, pet dander or spores. Read on to learn what indoor air quality is, why it matters and how you can improve it in your home.
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor air quality is the cleanliness of the air in your home. The word “clean” can mean many things, however.
Your air could be free of viruses and bacteria but still have allergens like dust, pollen or pet dander. You could use a filter to reduce those pollutants but still have tiny particles like viruses or smoke.
Healthy indoor air means more than just getting rid of pathogens and dust. According to the World Health Organization, using a gas stove or burning a candle can raise the level of nitrous oxides, or NOXs, in your home to 50% higher than the air outside. NOXs can cause inflammation to your nose, throat and lungs, so it’s important to keep them under control.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters to Your Health
Breathing poor air inside your home can lead to a litany of health problems. Dust and pollen can lead to obvious problems like allergies or asthma. Viruses, bacteria and spores can make you sick. Poor air quality can also affect your health in less obvious ways, like raising your blood pressure or lowering your sleep quality.
According to the American Heart Association, breathing air polluted with dust and smoke can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. According to scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health, poor air quality can also lead to poor sleep, which can weaken your immune system and make you feel weak and tired.
Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Fortunately, there are many effective ways to improve the air quality inside your home, no matter what your air’s problem is. Take a look at some products that an HVAC professional can install to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
Air Purification Systems
Air purifiers typically use a combination of a powerful filter and an ionizing compound to capture pollutants and kill bacteria and viruses. Note that many of these systems require routine maintenance, like changing the filter.
The award-winning REME HALO system does not use any filters. However, it still achieves outstanding results in killing bacteria, viruses and other germs. It also reduces airborne particles like dust, pet dander, pollen and spores. It sends ionized hydro-peroxides out into your home’s air that eliminates the impurities in the air. The ionized hydro-peroxides are installed inside your ductwork, so it can clean your entire house while remaining out of sight.
Mechanical Ventilators
Mechanical ventilators bring in fresh air from outside and clean your home’s dirty air. This can reduce environmental pollutants, such as NOXs, volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide.
Mechanical ventilators are especially important in newer, more insulated homes. All that insulation means that fresh air from the outside cannot get into the house. This allows pollutants to build up over time, worsening the problems they cause.
Air Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
Having the proper amount of moisture in your home’s air is crucial to both your comfort and your health. Installing a humidifier during the winter and a dehumidifier during the summer can help avoid dry, stale air and excessive moisture.
Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can keep your home’s air clean and healthy year-round in Servicing Delaware. Red Dog Associates can install any of these systems in your home. Contact us today to learn more about these products and get a free consultation.
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