Most people are aware of how detrimental outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the average living space might be more polluted—contingent on actual situations, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so bad, the EPA has indoor air pollution ranked as a top five environmental danger. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde are commonly found in homes. Since Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, superior indoor air quality is vital for good health, no matter if it’s in our homes or our workplaces. To help contain this pollution and increase our indoor air quality, we can take several measures. But first, we are required to grasp some terms often used to discuss indoor air quality.
HEPA
HEPA is a term most people have heard or seen, but did you realize it stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”? HEPA filtration systems are engineered—and certified—to trap at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (less than the diameter of a human hair) from the air that passes through the system. This greatly increases your home’s indoor air quality when dust, pollen, mites and other contaminants are captured.
MERV
Minimum efficiency reporting value or MERV refers to the effectiveness of an air filter. With rankings ranging from 1–16, you should pursue a max rating that specifies the filter will remove more contaminants and allergens from your air without confining the airflow of your home comfort system. Ask us which MERV-rated filter will work best for your home.
At Integrity AC & Heating LLC, we can help you understand the importance of indoor air quality and help you work on breathing the best air possible. After all, the normal adult takes in about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at 602-971-0567 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or if you want to schedule an appointment with us.