Most people realize how detrimental outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the usual living space can be more polluted—depending on actual situations, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so damaging, the EPA has indoor air pollution classified as a top five environmental danger. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde are commonly found in homes. Since Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, superior indoor air quality is crucial for great health, regardless if it’s in our homes or our workplaces. To help contain this pollution and improve our indoor air quality, we can take different measures. But first, we need to understand some lingo consistently used to discuss indoor air quality.
HEPA
HEPA is a term many people have heard or seen, but did you know it stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”? HEPA filtration systems are created—and certified—to capture at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (less than the diameter of a human hair) from the air that filters through the system. This significantly increases your home’s indoor air quality when dust, pollen, mites and other contaminants are destroyed.
MERV
Minimum efficiency reporting value or MERV describes the effectiveness of an air filter. With ratings ranging from 1–16, you should look for a top 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 Patterson & Stirling Inc, we can help you understand the importance of indoor air quality and help you work on breathing the best air possible. After all, the typical adult breathes about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at 814-308-0416 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or if you want to schedule an appointment with us.