We all recognize the dangers of outdoor air pollution, such as car emissions. What a lot of people don’t recognize is that the air inside the regular home is nearly five times more polluted than outside air. Indoor air quality is important because Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, whether they are at home or running errands. The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution in the top five environmental concerns. A few common 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 know about these:
HEPA
You’ve possibly 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 produced 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 improving your home’s indoor air quality.
MERV
MERV is short for “minimum efficiency reporting value” or put in simpler terms, it tells you the effectiveness of your air filter. MERV ratings can be between 1-16 with the higher rating removing more contaminants and allergens without restricting the airflow of your home comfort system. We can work with you to determine a filter with a MERV rating that will work best for your home.
We breathe on average 11,000 liters of air a day. We want to help you realize the importance of indoor air quality and help ensure the air you’re breathing is good for your health. If you have any questions or concerns surrounding your home comfort systems give us a call at 952-373-0377 to schedule an appointment with us.