Most people realize how harmful outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the usual living space might be more polluted—contingent on actual situations, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so dangerous, the EPA has indoor air pollution ranked as a top five environmental danger. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde are commonly found inside. Since Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, excellent indoor air quality is a necessity for good health, no matter if it’s in our homes or our workplaces. To help manage this pollution and better our indoor air quality, we can take multiple measures. But first, we are required to grasp some vernacular commonly used to discuss indoor air quality.
HEPA
HEPA is a term most people have heard or seen, but did you recognize it stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”? HEPA filtration systems are engineered—and certified—to capture at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (smaller than the diameter of a human hair) from the air that moves through the system. This significantly increases your home’s indoor air quality when dust, pollen, mites and other contaminants are trapped.
MERV
Minimum efficiency reporting value or MERV expresses the effectiveness of an air filter. With rankings ranging from 1–16, you should look for a top rating that reveals the filter will filter more contaminants and allergens from your air without restricting the airflow of your home comfort system. Ask us which MERV-rated filter will work best for your home.
At H&C Heating and Cooling, 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 breathes about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at 301-960-3247 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or if you want to schedule an appointment with us.