It’s no secret that breathing polluted air is bad for your lungs today and can even have negative effects on your long-term health. Everyone has seen news reports about air quality ratings, smog and outdoor pollution. However, many home and business owners simply don’t know that the air inside their spaces can suffer from the same types of problems as the air outside. After all, pollutants can enter even the cleanest of spaces and affect air quality.
Indoor Air Quality and Your Health
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the overall cleanliness of the air that you breathe inside. When many pollutants are found in the air, the space is said to suffer from poor IAQ. It’s important to remember that your home or business can suffer from poor IAQ no matter how well you clean. Many of the pollutants that affect IAQ are simply too small for you to eliminate from your home without the help of specialized devices designed specifically for doing so.
Is it Time for IAQ Testing?
Many home and business owners are concerned about the quality of the air that they breathe while indoors, but they’re not sure if it makes sense to have IAQ testing conducted. While every situation is different, it’s a good idea to call the friendly pros here at Griffith Energy Services if you’ve noticed any of the following:
- The air inside your space is stale much like the air inside an airplane.
- Individuals who suffer from respiratory illnesses notice an increase in symptoms with no other medical explanation.
- You frequently cough or sneeze while inside your space.
- Some of your rooms are always warmer or cooler than others.
- You can smell outdoors pollutants such as car exhaust or smog inside.
- You notice musty or moldy smells in some or all rooms.
Understanding IAQ in Your Space
If you’re concerned about air quality inside your home or business, the first step is to have IAQ testing conducted. During testing, a highly trained technician will take special readings of the air in your space to determine how many particle pollutants are present. If many pollutants are present, your space is said to suffer from poor IAQ. Examples of common pollutants include:
- Mold and mildew.
- Dust, pollen and dander.
- Chemicals found in upholstery and carpeting treatments.
- Chemicals found in household cleaning products.
- Cigarette and cigar smoke.
- Smoke from woodstoves.
- Formaldehyde used in home products, especially those made from wood.
Of course, other pollutants can also make their way into your home or business. If you live in a metropolitan area in the Mid-Atlantic states, you might notice that smog or car exhaust are affecting IAQ. Air quality can also be poorer during the spring and summer, when many plants and flowers are in bloom.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
Learning that your space suffers from poor air quality can be devastating. You are likely concerned about the health of your family, friends or employees. While it can be upsetting to learn about poor IAQ, it’s important to remember that you have many options to remedy this problem. As a first step, you should:
- Remove all pollutants possible from your home.
- Carefully check household cleaners to ensure that they don’t contain dangerous chemicals.
- Seal any leaks in windows and doors.
- Keep windows closed on days when outdoor air quality is poor.
What Are My IAQ Improvement Options?
In addition to taking simple steps to improve air quality in your home or business, you can also choose from special IAQ improvement devices designed to work with your building’s HVAC system. After IAQ testing is completed, your technician will walk you through your options, which may include:
- Air filtration equipment, air purifiers and air cleaners designed to continuously remove particle pollutants from the air.
- Humidifiers and dehumidifiers designed to control the amount of moisture in the air.
- Ventilation systems designed to promote the strong, regular flow of air throughout your space.
Why Choose Air Filtration Equipment?
Many home and business owners who learn that their spaces suffer from poor IAQ are unsure of what improvement options will best meet their needs. While each space is different, air filtration equipment is one of the best options for most property owners. These specialized systems use a wide variety of technologies, including high-efficiency filters and UVA lights, to remove pollutants and sterilize the air in your home. Air filtration systems:
- Attack breathable particle pollutants, mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, odors and chemical vapors.
- Utilize the latest filter technologies to remove up to 95 percent of pollutants from the air.
- Reduce and can even destroy ozone, which has been shown to be dangerous to human health.
- Work with your existing heating and cooling system to improve overall comfort in your home or business.
- Offer an easy, passive way to improve IAQ without breaking your budget or spending hours every day cleaning.
Nothing is worse than learning that the air inside your home or business might be threatening your health. At Griffith Energy Services, we’re proud to be the authority on indoor air quality throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. If you’re concerned that your home or business suffers from poor IAQ, call us today to talk about your testing and improvement options.
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Written by Kevin Spain