The majority of people are aware of how harmful outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the usual house often is more polluted—contingent on actual conditions, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so dangerous, the EPA has indoor air pollution classified as a top five environmental danger. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde are commonly found indoors. Since Americans spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, superior indoor air quality is a necessity for decent health, no matter if it’s in our homes or our workplaces. To help handle this pollution and increase our indoor air quality, we can take different measures. But first, we are required to understand some lingo 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 designed—and certified—to confine at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (smaller than the diameter of a human hair) from the air that filters 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 expresses the effectiveness of an air filter. With rankings ranging from 1–16, you should find a higher rating that specifies the filter will filter more contaminants and allergens from your air without limiting the airflow of your home comfort system. Ask us which MERV-rated filter will work best for your home.
At Hix Air Conditioning Service, 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 inhales about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at 918-682-8238 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or if you want to schedule an appointment with us.