Did you know that your Twin Cities home’s indoor air quality can be much worse than the air quality outside? This is because while modern homes are better sealed for increased energy efficiency, such superior air sealing makes it difficult for fresh air to be introduced into your home. As a result, homeowners are often breathing in recycled air that contains common air contaminants such as:
- Allergens
- Bacteria and viruses
- Odor-causing chemicals
- Radon
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Formaldehyde
- And much more
Some of these air contaminants are dangerous and can cause long-term harm:
- Carbon monoxide. This colorless, odorless and tasteless gas is the cause of hundreds of accidental deaths each year. It’s generated as a byproduct of the incomplete burning of fuels used in common home appliances, such as gas furnaces and water heaters. Keeping your HVAC equipment properly maintained and vented can prevent CO accumulation in your home.
- Airborne bacteria. Airborne bacteria can wreak havoc on your indoor air quality. Certain strains are highly contagious and can exist in the air of unventilated spaces. Properly ventilating your home can help prevent such noxious bacteria.
However, most indoor air contaminants fall under the category of health threatening and annoying, but are not especially dangerous. This includes such things as VOCs, common allergens and mold spores. These contaminants can irritate your eyes, nose and skin, and prompt other cold-like symptoms.
Homeowners can improve their indoor air quality by reducing the source of many contaminants. This means operating fuel-burning appliances according to manufacturer recommendations, scheduling seasonal maintenance on HVAC equipment, and regularly replacing air filters. Proper ventilation is also a key way to avoid a build-up of pollutants inside your home. You may also want to consider utilizing an air purification system. Air purifiers utilize various air-cleaning and filtration strategies to remove indoor contaminants.
To learn more about your home’s indoor air quality and how you can improve it, contact the experts at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Our expert technicians have been proudly serving the Twin Cities metro area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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