One belief about air quality is that the air outside your home is more polluted than the air found inside of it. That’s not always the case. You may not be aware, but your indoor air can is more dangerous than outdoor air. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the air circulating in your home is 2-5 times more contaminated than the air outside. This estimate is not that hard to believe, because we use different kinds of chemicals daily, most of which are pollutants.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is a leading HVAC company in Minnetonka MN. We offer total home comfort solutions, including indoor air quality products, such as air purification, ventilation, and humidification systems.
Overview
According to the EPA, indoor air quality refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.
The quality of air in your home has a direct impact on your family’s overall health and comfort. The National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) estimates that 95-98 percent of indoor air is made up of particles smaller than one micron. These particles include smoke, viruses, bacteria, and dust that can damage the lungs.
Here are some of the most common indoor air quality problems in your home.
Too Much Humidity
While humidity is often the least recognized indoor air pollutant, it is the most important as it affects both your health and the health of your actual house. The most common humidity issues happen when warm, moist air encounters a cool surface, such as a mirror, window, or the wall of a cooler room. Cooler air holds less moisture, so the surplus condenses in droplets on the surface. When this happens, mold, mildew, and dust mites develop in those areas. These pollutants can cause asthma, allergies, destroy wood items, and speed up the corrosion of metal.
Radon
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. It is a colorless, chemically inactive gas. Because it is a single atom gas, it easily penetrates many common materials such as paper, leather, plastic bags, paints, building materials such as gypsum board, concrete blocks, wood panels, and insulation.
Combustion Products
Appliances that generate heat and include the process of combustion can also be a source of pollution in your home. These pieces of equipment include your furnace, water heater, gas range, dryers, and other items. They produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and water vapor. The problem is when the unit is not properly vented outside, or if it has poor sealing, it will cause back-drafting and combustion agents can get in your home. Carbon monoxide is a particular reason for concern because it is colorless, odorless, and toxic. You will need a CO detector to determine the level of this fatal gas in your home.
Personal Care Products
There are 25 different personal care products examined by scientists that have been found to create a variety of potentially harmful chemical byproducts. These products include soaps, shampoos, lotions, detergents, hand sanitizers, and deodorants. Many of these items are simply irritants, but some, like formaldehyde, can threaten health—sometimes at amounts too low to be detected. In general, any household item that has a strong fragrance is a contributor to different volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Cigarette Smoke
Smoking is dangerous because its health consequences, such as cancer, can be fatal and yet oftentimes ignored. Even non-smokers are at risk of developing cancer as long as they are exposed to cigarette or tobacco smoke.
Cigar or tobacco smoke is one of the main sources of indoor air pollution in developed countries like the United States is cigarette or cigar smoke, which contains over 4,000 chemicals, most of which are cancer-causing.
Protect Your Home with Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
To keep your family safe from indoor air pollution, give us a call. We will help determine the best solutions for your humidification, air purification, and ventilation needs, guaranteeing you inhale nothing but fresh, clean air. We are your reliable Edina heating and air conditioning company.