Most people are aware of how dangerous outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the typical living space might be more polluted—depending on actual conditions, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so damaging, the EPA has indoor air pollution ranked as a top five environmental danger. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon and even formaldehyde are commonly found indoors. Since Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, good indoor air quality is vital for great health, regardless if it’s in our homes or our workplaces. To help contain this pollution and improve our indoor air quality, we can take multiple measures. But first, we need to understand some terms often used to discuss indoor air quality.
HEPA
HEPA is a term many 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 designed—and certified—to trap at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (tinier 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 trapped.
MERV
Minimum efficiency reporting value or MERV describes the effectiveness of an air filter. With ratings ranging from 1–16, you should look for a top rating that indicates 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 Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning, 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 breathes about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at 717-383-4479 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or if you want to schedule an appointment with us.