Many people are aware of how harmful outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the average house often is more polluted—reliant on actual conditions, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so damaging, 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 about 90% of their time indoors, superior indoor air quality is crucial for great health, regardless if it’s in our homes or our workplaces. To help manage this pollution and improve our indoor air quality, we can take several measures. But first, we are required to grasp some lingo commonly used to discuss indoor air quality.
HEPA
HEPA is a term a lot of people have heard or seen, but did you know it stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”? HEPA filtration systems are engineered—and certified—to trap at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (smaller than the diameter of a human hair) from the air that moves 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 refers to the effectiveness of an air filter. With ratings ranging from 1–16, you should pursue a top 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 Street Heating and Cooling, 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 takes in about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at 605-206-3915 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or if you want to schedule an appointment with us.