Indoor Air Quality & Health

Your home should be a place where everyone in your family can feel comfortable, safe and secure. While this should be the goal of every homeowner, not everyone is actually aware of the quality of the air that flows in their homes.

The air in your home can be unsafe, filled with toxic compounds and allergens. That is why indoor air needs to be exchanged with outdoor air to keep it fresh. The Environmental Protection Agency says that indoor air is actually 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air.

Having a professional test the quality of your indoor air is essential in determining whether it is safe for both you and your family.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is a certified HVAC company in Shoreview, MN that can help you improve the overall quality of your indoor air. This can be done by properly maintaining your heating and cooling equipment and installing certain systems that can help purify the air that circulates throughout your home.

Factors that Affect Indoor Air Quality

Your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) not only affects your comfort but also your health. A lot of factors have an effect on indoor air quality such as improper ventilation, high or low humidity, inconsistent temperature, and remodeling works.

In addition, specific pollutants like dust from construction works, cleaning supplies, pesticides, and other airborne chemicals may result in poor IAQ.

Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality has been associated with certain symptoms like headaches, confusion, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and even lungs.

The more serious effects of poor indoor air quality can be as life-threatening as cancer if you are repeatedly exposed to pollutants such as asbestos and radon. Such cases do not show immediate symptoms but frequent subjection to one or more pollutants can be very dangerous to your health.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Upgrade Your Filters

If you want cleaner indoor air, it is necessary to upgrade your air filters. Filters with minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) of 7 and 13 are almost as effective as HEPA filters, confining over 90 percent of passing pollutant particles. If anyone in your home has asthma or allergies, you can opt to upgrade to a filter that has a MERV of 11 or 12.

Upgrade Your Ventilation

Another way to improve indoor air quality is to enhance your home’s ventilation. If your home lacks airflow, a ventilation technician can upgrade your existing system, depending on your home’s design and the materials used.

Use Humidifiers

An indoor humidity level of 50 percent or more promotes the growth of mold and dust mites. If your home has mold problems or if feels humid, consider investing in dehumidifiers. These systems suit in your ductwork and help lower the humidity in the air passing through.

Use Air Cleaners

There are air cleaners that can target tiny particles that irritate the lungs. These systems can also trap other contaminants such as bacteria, mold and gaseous pollutants.

Clean Regularly

Simple steps like dusting and cleaning your house a couple of times per week can keep your home from collecting contaminants. Use a damp cloth to clean air registers, exhaust fans, and ceiling fans. Ask people to take off their footwear before they enter your home. Rinse your outdoor heating and cooling system with a hose to keep pollen and grass clippings from entering your unit and spreading throughout your home.

Maintain Your HVAC System

Annual maintenance ensures your heating and cooling systems are working safely and efficiently. One of the most important checks on your system is for carbon monoxide, a very hazardous gas. Failure to have annual maintenance on your HVAC system can result in the accumulation of carbon monoxide that can pose danger to your family’s health.

Heating and Air Conditioning in Shoreview, MN

Keeping your home a safe place for you and your family is of utmost importance. Take care of your family’s health by making sure you have excellent indoor air quality in your home.

Four Seasons Air Specialists employs licensed technicians that can identify what steps to take in achieving this goal. We are a Lennox Premier Dealer offering the finest in heating, cooling, and indoor air quality products in the area. We will ensure that your home has the right HVAC system to keep it at your desired comfort levels, no matter what the outdoor temperature may be.

Call us for a reputable and honest heating and air conditioning company in the northeast metro area of the Twin Cities. You'll be glad you did!