Indoor Air Quality and Why It’s So Important

Indoor air pollution can be a serious health risk. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency say it’s up there in the top five environmental health risks today and getting closer to the top of the list all the time.  

Our homes are where we spend most, or at least a huge chunk, of our time, and we all want to live in a healthy environment. But it might interest you to know the air in your house can be between two and five times more polluted than the outdoor air and in some homes, it can be up to a hundred times more polluted!

One method of improving the quality of your indoor air is to install a UV germicidal lamp. This can reduce allergy issues and asthma. Read on to learn more about air pollution and how to counter it so everyone at home can breathe more easily.

Why Indoor Air Quality is So Important

Modern homes were designed to keep air inside as well as minimize air leaks. This kind of tight construction can save you money on your energy bills by stopping the heat from escaping outdoors during the winter and stopping it from coming in during the summer.

Theoretically this might sound great, but that’s not all this kind of design does.

It also traps dust, germs, pet dander, mold, and more pollutants in the home and they get recirculated over and over. Having all these contaminants in your air circulation means an uptick in allergy symptoms. It might feel like your allergies are bothering you every single day of the year.

The Different Indoor Air Pollutants

Air pollutants in your place can stem from various sources including plants, chemicals, and pets. Condensation forms naturally inside your HVAC system and this can encourage mildew and mold growth. Nearly every home has plenty of at least one of the following:

• Mold, fungus, or mildew
• Tobacco smoke
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Viruses or bacteria
• Dust, ash, or soil
• Pollen

How UV Germicidal Lights Eliminate Indoor Contaminants

There is a way to protect yourself and your loved ones from these indoor air quality threats, and that is the installation of a UV germicidal lamp which goes right into your heating and air conditioning system.

This safely neutralizes and removes more than 99% of bacteria, fungi, mildew, and mold. Although the sun produces UV light naturally, the atmosphere filters it out before it can reach us.

UV light can disrupt the DNA of bacteria or viruses at a high concentration of targeted exposure. This stops it from multiplying and irritating your eyes, sinuses, or respiratory system.

The lights are fitted by the air conditioner condenser coils or on your central ductwork system’s supply side where they’ll be completely enclosed in the ductwork. This means UV lights won’t cause any harm to yourself or your family.

They will keep the indoor air cleaner and increase your HVAC’s overall efficiency by preventing excess dust, dirt, bacteria, and mold.

Healthier IAQ Habits

There are more things you can do to improve the quality of the air indoors that you and your family breathe.

Read on to find out how to reduce the pollutants in your house and help alleviate allergies and asthma in family members.

Keep on Top of the Cleaning

Modern vacuum cleaners have pollutant-trapping filters. Common pollutants often settle in carpets, curtains, and furniture.

Vacuuming regularly and keeping your home clean reduces how many airborne contaminants are circulating in the air that you and your family are breathing. It’s also a good ideal to clean your HVAC ducts regularly.

Ventilation is Important

If you don’t have high pollution outside and the weather is mild, you might want to open all the windows for a day to let your home air out.

However, this might not be a good idea if you or anyone else in the family has pollen allergies or allergies to anything else found outdoors.

Improved Indoor Air Quality: In Conclusion

Keeping on top of the cleaning and investing in a whole-house air sterilizer such as a UV germicidal lamp means you will be able to protect your whole family from air pollutants which can aggravate or cause asthma and allergies.

If you’d like to find out more about this, give us a call on 813-855-4191 and schedule an indoor air quality check, so you can start breathing cleaner, healthier air.