Most people realize how dangerous outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the average living space might be more polluted—reliant on actual situations, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so dangerous, 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 a necessity for great health, despite 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 need to absorb some terms commonly used to discuss indoor air quality.
HEPA
HEPA is a term most people have heard or seen, but did you realize it stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”? HEPA filtration systems are engineered—and certified—to capture at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (less than the diameter of a human hair) from the air that passes through the system. This significantly increases your home’s indoor air quality when dust, pollen, mites and other contaminants are captured.
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 remove 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 Mayeuxs AC & Heating, we can help you understand the importance of indoor air quality and help you work on breathing the best air possible. After all, the average adult breathes about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at (985) 764-2426 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or if you want to schedule an appointment with us.