Is Indoor Air Quality Important?

The short answer is yes. If it’s not important to you, we highly suggest you continue reading.

Fall is creeping up on us quickly. Which means, you and your family will most likely be spending more time indoors (thanks PA weather).

Before we dive into the best products for cleaning up your indoor air. Let’s look at some quick facts:

Fact #1 – Indoor Air Pollution is ranked as a Top 5 environmental danger. Over the past several years, the Environmental Protection Agency has consistently ranked indoor air pollution as one of the most concerning environmental dangers we all face daily.

 

Fact #2 – Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants and microbes can often be 2 to 5 times higher indoors than typical outdoor concentrations. This includes mold spores, bacteria, viruses, etc.

Fact #3 – People who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.

Fact #4 – Indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to such factors as energy-efficient building construction (when it lacks sufficient mechanical ventilation to ensure adequate air exchange) and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.

Fact #5 – Pediatric Asthma Rates have jumped almost 73%. Studies have shown that the prevalence rate of pediatric asthma has increased from 40.1 to 69.1. This is a total increase of nearly 73 percent. Currently, asthma ranks as one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States and the leading serious chronic illness of children.

Fact #6 – Flu season is right around the corner. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the looming flu season seems a little more nerve-racking and increasingly dangerous.

This article is to expand on one of our previous articles, “Indoor Air Quality Monitoring” to elaborate on some new and existing HVAC add-ons that could make a big impact on your health and quality of life.

Whole Home Purification (REME HALO)

The gold standard in the home air purification business is RGF’s REME HALO. The “REME” as we call it, is an in-duct air purifier that utilizes RGF’s proprietary Reflective Electro Magnetic Energy technology. Installed into the supply plenum of your existing air conditioning or heating system air ducts, the REME  in-duct air purifier produces Hydro-Peroxide plasma that is distributed through the air handler, through the duct system and into the conditioned living space. Unlike passive air technologies, which need pollutants to pass through the unit for purification or filtration, the REME purifier sweeps through your home actively purifying pollutants at the source. The charged plasma induces particles to coagulate or stick together making them bigger and easier for your filter to catch. Hydroperoxides occur naturally in the earth’s atmosphere and are part of nature’s process of cleaning the air.

UV Light Purification (Lightstick)

Another in-duct product we highly recommend is Dust Free’s Lightstick or Lightstick Plus UV Bulb. Germicidal UV light has long been used to combat biological contaminants in hospital settings. Now you can have those same benefits for your home. Lightstick works with your air filter to clean your homes indoor air. While your air filter captures particulate contaminants, the Bio-Fighter® Germicidal UV Light works to reduce biological contaminants. The Lighstick is also Ozone free.

Air Filtration (Aprilaire 216)

The Aprilaire 216 Allergy & Asthma Filter filter is hands-down our favorite filter that we recommend when you’re looking to improve your indoor air quality. The 216 traps up to 99% of airborne allergy and asthma triggers as they pass through the **MERV 16 filter including dust, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, pet dander, dust mites, viruses, and the airborne particulates associated with tobacco smoke and smog.

**MERV is a scale used to measure the effectiveness of air filters.  Higher number values translate to more effective filtration.  Choose a filter with the MERV rating that fits the needs of your family and home.

In Conclusion

Your family’s health and safety are extremely important to us. With the summer season beginning to wind down. Now is an excellent time to start winterizing your air conditioning equipment, service your furnace, replace your furnace, or get a handle on your home’s indoor air quality.

If you’re concerned about your home’s indoor air quality, we encourage you to give Spurk HVAC a call. We’d be happy to discuss the products listed above and how we can help.

About Spurk HVAC

Spurk HVAC was formed in 2018 and is located in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. We proudly serve Cranberry Twp., Wexford, Gibsonia, and the surrounding areas. Please contact us if you are seeking  air conditioner repair, air conditioning maintenance, air conditioning replacement, or any other heating & cooling services. Whether you are looking for residential or commercial HVAC services, we look forward to any and all opportunities to become your preferred HVAC contractor.