Maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature is a key responsibility of your heating and cooling system, but an equally pressing concern for homeowners should be indoor air quality (IAQ). Mostpeople spend majority of their time indoors (think 90% on average!), taking 17,000 to 23,000 breaths inside per day. Poor indoor air quality can lead to many different issues, such as stagnant air, discomfort, uneven indoor temperature and health hazards. Given how much time Americans spend indoors, the importance of healthy indoor air cannot be overstated.
Today, Birdwell Heating & Cooling Inc shares three facts everyone should know about IAQ:
- Indoor air pollutant levels can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels.
Yes, indoor air can be muchy dirtier than outdoor air, regardless of whether you live in a busy urban neighborhood or a quiet rural area. What’s more, indoor air pollutant levels can rise significantly during and after home improvement activities, such as paint stripping. To combat this, keep your windows open for a few minutes each day to naturally ventilate your living space. Heating and cooling repair experts also recommend installing trickle vents on your windows to facilitate the exchange of fresh and stale air without promoting drafts. - Indoor air can be contaminated by an odorless natural gas harmful to health.
Aside from investing in a carbon dioxide detector, you should also consider installing a radon detector. This is because radon, a natural gas, can enter homes via wall cracks, foundation gaps and floor drains. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one out of every 15 U.S. homes has levels of radon that exceed the allowable maximum of 4pci/L. - Indoor air pollution is among the EPA’s top five environmental concerns.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the dangers poor IAQ can bring to homes and families, ranking it among the leading environmental dangers facing the public. Poor IAQ poses serious health hazards, such as respiratory diseases. To prevent these problems, be sure to purchase products that have low or zero levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It’s also smart to invest in air purifiers to remove germs and bacteria from your home.
Aside from heating and AC repair, Birdwell Heating & Cooling Inc. also offers professional indoor air quality solutions to help you achieve a healthier home. Give us a call at (256) 455-3539 to get a FREE estimate! We serve Athens and other nearby areas in AL.
