Healthy Home.  Healthy You.

“Most People spend 90% of their time indoors.”
~ American Lung Association

 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of the air in your home, school, and workplace.   The Quality of the air you breathe is directly related to the quality of your health.  Indoor air quality has become an important health and safety concern. Common issues associated with IAQ include:

1. Improper or inadequately maintained heating and ventilation systems.
2. Contamination by construction materials like glues, fiberglass, particle boards, paints, chemicals ,etc.
3. Increase in the number of occupants and time spent indoors.

Indoor Air Quality and Covid-19

Initially COVID-19 was thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person. Evidence now confirms that this virus can remain airborne for longer times and further distances than originally thought.  COVID-19 may also occur via airborne particles in indoor environments, in some circumstances beyond the 2 m (about 6 ft) range encouraged by some social distancing recommendations.

The type of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and occupancy in the home can impact potential airborne spread of the virus. Improvements to ventilation and air cleaning are important measure to take along with other known strategies. 

What are the symptoms linked to poor indoor air quality?
Most of the contaminants you find in the home are odorless, so there isn’t anything to alert you to a problem.  Many people suffer from respiratory problems (including asthma flare-ups), fatigue and sleepiness and sometimes even digestive issues without knowing to connect the dot to their indoor air quality. Symptoms may include:

• Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin.
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Hypersensitivity and allergies
• Sinus congestion
• Coughing and sneezing
• Dizziness

 Keep in mind that Indoor Air Quality tends to be worse in the winter months because there is often no flow of fresh air from the outside, meaning allergens stay trapped inside. The potential impact of indoor air quality on your health is noteworthy for many reasons:

• The concentration of some pollutants is often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations!
• 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.
• 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. 

Ready For Good News? The good news is that when it comes to your home there are things you can do to increase the quality of the air you breathe and increase your state of health. Our HVAC experts know all about home comfort and also know how to improve your Indoor Air Quality. 

Ensure Proper Filtration: Maintaining a healthy home means preserving indoor air quality and keeping air free of potentially harmful particulates. Without proper filtration, indoor air may be filled with allergens, dust, bacteria and other contaminants that lead to respiratory problems and decreased comfort. High-quality air is especially critical for residents dealing with allergies, asthma or immune conditions.

Evaluate Your HVAC System: Indoor air quality products are chosen based on the needs of occupants as well as the type of HVAC system installed in your home or business. Modern HVAC systems,  air purifiers and humidifiers that reduce your chance of illness and eliminate the threat of unwanted particulates.

DIY Procedures:  Regularly replacing HVAC filters is the single most important step a homeowner can take. Talk to our experts as they can recommend the right quality of filter and frequency of the filter changes.  Frequency will depend on how many people in your home, if you have pets and how many, and whether or not anyone has allergies or asthma.

Proper Ventilation:  Optimal IAQ comes down to making sure your home has proper ventilation and optimal Indoor Air Quality.  For this you need the help  of a licensed and certified contractor. The air quality in your home or business is worth taking seriously. When it needs improvement, rely on the experienced professionals at Bone Dry HVAC.

Consider Going Ductless:  A Ductless Mini Split (ductless heat pump) has a few advantages over traditionally ducted heating and cooling equipment.  One major benefit is that you don’t need ductwork for these systems to work.  Your ductwork is filled with contaminants like mold, mildew, bacteria, dust, viruses, debris, pollen, and many other contaminants. When you go ductless you avoid forcing these contaminants throughout your home and therefore increase your indoor air quality.

Another benefit of a Ductless System is they typically offer a multistage filtration that decreases air particulates that can make you sick. Some models eliminate up to 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses for improved air quality. 

Find out how you can improve your Indoor Air Quality in Indianapolis?  Turn to our HVAC experts who know all about home comfort and all about Indoor Air Quality. 
Call today:  317-454-7412.