We're Glad You Asked
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
Air pollution surrounds us daily . . . car exhaust, smog, indoor air. Indoor air? Yes, indoor air quality is important to your health, and in today’s homes, the air can be up to 70% more polluted than the outside air. The American Lung Association estimates that most people spend 90% of their time indoors. So clean, healthy indoor air is important.
What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?
Many everyday, unsuspected household items contribute to poor indoor air quality. Chemical compounds found in common building and decorating items such as glue, plywood and carpet constantly “off-gas,” or emit fumes. The components used to make household items can reach harmful levels if indoor are quality is not maintained.
Newer, more energy-efficient homes do not “breath” like older homes. Things like weather-stripping and storm doors keep indoor air in, and outdoor air out. This provides energy savings, but the limited exchange of outdoor and indoor air can mean a build-up of contaminants inside your home.
Health Benefits Of Clean Air
Allergies and asthma are two health problems that can be helped with clean indoor air. When airborne sufferers often find relief from their symptoms. Even healthy people who have never suffered from allergies can benefit form clean air. Dust, smoke and other particles float around in the air. This is why drapes and furniture gather dust, and wall paper begins to look dingy. Removing airborne dust particles reduces the amount of exposure your respiratory system is subjected to, allowing it to remain in a more healthy, strong condition.
How Can I Improve Indoor Air?
One way to clean indoor air and keep the indoor air quality at a high level is with an air cleaner. An air cleaner can remove dust, smoke and other particles that settle in your houses and age your furnishings. If you remove these pollutants, you also remove major cause of dirt in your home. Even though all comfort systems have an air filter, this only protects your equipment from dust and large particles. It is not designed to clean indoor air.
Air cleaners are designed to take harmful particles out of the air and improve indoor air quality and come in a variety of typed and styles.
Media filters remove many airborne pollutants, including dust and pollen. Media filters are effective in removing these larger particles, but they must be replaced periodically.
Healthy Climate Air Purifiers, on the other hand, remove smaller and many more airborne particles than media filters. Healthy Climate Air Purifiers can even remove mold spores and most smoke.
Evaluating Air Cleaners
Selecting an air cleaner can become confusing because of the wide range of air cleaners available today. Many claims are misleading or just advertising hype. The only official measure of an air cleaner’s efficiency is the Dust Stop Test Rating. This measure is endorsed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Other tests and efficiencies are simply not an “apples to apples” comparison.
Look for a Dust Spot Test Rating of 25% or Higher when considering an air filter. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare recommends this as the minimal level for an air cleaner to be truly effective.
Other Ways To Improve Indoor Air
Contaminants can collect on your heating and cooling equipment and continue to recalculate throughout the house every time the equipment runs. Cleaning your comfort equipment at the beginning of both the heating and cooling seasons can also help indoor air quality. Your serviceman can clean all comfort equipment when he comes for a routine service call.
Improving the air we breathe indoors is important. Considering ways to clean indoor air becomes increasingly important as homes are made more and more airtight.
Meaningless Terminology?
Ignore the following terms when considering an air cleaner, unless it is Dust Spot Test Rated. These non-technical, general product descriptions are meaningless without an official Dust Spot Test Rating.
- Removes smoke, dust and pollen
- Eliminates up to 100% irritants from indoor air
- Removes particles as small as one micron
- Effective on cigarette smoke and mold spores
- Up to 99% effective
- Recommended by allergists
Be sure to read all available information and weigh all the factors before purchasing an air cleaner.
Consider an air cleaner when you purchase your new comfort system, or ask your independent Lennox dealer about adding on to your current system. Ether way, the benefits you’ll feel and see are worth it!
