Choose Air Purification for Healthier Living at Home in St. Louis
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, where indoor air pollutants can be often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor air.
Air quality, or the measure of levels of air pollutants or irritants inside buildings, can affect the health of those who live or work there. Poor air quality can contribute to health issues like asthma, allergies, colds, and respiratory infections, thanks to pollutants like mold, dust, pet dander, VOC off-gassing, and more. Even if indoor air pollutants don’t worsen health conditions, they are, at the very least, irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat, and can cause headaches, fatigue, and dizziness.
Naturally, indoor air quality sounds like a worrisome problem, especially in fall and winter.
During these seasons, the need for improved indoor air quality becomes greater because people are indoors even more, passing around germs and flu. So it’s especially important to be proactive about air purification before fall arrives.
Here are some easy steps you can take to reduce indoor air pollutants in your home.
First, Consider Testing Indoor Air Quality at Home
You can test indoor air quality so you know exactly what is affecting your breathing so you can target it and combat it. Mold tests, carbon monoxide detectors, and radon detectors are all available online. Indoor air quality monitors are good for tracking the particulate matter in the air, the air quality index, and the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are contaminants from household cleaners, furnishings, building materials, and more.
However, every indoor environment is unique, with many different indoor pollutants. There’s no real “one-size-fits-all” means of testing indoor air quality. The EPA points out that air pollution monitors detect only the contaminants that they’re designed for, while missing other pollutants that might be present.
The best test is observation. Keep a daily journal to log your experiences with air quality throughout your home, including any musty odors or dust you notice, whether you feel better in one room, the kinds of cleaners you use, and more. This at least can help you narrow down the possibilities so you can target them.
5 Quick Ways to Improve Air Quality
If you’re worried about your home’s indoor air quality, try these ways to improve it. Some include partnering with a professional HVAC service, so call your favorite one in your area.
- Ensure proper ventilation: Ensure your home ventilates properly. Keep your duct system in good shape, and change the air filter in your furnace. Run the exhaust fan in the bathroom and kitchen to vent humidity and cooking particulates outdoors.
- Keep the house clean: Using your preferred cleaning products, dust your home, vacuum, and mop. Deep clean under furniture monthly to get rid of dust bunnies. Removing dust particles, dander, and other allergens from your home prevents them from recirculating in your HVAC system.
- Add a humidifier or dehumidifier: Mold and mildew grow in damp areas, spreading spores and pathogens. In summer, a dehumidifier will stop the damp while getting rid of that muggy feeling in your home. In winter, a humidifier prevents dryness, making it easier to breathe.
- Have your ducts cleaned: Duct cleaning will have an additional positive impact on your health and well-being by removing build-up in your ductwork. Plan to have your ducts cleaned every five years at a minimum.
- Update your air filtration system: Using HEPA filtration and UV systems can help with air purification in the home. Your HVAC company of choice can help you select one, such as the Sanuvox system. Keep reading to learn more about it.
An Air Purification System Is the Quickest Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality
A Sanuvox whole-home air purification system is proven to improve indoor air quality.This system, most commonly installed to your central HVAC, can kill 99.99999% of germs and microbes that move through the air. It’s also great at killing off airborne viruses, too! And it does it without the use of harmful chemicals that actually degrade air quality.
How Does the Sanuvox Air Purifier Work?
The Sanuvox system pulls the contaminated air from your home past a UV lamp. The UV rays destroy chemicals, particulates, and odors in the air. The system also has a UVC lamp, a germicidal light similar to the type used in hospitals to disinfect patient bathrooms. The UVC lamp destroys bacteria, viruses and any other microbes in the air.
Then the air moves through a reflector chamber that directs the UV energy to finish purifying the air, catching any particulates that might have been missed. Once that’s done, the sanitized air is circulated through the house.
This is a straightforward way to improve indoor air quality and make it easier for you to breathe and lower the health issues related to bad air. An air purification system is especially helpful during cold and flu season, neutralizing airborne viruses.
Get Help with Indoor Air
A local HVAC service provider can install a Sanuvox air purification system in your home. Schedule a visit to determine the type of air quality system that’s right for you.
