Air quality is extremely important to your health. Unfortunately, contaminants inevitably find their way into the air and can affect our health. Luckily, there are things that we can do to help make the air as clean as possible for our families, like keeping our commercial air conditioning systems as clean as possible by changing the air filter.
Things that Contaminate the Air
There are a large number of contaminants in our air. Just some of them include:
- dust
- fiberglass
- smoke
- vapors
- dust mites
- fungi
- mold
Pets, smoking, construction, not cleaning, and not changing your home's air filter will increase the likelihood of contaminants in your air.
Types of Air Filters
One of the most important and easiest ways to keep the air in your home clean is to change the air filters. Of course, there are different types of filters:
- Fiberglass- cheap and common air filters made out of fiberglass. These filters must be changed often, but they are very inexpensive. They don't remove contaminants in the air well.
- Polyester/pleated- disposable, pleated filters made out of polyester that provide moderate purifying capabilities but cause the HVAC system to work harder.
- HEPA filters- these highly efficient filters can clean 99.97% of all particles over .3 microns large. They also don't need to be replaced nearly as often as the other options. These are perfect for people who live with allergies.
- Washable air filters- filters made of porous cloth. While you may not have to change them for years, you have to wash them as often as cheap filters. Unfortunately, these filters are not good at removing contaminants.
Signs it's time to change your filter:
- An excessive amount of dust in your home
- HVAC system working harder than usual
- HVAC system is visibly dusty and dirty
It's important to note that if people smoke inside your building, you have pets, or you have construction happening, you will need to change your filter more often.
Health Concerns of Poor Air Quality
Poor air quality can make you and your family sick. Symptoms that can develop from poor air quality include:
- Allergies
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Dryness/irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin
- Sinus congestion
If experiencing these symptoms from poor air quality and the air remains contaminated, you and your family could experience even more serious respiratory conditions.
Other Ways Improve Air Quality
There are plenty of other ways to improve air quality. You can get an air purifier, keep windows open to allow fresh air inside, clean regularly, and don't allow smoking inside.
