Understanding Your Indoor Air Quality

Over the past few years, there has been a growing concern with overall Indoor Air Quality with pollutants being entered into the home and office space more frequently. As research has indicated, people are now spending roughly 90 percent of their time indoors, with a much higher risk of being exposed to health hazards that range from low volatility to life-threatening.

Additionally, indoor air pollutants can be especially dangerous to children, the elderly, individuals suffering from chronic illness, disease, or respiratory sickness.

Your Guide to Clean Indoor Air

Indoor Air Quality is often an overlooked factor of one’s health and environment as it refers to the respirable air quality within a building, structure, or residence. Implementing safety measures and controls to minimize the most common indoor air pollutants can help reduce potential health hazards. This guide will provide detailed information about what common air pollutants can be found, as well as solutions to help provide a better respirable environment for your home or workspace.

Indoor Air Pollutants, Examples, and Sources

Effects of Indoor Air Pollution

Asbestos

Asbestos, a heat-resistant fabric, used mostly for insulation, is most commonly found in older homes. If undisturbed, asbestos generally does not pose a health threat, however, elevated concentrations of asbestos can become airborne by cutting, sanding, or remodeling. If untreated, the quality of your indoor air can be severely compromised and expose individuals to SEVERE HEALTH CONCERNS, such as: Mesothelioma, Asbestosis, or Lung Cancer.

Biological Pollutants

The term biological pollutants typically refers to living organism produced waste and the shedding of substances that could harm the quality of the environment. From animal dander, dust mites, mold, and pollen, to more dangerous contaminations like bacteria and viruses, health hazards carry an equally wide variance of severity ranging from coughing, digestive problems, and sneezing, to influenza, chicken pox, or measles.

HVAC, Stoves, Heaters, Fireplaces, and Chimneys

Many indoor air quality problems stem from inadequate ventilation and the lack of routine maintenance. While this is a common problem found in many homes, it is also one of the leading causes of poor indoor air quality by releasing polluntants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, radon, and other harmful respirable particulates into the environment.

Reducing Indoor Air Pollution

When you hear someone mention air pollution, do you envision images of dark gray smoke coming out of a silo, or maybe a car with exhaust coming out of its pipes? Either way, you picture it, it is hardly ever in consideration of the fact that the most dangerous air pollutants can be found inside of your home, office, or workspace. While pollutants are considered ANY substance that contaminates the environment (water, air, atmosphere), there are common pollutants that can be found in your everyday living that you may not consider, and these are the indoor air pollutants that you need to be actively seeking to reduce.

Fortunately, there are several ways you can implement simplistic methods to cut down your risk of being exposed to indoor air pollutants and the health hazards they can present.

15 Simple Solutions to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

1. 1. Change your filters frequently
2. 2. Clean your home, office, or workspace routinely
3. 3. Utilize cooking vents
4. 4. Make sure to “beat” carpets and rugs outside or in a cleanroom environment
5. 5. Buy plants for indoors and remove them when they are dying
6. 6. Invest in an air purification system
7. 7. Have your residence or workspace checked for mold and allergens
8. 8. Replace incandescent lights with fluorescent light bulbs
9. 9. Control the humidity in your home, office, or workspace with a humidifier or dehumidifier (dependent upon your environment)
10. 10. Purchase products that have the Energy Star label
11. 11. Avoid smoking indoors
12. 12. Minimize cluttered areas
13. 13. Keep trash covered or closed
14. 14. Dust, clean, and vacuum frequently
15. 15. Ensure there are no leaky pipes, or standing water

Modular Solutions for Indoor Air Quality

Model 200 Personal Air Cleaner – SS-200-PRAC

Best Use: Personal air filtration for a desk or communal working area. Benefits: • Portable ambient air filtration • Filters air to protect nearby staff • Small footprint • Simple no-tool filter change • Long Filter Life • Low Maintenance • No ductwork or makeup air required Filters: • HEPA filter (up to 99.97% efficiency on particles as small as 0.3 microns) • ULPA filter (up to 99.9995% efficiency on particles as small as 0.12 microns) Air Volume: 100 CFM

Model 300 Air Cleaner with UV-C Light – SS-300-UVC-PRAC

Best Use:Air filtration in crowded places such as meeting rooms, waiting rooms, doctor’s offices, stores, etc Benefits: • UV-C light filter disinfection cycle • UV-C light cleanses filter with a proven germicidal wavelength of 253.7 nm by inactivating microorganisms and viruses’ DNA/RNA. • 30 minute dwell time effectively inactivates SARS-CoV2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) • Portable ambient air filtration • Filters air to protect nearby staff and students • Simple no-tool filter change Filters: • HEPA filter (up to 99.97% efficiency on particles as small as 0.3 microns) • ULPA filter (up to 99.9995% efficiency on particles as small as 0.12 microns) Air Volume: 350 CFM

Model 700 Ambient Air Cleaner – SS-700-FH

Best Use: Large room air filtration to reduce airborne particulate and transmission of microorganisms. Benefits: • Commercial grade ambient air filtration • Dual main filters • Filters air to protect nearby students and staff. • No floor space required • Multiple configurations: hang from ceiling, mount on wall, or a stand Filters: • Quad Filtration chamber – 2 pre-filters and 2 main filters. • HEPA filter (up to 99.97% efficiency on particles as small as 0.3 microns) Air Volume: 480 CFM

Contact us today to talk to an expert about how to improve your indoor air quality!

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