Why is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) so Important?

November 13, 2018
0 comments
Osceolawoman2017
Posted in Home & Style We Love It
0

Did you know that the air that comes into your home is full of germs and allergens? Did you know there is a way to control those germs/ allergens from entering your home? The benefits from IAQ can change your life forever!

What is IAQ?

Indoor Air Quality is what you are being exposed to inside a building or home. Air is pulled from the outside into the structure you are in. If the air contains germs or allergens such as the flu, pollen, or anything that could be deemed unhealthy, it has the chance to contaminate the inside air. IAQ controls these things from entering the location you are in by purifying the air before it enters the building or home.

IAQ comes in many forms but the more common one is a UB bulb that’s placed into the coil of your current HVAC system. This bulb burns off and kills any germs or allergens before entering which gives you cleaner air to breath in.

What are the benefits of IAQ?

Easy breathing

Breathing is an effortless action to most, not even realizing when you are taking a breath. But did you know the quality of the air you are taking in determines everyday activities such as walking, going up stairs, anything you are doing? If at home, you are taking in impure air and will notice that you can get winded easier. By adding IAQ to your home HVAC system, you will be taking in much purer air, therefore helping you in your everyday activities. The cleaner the air, the easier it is to take breaths and give your body the healthy oxygen it needs.

Better sleep

Our respiration changes when we’re sleeping such that our breathing rate decreases and becomes much steadier. The average person gets anywhere from 1.5-1.8 hours a night of REM sleep. During REM sleep, your breaths increase and fluctuate, mimicking the breaths you take while you are awake.

So, it is just as important to take in fresh clean air while you are sleeping, as if you were awake. Taking in airborne allergens will affect your quality of sleep. The purer the air you take in, the better you will feel the next day. Taking in impure air can cause sleep- disordered breathing problems such as sleep apnea.

Elimination of allergens

Somewhere between 10 and 30 percent of the global population suffers from allergies. These symptoms are characterized as sneezing, congestion, an itchy throat, and irritated eyes. The most common contributors to allergies include:

Dust
Animal dander
Mold spores
Cockroach debris
Pollen

These allergens float in the air but eventually fall onto flat surfaces, leaving a thin, seemingly furry film on surfaces. The heavier the allergen, the faster it settles out of the air and onto a flat surface.

There are many ways to eliminate allergies in your home. Make sure to dust often, vacuum, and properly take care of your HVAC system. By adding things such as UV lights to your HVAC system can help eliminate airborne illness as the flu and cut down on the pollen or other airborne allergens from entering your home.

Reduced odors

No one likes a smelly house. Anything from what you cook to activities you do can affect the smell of your home. Say you cook a lot of fish or work outside all day sweating, you bring those smells into your home. Things like candles or room spray can mask the smell but, by adding a UV filter, you can help eliminate the smells in your home. Giving you fresh, pure air to breath in.

Balanced humidity

Good indoor air quality also means a good balance of humidity. Humidity, which is the amount of water in the air, affects all aspects of your immediate environment. If you have too much humidity in your home, it will feel sticky and muggy. As to where if you don’t have enough humidity it will feel dry and can cause things such as dry skin. The ideal indoor humidity level should be around 45%.

Things such as your air conditioner, humidifiers and dehumidifiers can balance out the humidity in your home. Keeping the humidity at about 45% will help with your overall breathing. You can also invest in a thermostat that can help you track these levels effectively.

Reduced energy costs

IAQ improves airflow, ventilation, and humidity. These are key factors to be able to optimize your HVAC systems full potential. The more efficient your HVAC system is running, the less it must work. The less it must work, the cheaper your utility could be.

For more information on HVAC systems and IAQ please visit www.OsceolaAir.com